2026 Urban Cycling World Championships cancelled following attacks on Saudi Arabia

The 2026 Urban Cycling World Championships will not take place. The International Cycling Union (UCI) and the Saudi Cycling Federation have confirmed the cancellation of the event, scheduled from November 3 to 7 in Riyadh, due to the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East and the logistical difficulties arising from the conflict. The decision comes less than three weeks before its start and after some national federations began to announce their withdrawal for security reasons following the attacks on Riyadh airport.

The UCI cancels the 2026 Urban Cycling World Championships due to airstrikes in Saudi Arabia

The UCI has officially announced that Riyadh will not host the 2026 Urban Cycling World Championships, a competition that was set to bring together the best international specialists in trial and BMX Freestyle, both in Park and Flatland.

The decision was made jointly with the Saudi Cycling Federation after analyzing the latest events in the region and their consequences for the organization of the championship.

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Although the official UCI statement does not explicitly mention the attacks recorded in Saudi Arabia, the cancellation occurs in a context of increasing instability that has directly affected air connections and the holding of other international sporting events.

The recent attacks against Riyadh, including one on its international airport, have heightened concerns about the safety of participants. The situation has caused significant disruptions to air traffic and has led various sports organizations to reconsider their events in the country. 

Some teams had already announced they would not travel to Saudi Arabia

Concerns about safety had begun to have consequences before the UCI made its decision official.

One of the clearest cases is that of Australia. Its federation, AusCycling, had announced the withdrawal of its team as it considered that the current conditions did not allow for the safety of its athletes and accompanying staff to be guaranteed.

The Australian federation explained that it had made the decision after consulting with the cyclists, technical officials, and the selection committee. It also pointed out the travel recommendations from its Government, which advised against traveling to Riyadh international airport and warned of possible airspace closures and flight cancellations.

Australia had advocated for the possibility of moving the World Championships to another venue, an alternative that ultimately did not materialize.

The cancellation represents a particularly significant setback for trial and BMX Freestyle specialists, who lose one of the main international events on their calendar and the opportunity to compete for the world titles this season.

The UCI has indicated that it will soon communicate the sporting consequences of the cancellation, a matter that is especially relevant for the riders who aspired to compete for the rainbow jerseys in the various disciplines.