Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) was in control on the second hilly stage of AlUla Tour today, taking his second win of the race and doing it solo, again, to extend his overall lead.
After Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) lost time in the crosswinds yesterday, he looked in much better shape today.
The Irishman climbed in the four-rider chasing group that formed behind Pidcock on the final climb - the 2.9km Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid, averaging 12 per cent. Dunbar also went on the attack from that small group in a bid to catch Pidcock.
Race leader Pidcock, without his Q36.5 Pro Cycling team mates around him, took up the pace on the front as the road kicked up on a very steep section with 10km to go.
That effort blew apart the already disintegrating remains of the front group, with only three riders able to hold him - Dunbar and Alan Hatherly, both Jayco AlUla, and Rainer Kepplinger (Bahrain-Victorious).
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??♂️? A fierce chase before @tompidcock powers to a solo win! ?
⏪ Relive the last kilometre of stage 4#AlUlaTour ?? pic.twitter.com/tOUikWQF44— طواف العلا | ALULATOUR (@thealulatour) January 31, 2025
Dunbar was the first to get into trouble, slipping off the back of the small group, just inside 9.5km to go. However, that proved temporary as the Irishman gathered himself and managed to hold the Pidcock-led trio at about five seconds.
With 9km to go, Pidcock kicked on and left Hatherly and Kepplinger behind, though the gaps between the first four on the road were initially modest.
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By the time Pidcock reached the top of the climb - with plateau and then a section of descent - for the final 9km to the line, he had a stage-winning gap on the chasers; some 25 seconds.
That chasing group had become four as Dunbar caught Hatherly and Kepplinger, with 20-year-old Norwegian Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility) also coming across to them.
With just over 7km to go, Dunbar attacked from the chasing group in a bid to get across to Pidcock solo, though that effort was not successful and was over within about 1km.
Once caught by the group, the four riders began working well and closed on Pidcock a little, with Dunbar looking as though he was riding for Hartherly in the final as the South African began the day 3rd overall.
On the line, Pidcock took another fine win; strong to the end after making all of the running on the final ascent. He crossed the line 12 seconds up on Hatherly in 2nd, with Kepplinger in 3rd and Kulset 4th, on the same time.
Dunbar, having emptied the tank for his team mate, lost a few seconds in the sprint and finished 5th on the stage at 16 seconds. He was eight seconds up on a chasing group led in by Thomas Pesenti (Soudal-QuickStep).
The result means Pidcock extends his overall lead with just one stage remaining. He has 29 seconds on Kepplinger with former top MTB XC rider turned World Tour neo pro, Hatherly, 3rd at 32 seconds.
Dunbar lost time in the crosswinds yesterday and slipped from 4th overall to 19th. His time gains today saw him move up a little overall, to 16th at 1:58.
