After his victory on Stage 2, Tom Pidcock continued his dominance in Saudi Arabia with a devastating attack on the gruelling Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid climb. It was Pidcock who stole the show with a record-breaking climbing performance, cementing his lead in the general classification.
The fourth stage of the AlUla Tour featured the epic Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid climb, which includes sections with gradients exceeding 20%. Ahead of the final climb, Johannes Kulset expended 1,661 kilojoules over 2 hours and 49 minutes at a rate of 9.84 kj/kg/h, making this stage one of the easiest professional races in recent memory.
When the steepest section of the climb began with 10 kilometres remaining, Tom Pidcock took control of the peloton, setting a relentless tempo that quickly shattered the group. Rainer Kepplinger, Eddie Dunbar, and Alan Hatherly managed to hold to Pidcock’s wheel for a time, but a decisive acceleration from the double Olympic champion eventually distanced them all. Johannes Kulset, who paced the climb most effectively, overtook Kepplinger and the Jayco duo.
On the steepest part of the climb—a 3-kilometre segment averaging 11.43% gradient—Pidcock produced an impressive 6.84 ᵉW/Kg for 10 minutes and 30 seconds, setting a new record for this exact segment. He surpassed the previous record, set in 2024 by Finn Fisher-Black and William Junior Lecerf, by 8 seconds. Kulset, Dunbar, Hatherly, and Kepplinger lost between 21 and 24 seconds to Pidcock on the climb, pushing between 6.54 and 6.59 ᵉW/Kg.
Following the climb, an 8-kilometre false flat descent provided no respite for the chasing group of four riders, who were unable to close the gap to Pidcock. The British rider secured his second victory of the week and extended his lead in the general classification ahead of the final stage, which is expected to favour the sprinters. Meanwhile, Alan Hatherly, who recently transitioned from XCO mountain biking to road racing, showcased his explosive kick to win the small bunch sprint for second place.
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