ALULA, Saudi Arabia — The fourth edition of the AlUla Trail Race concluded on Friday afternoon, with winners announced across six distinct categories following two days of competition through the ancient landscapes of Hegra and the AlUla Oasis.
The flagship “Hegra Hundred” (100km ultra-marathon) saw elite runners navigate a technical course with an elevation gain of approximately 1,437 meters. In the women’s category, Cuban endurance athlete Lisandra Gómez secured the silver medal, as confirmed by international sports reports on Friday. The competitive field also featured significant regional representation, with athletes from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar placing in the top ranks of the 50km and 23km categories.
According to official data from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and event organizers, the race featured various distances to accommodate different skill levels:
- Hegra Hundred (100km): The premier ultra-marathon event.
- AlMejdar (50km): A mid-range endurance test with 808m elevation gain.
- Elephant Rock (23km): A technical trail passing the iconic geological landmark.
- AlUla Oasis (10km): Focused on speed through the heritage palm groves.
- Sunset Run (3km) & Kids Run (1.6km): Community-focused events held on Thursday evening.
Official results from the 50km category highlighted a diverse podium, with Mickael Gasc (FRA) finishing first with a time of 3:50:06, followed by Jules Jacquemet (FRA) and Sami Saleem (OMA). The top-performing Saudi national in the 50km division was Naif Bin Hubaysh, who secured 7th place overall with a time of 5:08:21.
The event, supported by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the Ministry of Sport, offered a total prize pool including SAR 20,000 for the 100km winners and SAR 7,000 for the 50km champions. The race serves as a qualifying event for the UTMB World Series, adhering to international trail running standards regulated by the ITRA.