Stories in the sand: life in a desert breakaway

Meet the riders who experienced the deserts of Saudi Arabia more than anyone else

Saudi Tour
(Image credit: Getty Images)

In 1945, Wilfred Thesiger set off on an epic adventure, crossing the 'Empty Quarter' of Saudi Arabia, one of the first Europeans to do so, with the help of Bedouin locals.

In his seminal 1959 book, Arabian Sands, the British explorer writes of what is now Saudi Arabia: "There is no rhythm of the seasons, no rise and fall of sap, but empty wastes where only the changing temperature marks the passage of the year. It is a bitter, desiccated land which knows nothing of gentleness or ease."

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Adam Becket
News editor

Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling, he's happy. Before joining CW he spent two years writing for Procycling. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds.

Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.