Event on Feb. 24 features a prize pot of $480,000, the largest in obstacle-course racing history Long-standing rivalry between Ryan Atkins and Jon Albon set to continue ALULA: Saudi Arabia’s Rakan Al-Thaqafi is gunning for glory on home soil in the maiden Tough Mudder Infinity contest in AlUla, featuring the largest prize pot in obstacle-course racing history. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The inaugural $480,000 event in the Middle East takes place on Saturday, Feb. 24, in the ancient oasis city located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, with more than 1,000 participants set to compete. Participants can enter Tough Mudder Infinity AlUla as individuals, or as teams of two or four people. There are also races over 5 km and 10 km for locals wishing to participate. The contest is an eight-hour endurance challenge that tests the mental and physical capabilities of participants. An amateur boxer, Al-Thaqafi has competed in every Saudi Arabia event hosted by the racing brand, including the 10 km course four times at the most recent instalment in Jeddah. He will be lining up alongside several of the sport’s biggest names for the $80,000 individual prize. Al-Thaqafi said: “I am a Saudi boxing champion who, after losing my passion for boxing and training, discovered Tough Mudder. Introduced to the renowned OCR race, I quickly fell in love with the community.” “After participating in Tough Mudder Riyadh, I learned about the inaugural Infinity race in AlUla. I signed up and began training immediately.” He said that after racing in Jeddah, his “love for boxing” has resurfaced. “I can’t wait to get to AlUla and take on the world’s best.” The long-standing rivalry between Canada’s Ryan Atkins and the UK’s Jon Albon is set to continue, with the latter coming out of retirement to compete in AlUla. The two athletes have been involved in several battles over the years. Meanwhile, multiple world champion Lindsay Webster makes her return to competition in the Infinity individual female race, while emerging talent Kris Rugloski aims to dethrone her.