Saudi Arabia, September 10, 2023 — Before the flash of big international sponsorships and global tour stages, there were smaller but powerful moments that laid the foundation for cycling in the Kingdom. These early achievements and grassroots efforts show how Saudi Arabia has steadily built up to today’s ambitions in road racing, track events, and women’s participation.
Early Breakthroughs
- In 2020, the Kingdom held its first women’s cycling championship in Abha, in the Asir region. A 13-km race against the clock, this event saw Ahlam Nasser Al-Zaid make history by winning gold, followed by Al-Anoud Al-Majed in second and Alaa Al-Zahrani third. It was a historic moment: the first formal individual effort, under official governance, for Saudi women cyclists.
- Also in 2020, the Sports for All Federation (SFA) launched a women’s cycling race series with legs in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al-Khobar. Over 1,000 women took part across the three parts, showing strong early demand and enthusiasm from the female athletic community. Top performers included Nadiah Skoukdi, Floria Martias, Ahlam Al-Zaid, and others.
Growing On Track & Regionally
- The Saudi team began to make waves in track cycling in Arab and Asian events. For example, the Kingdom earned 24 medals at the 11th Arab Track Championship (Cairo) in 2022, including multiple golds, silvers, and bronzes, as its track program matured.
- At the Asian level, the junior/youth teams also secured notable successes. In the 2023 Asian Track Championships, the Saudi junior team won gold in the team pursuit. Female cyclists also began to appear on the podium in events like the team sprint and scratch races.
Infrastructure, Events & Institutional Support
- One of the signature road cycling events has been the Saudi Tour / AlUla Tour, part of the UCI Asia Tour calendar. These multi-stage road races attracted international teams, helped to elevate Saudi Arabia’s profile as a host, and brought world-class competition to local roads. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
- The city of AlUla has been honored with the Arab Bike City Award from the Arab Cycling Federation, recognizing its investment in cycling infrastructure, its natural terrain, and its ability to host major events and accommodate both recreational and competitive riders. Zawya
- Institutional partnerships began to play a role: in 2025, the Saudi Cycling Federation (SACF) entered into a strategic collaboration with GreenEDGE Cycling. This partnership was meant to enhance technical standards, training, and pathways for both male and female cyclists in Saudi Arabia. Arab News+1
Why These Early Efforts Mattered
- Visibility & Inspiration
Seeing women compete, seeing Saudi teams on the podium in Arab and Asian championships, all helped shift perceptions and inspired youth and local riders. Early successes give hope and proof that investment can yield results. - Building Talent & Depth
The successes in junior and youth divisions suggested that talent is there. The ability to field teams in track pursuit, scratch races, and sprints showed growing depth beyond individual stars. - Gaining Credibility as a Host
Organizing races like AlUla Tour and getting international recognition for cities and infrastructure showed Saudi authorities were serious about positioning the Kingdom as a destination in international cycling—not just a participant. - Laying Institutional Foundations
Partnerships, federations, regulations, and event organization all improved. Establishing female race series, technical support, and official championships meant that cycling wasn’t just a fringe hobby but becoming integrated into sports policy and planning.
Looking Back & Looking Forward
Those early years of growth—women cyclists racing officially, junior teams earning medals, regional championships, city infrastructure—created the base on which recent strides are built. They showed that Saudi cycling had both latent talent and public interest.
Now, with bigger tours, international partnerships, and high profile ambitions, the Kingdom’s cycling future builds heavily on those foundational achievements. Recognizing those moments helps us understand how rapidly the sport has scaled.