Kepplinger Takes 3rd on Queen Stage to Secure 2nd Overall

Rainer Kepplinger’s heroic effort on the queen stage of the AlUla Tour was rewarded with a 3rd place finish, solidifying his 2nd place in the General Classification. The stage started against the stunning backdrop of the Maraya building, a mirror-clad masterpiece reflecting Saudi Arabia’s vision for the future.

The race was fast from the start, with teams battling for position ahead of the decisive climb. The team executed the strategy perfectly, delivering Rainer to the base of the climb in an ideal position. As soon as the road tilted upward, the strongest riders emerged—Pidcock, Dunbar, Hatherly, and Kulset set a relentless pace. One kilometer from the summit, Pidcock found another gear, launching an attack that no one could follow. At that moment, the group realized they were now racing for second place.

AlUla Tour 2025 – 5th edition – 4th stage Maraya – Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid 140,9 km – 31/01/2025 – Rainer Kepplinger (AUT – Bahrain – Victorious) – photo Massimo Fulgenzi/SprintCyclingAgency©2025

Over the top, attacks came thick and fast, but they soon noticed that Rafal Majka’s chasing group was closing in. With 4 km to go, cooperation returned as they worked together to stay ahead of Majka’s group. Pidcock was already out of reach, but the group held off the chasers just in time. In the final sprint, Rainer crossed the line behind Hatherly, securing 3rd place on the stage.

AlUla Tour 2025 – 5th edition – 4th stage Maraya – Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid 140,9 km – 31/01/2025 – Alan Hatherly (RSA – Team Jayco AlUla) – Rainer Kepplinger (AUT – Bahrain – Victorious) – photo Massimo Fulgenzi/SprintCyclingAgency©2025

Meanwhile, Max van der Meulen put in a strong ride, his group catching Majka’s group with just 500m to go, earning him 10th place on the stage and keeping him 9th in GC.

Podium finisher Rainer Kepplinger: “It was a fast and tough climb. When Pidcock attacked, it was impossible to follow, but I found myself in a strong group with two Jayco AlUla riders and an Uno-X rider. We worked well together, and in the end, I’m happy with 3rd place on this stage.”

AlUla Tour 2025 – 5th edition – 4th stage Maraya – Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid 140,9 km – 31/01/2025 – Tom Pidcock (GBR – Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – Rainer Kepplinger (AUT – Bahrain – Victorious) – Alan Hatherly (RSA – Team Jayco AlUla) – photo Massimo Fulgenzi/SprintCyclingAgency©2025

Sports Director Aart Vierhouten: “Of course, we were a bit nervous—it’s cycling, anything can happen. The team did a fantastic job keeping Rainer in position for the climb. On the steep sections, he was exactly where he needed to be. Once the race split, he rode brilliantly, matching or even exceeding Hatherly’s strength. At first, their group wasn’t cooperating well, but when they saw Majka’s group closing in, they started working together.

Behind them, there was also a great battle for the Young Rider classification, with two Norwegians, a Dutch rider, and our Max van der Meulen in the mix. Max finishing 10th today was a strong performance as well.

Tomorrow, we expect a lot of crosswinds in the final stage, but yesterday we showed that we can handle those conditions. We’re confident.”

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