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Abida Ahmad

NEOM TITAN Desert Returns for Third Year Featuring Saudi Talent on a Global Stage

The event continued to solidify NEOM's reputation as a premier sports destination, with participation from international cycling stars and local athletes, as well as strong support from the Saudi Cycling Federation.
The NEOM TITAN Desert returned for its third consecutive year, featuring 242 riders from 24 countries competing in four challenging stages, with Luis León Sánchez and Tessa Kortekaas claiming victory.

NEOM, Saudi Arabia, December 4, 2024 – The NEOM Beach Games have returned to Bajdah Mountain Village for the highly anticipated NEOM TITAN Desert, marking its third consecutive year as a premier global cycling event hosted in the heart of NEOM. This year’s competition saw an impressive roster of 242 riders from 24 nationalities compete in four grueling stages across the rugged desert terrain of NEOM, one of the world’s most spectacular and challenging environments.


Luis León Sánchez and Tessa Kortekaas emerged as the victorious champions of the 2024 NEOM TITAN Desert, demonstrating exceptional endurance and strategy as they navigated through the vast, arid landscapes. Sánchez, a seasoned cyclist known for his tenacity in extreme conditions, and Kortekaas, who excelled in navigating the tough desert stages, triumphed over stiff competition to claim their titles.


In a thrilling twist this year, the final stage of the NEOM TITAN Desert took the riders through NEOM’s Nature Reserve, a pristine and expansive area renowned for its rich biodiversity. This section of the race offered a unique and scenic experience, as competitors cycled through natural habitats that are home to a variety of desert wildlife, adding a profound element to the race's challenging terrain.


Among the elite riders competing this year were international cycling icons like Peter Sagan from Slovakia, a three-time World Champion and 12-time Tour de France stage winner, and Daniel Oss from Italy, who has an impressive career featuring 16 Grand Tour appearances. Their participation further underscores NEOM’s burgeoning reputation as a premier destination for world-class sporting events. Their presence at the race also reflected the significance of NEOM in the global sports landscape.


In addition to these international cycling stars, NEOM partnered with the Saudi Cycling Federation to offer 20 Saudi athletes the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s best. This year’s competition saw Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental Team Cyclist and Moroj Adil, a returning competitor from the previous year’s NEOM Beach Games, making their mark on the international stage. Their participation highlights NEOM's continued commitment to developing and nurturing local sporting talent, a key goal in line with Saudi Vision 2030.


Jan Paterson, the Managing Director of NEOM Sports, emphasized that the NEOM TITAN Desert aligns perfectly with the Kingdom’s strategic vision for sports. He said, “Events like the NEOM TITAN Desert are integral to strengthening NEOM’s status as a hub for world-class sports, contributing to the realization of Vision 2030. These competitions continue to draw global talent, which helps solidify NEOM’s credibility and reinforces its reputation for supporting high-performance athletic events.”


Jesus Garcia, CEO of the TITAN World Series, expressed his admiration for NEOM’s ability to continually amaze. “Every year, NEOM surprises us with its breathtaking landscapes and its unique identity. This third edition of the TITAN Desert has been a record-breaking success, with 242 riders tackling some of the most spectacular desert terrain we’ve ever seen. The athletes, all of whom are winners for completing this extraordinary adventure, enjoyed the exceptional comforts of the TITAN Mountain Camp, making it a memorable experience for all involved. We can’t wait to be part of this fantastic event again next year.”


The NEOM Beach Games are set to continue their momentum with the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup NEOM, which took place on November 23, marking the first appearance of this event within the Beach Games. The event’s success brings the third edition of these multisport events in NEOM to a thrilling close, reinforcing the growing importance of NEOM as a prime destination for elite international sports competitions.


This year’s NEOM TITAN Desert and the continued success of the NEOM Beach Games further cements the region’s status as a global sporting hub, driving both regional and international recognition for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a leader in fostering world-class athletic events and talent development.



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