ASO, the owner of the Tour de France, has decided to host a Category 2.1 stage race in Saudi Arabia in 2020. The Tour of Saudi Arabia will take place over five days from February 4-8 in the capital city of Riyadh.

The event will precede ASO's existing stage race in the Arabian Peninsula, the Tour of Oman (February 11-16) ASO previously hosted the Tour of Qatar from 2002 to 2016 and is looking to increase its revenue stream with races in the region. ASO is not the only one looking to increase its presence: Giro d'Italia organizer RCS Sport is supporting a World Tour-level tour of the UAE, which will take place from February 23 to 29 in 2020.

"We are involved in the emergence of a new racing scene in the Middle East," ASO CEO Jan Le Mouner said in a statement released Tuesday.

"The creation of the Saudi Arabian Tour and its sustained inclusion on the calendar is part of this movement. This new race is an exciting organizational challenge, a cohesive sporting event for riders of all categories, and a good opportunity for TV viewers who follow the race to discover a new landscape. It is also an opportunity for us to contribute to the development of cycling throughout the Kingdom."

Saudi Arabia did not send any athletes of any level to the 2019 World Championships in Yorkshire. Cycling for women was illegal in the country until 2013, at which point women were allowed to cycle with restrictions.

Sabah Al-Kreides of the Saudi Arabian Cycling Federation called the inaugural Saudi Tour "an honor" and said the event would serve to promote Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination. Travel to Saudi Arabia has been limited to pilgrims, business travelers, and expatriates, but recently tourist visas have been issued.

"Saudi tours are a great opportunity to promote Saudi Arabia's various territories and historical sites and to let visitors know about the country's hospitality. This initiative is perfectly in line with Saudi Arabia's ambition to promote Saudi Arabia beyond its borders while promoting sports, especially cycling."

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The route of the first Saudi Tour has not yet been revealed, but ASO says the event will feature puncher-friendly stages and urban circuits in the hills near Riyadh. In a statement on Tuesday, ASO suggested that the race, like the now defunct Tour of Qatar, would favor riders aiming for the Flanders Classic.

"On roads that are often exposed to wind, the ability to deal with crosswinds is an important asset for teams trying to dominate the race. In the Tour of Saudi Arabia, the Flemish classic-style athletes will be the winners."

The ASO statement also suggests that the Saudi Arabian Tour may move to other parts of the country the next time around to offer different terrain.