Urban World Championships in Riyadh cancelled: Security situation forces the UCI to take action

​The UCI and the Saudi Cycling Federation have announced the cancellation of the 2026 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships. The championships in the disciplines of trials, BMX freestyle park and flatland were due to take place in Riyadh from 3 to 7 November. Both federations cited “recent developments in the region” and their impact on the organisation of the event as the reason for the cancellation. The UCI did not provide any specific details.

The main reason behind the decision is likely to be the security situation in Saudi Arabia, which has recently become significantly more tense. On 11 October, a missile struck the passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The attack left many dead and over 300 people injured. According to the ARD, flight operations were temporarily suspended and numerous flights were diverted. The attack is regarded as the most serious against the Kingdom to date since the start of the current conflict in the region.

The consequences of the security situation were already becoming apparent in the run-up to the World Championships. As a result, AusCycling withdrew the Australian national team. The federation cited the safety and wellbeing of athletes and support staff, the escalating regional situation and updated travel advice from the Australian Government as reasons for the decision. Among other things, the Government highlighted the unpredictable security situation and the recent incidents at Riyadh Airport.

The cancellation of the World Championships was finally announced a few hours after Australia’s withdrawal. The UCI expressed its regret at the decision and announced that it would provide information on the sporting consequences in due course.