Tadej Pogacar will try to join an elite group of cyclists to win the Tour de France three times when the world's most famous race gets under way in Bilbao, Spain on July 1.
The UAE Team Emirates rider took time out of his busy schedule to give an update on the wrist injury he suffered in April's Liege-Bastogne-Liege cycling classic that threatened his participation for this year's Tour as well as looking back on his past success in 2020 and 2021.
Tadej, first and foremost, what an incredible 2023 you’ve had so far. How would you sum it up?
All thing considered it’s been a really good year so far. If you told me before the year started that I would achieve and win what I have so far, I’d have been really happy.
Thinking back to those Belgian Classics, you looked unstoppable. What was it like racing in those famous one-day races and performing so well?
The day I won in Flanders was up there as one of my best days on a bike, if not the best. My form was good, the team was exceptional and everything just clicked on the day. The history of the race and the passion for cycling in Flanders made it extra special.
Do any of the classics stand out in particular as the most memorable?
They were all special in their own way but it’s true that Flanders was a big target from the start of the year. The way that race panned out, and the job the team did to me in position to launch my attacks, it was amazing.
Looking ahead to the biggest event on the racing calendar, the Tour De France, how excited are you to lead the charge for the team once again?
Pretty excited. It’s been an unconventional preparation we can say with the wrist injury, but it’s been really good overall. We’ve just finished off an altitude camp in Sierra Nevada, Spain and now we’re heading to do some Tour recons and then back to altitude. It’s intense preparation but that’s what it takes, I guess. I’m enjoying the process.
How would you sum up the experience in France last year?
It’s true we had a lot of bad luck in the team with Covid but overall we won a few stages and finished second so it was still a pretty good Tour. The atmosphere in the team was still very good given the circumstances. Obviously, we went in to win it and there was a bit of disappointment, but that’s all part of sport.
Are there any stages in this year’s race that you’re particularly looking forward to?
We’re straight into the action from Stage 1 as the roads in the Basque Country are infamously tough. There is a huge cycling culture there in the north of Spain, too, so the fans will be out in force. From there we’ll take it day by day but for sure we will see some fireworks in the Alps as usual.
How is the wrist injury and what sort of shape are you in going into the start of the race?
Actually you could say it happened at a perfect time. Naturally I didn’t want it to happen like that, but I was due a long break and I guess the injury just forced me to rest a bit more. I was back on the indoor trainer a week after the crash. That way I could hold my fitness a bit and I also was doing rehab on the wrist and some running, core work, etc. I’ve already been back on the road for a few weeks now and feeling pretty good. It shouldn’t hinder me too much for the Tour, I think.
If you had to pick your single favourite moment when racing in the Tour de France throughout your career, what would it be?
That’s a hard one to say. The first Tour stage victory in 2020 was amazing. It was such a huge moment. To win the race overall that same year was good but a bit surreal. In 2021 when I won, I had more time for it to sink in. But every day on the Tour is special.
How confident are you in the team around you that you’ll go on to join the illustrious group of riders to win the Tour de France three times?
When you want to win a race, you have to trust the guys around you 100 per cent. We have a great team and understand each other well. There will also be strong competitors so it won’t be straightforward, but we’ll give it a good crack.
It's been such a strong season for the team up to this point. It seems like the togetherness and unity in the group is as positive as it’s ever been. What do you put that down to?
It’s hard to say for sure but I think we have a nice balance of personalities and characters in the team. When you spend so many days on the road and away from home it’s crucial to have a good group and ambiance. It makes the time away but easier.
How important and special is the support of fans in the UAE throughout a race like the Tour de France?
Every time we come back to the UAE we are blown away by the growth in cycling there. It’s nice to think that we are playing a small part in that growth and it’s a special feeling to be part of it. Hopefully we can do everybody proud in the Tour de France.
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
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Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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On sale: Now
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
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Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
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'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
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5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
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6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
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6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
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7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
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7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
FIXTURES
December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
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December 30
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
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2 Kuwaiti teams
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
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Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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The specs
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Power: 579hp
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Price: From Dh825,900
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