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Sports Boulevard Launches Riyadh’s Immersive Cycling Experience

The Sports Boulevard unveiled RIYDE, an immersive cycling experience in Riyadh, through a partnership with BKOOL. SPA
The Sports Boulevard unveiled RIYDE, an immersive cycling experience in Riyadh, through a partnership with BKOOL. SPA
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Sports Boulevard Launches Riyadh’s Immersive Cycling Experience

The Sports Boulevard unveiled RIYDE, an immersive cycling experience in Riyadh, through a partnership with BKOOL. SPA
The Sports Boulevard unveiled RIYDE, an immersive cycling experience in Riyadh, through a partnership with BKOOL. SPA

The Sports Boulevard has officially unveiled RIYDE, an immersive cycling experience in Riyadh, through a partnership with the global technology company, BKOOL.

This collaboration, combining the expertise of a pioneering virtual cycling simulator with the innovative vision of Sports Boulevard, aims to boost fitness levels in Riyadh.
According to Jayne McGivern, CEO of the Sports Boulevard Foundation, the launch of RIYDE aligns with their mission to promote grassroots sports and make exercise more accessible to Riyadh's residents.

"Fitness technology has played a key role in improving people’s access to sports and exercise, so I am delighted to be launching RIYDE today. The immersive RIYDE experience is a fantastic way for the Sports Boulevard to provide residents with cycling facilities and to boost sports participation while we are building Sports Boulevard’s city-wide infrastructure."
RIYDE, developed by Sports Boulevard, utilizes cutting-edge technology to create a virtual cycling experience. Residents can ride virtual routes, compete against each other, and enjoy an immersive cycling booth equipped with world-class hardware, thanks to the partnership with BKOOL.
Head of Business at BKOOL Alvaro Galindo expressed pride in the partnership and the opportunity to bring the RIYDE experience to Riyadh residents.

"We are passionate about cycling and want to inspire a new generation of cyclists. Our innovative, immersive technology will make this a reality, offering residents a new and fascinating opportunity to learn a new sport and passion," said Galindo.

The RIYDE booth, operational for an initial two-week period at public locations, provides an indoor, air-conditioned setting for friends, family, and colleagues to socialize, exercise, and compete. Visitors can experience a virtual 5.24km route, equivalent to 10-15 minutes of cycling, tailored to different fitness levels. Additionally, they can use virtual reality technology to explore the transformative vision of Riyadh through the completed Sports Boulevard.
The Sports Boulevard, launched in 2019 as one of Riyadh's mega projects, spans over 135km and connects Wadi Hanifah in the West to Wadi Al Sulai in the East. Supported by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the project features safe green pathways for pedestrians, cyclists, athletes, and horse-riders. It includes over 4.4 million square meters of greenery, open spaces, and up to 50 multidisciplinary sports facilities.

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F1 on Jeddah’s Streets - Talking Points Ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia walks through the paddock ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia walks through the paddock ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP)
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F1 on Jeddah’s Streets - Talking Points Ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia walks through the paddock ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia walks through the paddock ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP)

This weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the final leg of the first "triple header" of the season.

From Suzuka in Japan, to the desert of Bahrain, Formula One now pitches up on the shores of the Red Sea in Jeddah.

AFP Sport looks at five talking points ahead of the fifth round of the 24-race season:

Advantage McLaren

Oscar Piastri put in a faultless display from pole last Sunday in Sakhir to make it three wins out of four for the British marque.

That moved the cool as ice Australian to within three points of championship leader and teammate Lando Norris, who took third in Bahrain.

With Max Verstappen, only sixth, and Red Bull struggling to keep tabs on the world constructors' champions, the 2025 title could well develop into a battle between the two McLaren men.

The team has always been insistent on "papaya rules", theoretically meaning no favoritism between the pair, but that even-handed policy will be put under intense pressure if the season develops into a battle between the two gifted drivers.

Looking ahead to Sunday's race Norris commented: "It's a really fast track and we have a quick car, so we'll be aiming to finish this triple-header strongly."

Red Bull to bounce back?

Red Bull's problems in Bahrain were well documented, and they will be desperate to bounce back on one of their favorite hunting grounds, with Max Verstappen winning in Jeddah in 2022 and 2024.

"Bahrain was quite a difficult weekend for us and didn't really go our way at all. We had some issues that set us back and we still have a lot of work to do on the car to get us where we need to be," said the four-time champion.

He slipped to third in the standings, eight points behind Norris, after trailing in over half a minute behind Piastri in Sakhir.

"We have a final push with this being the third race and final weekend of the triple header so hopefully we can find more pace and bring out a performance similar to Japan (his only win of the season)," he added.

The circuit

Sunday's race presents a radically different test for car and driver than last week in Bahrain. The fastest street circuit on the calendar offers multiple chances for overtaking, in stark contrast to the most famous street circuit of them all, Monaco.

With a record 27 corners and three DRS (drag reduction system) zones it can be counted on to serve up plenty of drama, with the walled sides leaving little room for error.

All the ingredients then for a thrilling race under floodlights on Jeddah's Corniche.

Golf in the Gulf for Gasly

Alpine finally got off the ground in Bahrain, with Pierre Gasly picking up their first points of the season in seventh.

"It's great to leave Bahrain with points on the board after three challenging races at the start of the season," reflected the French driver.

He celebrated his bold show by following Rory McIlroy's emotional Masters triumph at Augusta.

"I really enjoyed staying up late to watch the end of the Masters and I'm delighted for Rory McIlroy, one of our investors, to finally secure the green jacket. Congratulations to him!"

Toto praise for Russell

George Russell will be hoping to concentrate on the job he's paid to do -- driving -- rather than as a part-time electrician. The Briton, enjoying his best ever start to a season, took second last Sunday despite a myriad of issues he had to contend with in the cockpit in the closing stages.

"It was a superb drive from him under extreme pressure," marveled Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

Russell's teammate Kimi Antonelli did not enjoy the rub of the green and finished out of the points for the first time in his debut season.

"It has been easy to forget that Kimi is in the very earliest stages of his F1 career given his performances so far. Bahrain will prove an important milestone in his continued development," Wolff remarked.