Professional road race cycling team Team Jayco AlUla has welcomed young Saudi Arabian talent Moroj Adil to Europe for a unique training experience, as part of the squad’s partnership with its second naming rights sponsor AlUla.
Following a training camp in AlUla on February 2023, which took place few days after the UCI Saudi Tour, Adil got the chance to meet with the team, attend key presentations and undergo valuable training alongside star riders from Team Jayco AlUla.
Her action-packed journey continued, as the 24-year-old then made her way to Girona, Spain, a European base for many of the team’s male and female riders and staff. There, Adil was part of a training block that provided her with invaluable experience and guidance in her growing cycling career, continuing her steep learning curve in the pursuit of one day becoming a professional rider in the women’s WorldTour peloton.
Sharing the story behind her passion, Moroj Adil said: “I started cycling when I was around one and a half years old, and it started as a hobby. I used to be really attached to my father and whatever he would do, I would do with him. After he passed away, I wanted to find a new hobby. I found cycling and it helped me cope with stress and allowed me to spend more time outdoors.
“As my love for cycling grew, I was determined to become a professional cyclist and compete. Being part of the training with Team Jayco AlUla is a major step for my career and I’m grateful for such a wonderful opportunity. It’s been an honour to be part of the growing cycling community in AlUla, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Philip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer of The Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “Moroj is an incredible talent, embodying the spirit of cycling and inspiring Saudi women and men. I’m thrilled that our collaboration with Team Jayco AlUla has empowered her to experience this transformative milestone. Moroj’s story is a core part of what AlUla is striving to achieve as a destination for cycling, with its scenic roads and mountains, historic landscape and robust infrastructure that is rapidly expanding. We hope that AlUla will be a source of motivation and a dynamic hub for even more athletes.”
Brent Copeland, Team Jayco AlUla General Manager, added: “We’re very excited to work with the Royal Commission for AlUla and the Saudi Cycling Federation for future camps, and this first opportunity with Moroj has been truly rewarding. Despite her relatively recent start in cycling, the team is fully dedicated to supporting her. We all hope Moroj’s unique experience will inspire more Saudi women and men to embrace cycling not just as a potential profession but as a lifestyle choice.”
Fares Alotaibi, Advisor Saudi Cycling Federation, said: “The Saudi Cycling Federation is proud of Moroj Adil, a young and talented woman who is passionate about cycling. Moroj loves cycling and wants to improve her quality of life by achieving her goal of becoming a pro cyclist.”
We, at the Saudi Cycling Federation, will continue to support Saudi cyclists to help them achieve their dreams and will extend our support to our partners in AlUla, The Royal Commission for AlUla and Team Jayco AlUla. We strive to achieve common objectives such as engaging more young Saudi men and women to take up cycling and make it a lifestyle choice, while also helping them improve their performances to be able to compete like pro riders.”
When Moroj began cycling, she was determined to participate and compete in local cycling competitions and was selected by the Saudi Cycling Racing Federation to join the Women’s Saudi National Team to compete regionally and internationally.
In 2022, her determination enabled her to participate for the first time in the four-day MTB race in NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia. The race covered a total of 427 kilometres with over 3,500 meters altitude gain. Through her participation in the event, Moroj inspired many young women and men in Saudi Arabia and around the world.
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