UAE Team Emirates' Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar (R) cycles with teammates during a team training session, on June 29, 2023, two days prior to the start of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, in Bilbao, in northern Spain. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
UAE Team Emirates' Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar (R) cycles with teammates during a team training session, on June 29, 2023, two days prior to the start of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, in Bilbao, in northern Spain. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
UAE Team Emirates' Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar (R) cycles with teammates during a team training session, on June 29, 2023, two days prior to the start of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, in Bilbao, in northern Spain. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
UAE Team Emirates' Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar (R) cycles with teammates during a team training session, on June 29, 2023, two days prior to the start of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycl

Sport

Adam Yates named UAE Team Emirates co-leader due to Tadej Pogacar fitness concerns

Egan Bernal 'grateful to be alive' as he makes his return to the tour following a life-threatening crash

Jon Turner

June 29, 2023

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UAE Team Emirates have named Adam Yates as their co-leader for the Tour de France due to fitness concerns of two-time champion Tadej Pogacar.

Pogacar, the world's top-ranked road cyclist, was in imperious form this year until breaking his wrist in a fall during April's Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

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While Pogacar said he is happy with his preparations, team principal Mauro Gianetti said his lack of recent races has forced UAE Team Emirates' hand.

"We really don't have any choice because Tadej spent five weeks without being able to train on the road," Gianetti said. "He has worked hard. We have a lot of faith in him but there are no miracles in cycling."

Pogacar returned to competition last week by winning the time-trial and road race at the National Championships for his 13th and 14th victories of the season.

"That doesn't mean he'll be 100 per cent ready for Saturday," Gianetti added.

A year ago, Jonas Vingegaard, aided by his Jumbo-Visma team's collective strength, outlasted the daring Pogacar in a ruthless war of attrition in the mountains.

Pogacar had finished first in 2021 for his second straight Tour de France title, with Vingegaard second, and the duel between the two is the headline act at this race.

Yates, who won the Tour de France white jersey as best young rider in 2016, joined UAE Team Emirates from Ineos this season and recently described Pogacar as "the superstar of the team".

"But, who knows, sometimes you get injured or sick and you always need back up," Yates said in the build up to Saturday's opening stage in the Bilbao back-country.

Tadej Pogacar rides with his UAE Team Emirates teammates during a training session, on June 29, 2023, two days prior to the start of the 110th edition of the Tour de France in Bilbao, in northern Spain. AFP
Tadej Pogacar rides with his UAE Team Emirates teammates during a training session, on June 29, 2023, two days prior to the start of the 110th edition of the Tour de France in Bilbao, in northern Spain. AFP
UAE Team Emirates riders during a team training session in Bilbao, Spain. AFP
UAE Team Emirates riders during a team training session in Bilbao, Spain. AFP
UAE Team Emirates during a team training session in Bilbao, Spain, ahead of the start of the Tour de France. AFP
UAE Team Emirates during a team training session in Bilbao, Spain, ahead of the start of the Tour de France. AFP
UAE Team Emirates during a team training session in Bilbao ahead of the Tour de France. AFP
UAE Team Emirates during a team training session in Bilbao ahead of the Tour de France. AFP
UAE Team Emirates during a training session in Bilbao. AFP
UAE Team Emirates during a training session in Bilbao. AFP
Tadej Pogacar waits before a team training session in Bilbao. AFP
Tadej Pogacar waits before a team training session in Bilbao. AFP
Tadej Pogacar during training in Bilbao ahead of the Tour de France. Reuters
Tadej Pogacar during training in Bilbao ahead of the Tour de France. Reuters
Tadej Pogacar shakes hands with a teammate before taking part in a team training session. AFP
Tadej Pogacar shakes hands with a teammate before taking part in a team training session. AFP
Tadej Pogacar with UAE Team Emirates director Matxin Feernandez. Reuters
Tadej Pogacar with UAE Team Emirates director Matxin Feernandez. Reuters
Tadej Pogacar leaves the team bus for a team training session. Reuters
Tadej Pogacar leaves the team bus for a team training session. Reuters

Egan Bernal, winner in 2019, makes his return to the Tour de France after he suffered a near-fatal crash in a high-speed collision in January last year. Bernal is not expected to challenge Pogacar and Vingegaard for the yellow jersey, but the Colombian is just grateful to take his place on the start line.

Bernal required multiple surgeries after crashing into a stationary bus while training in his home country. He said the accident left him with a 95 per cent chance of becoming a paraplegic, but he was back on his bike two months later.

"I think I should be grateful to be alive, to be here and to be in the Tour squad," said Bernal, who is part of the Ineos Grenadiers team. "I would love to get back to my level, to race again and see what it will be like to be against these big names.

"I try to compare myself to them and that's why I keep cycling. I wake up every day working and thinking about it, about starting to get back to my best. Whether I achieve that goal or not is different, but that's what I'm working for."

Bernal's accident was a reminder of the dangers professional riders face, and that became even more apparent after Gino Mader's death during the Tour de Suisse earlier this month.

Tour de France 2023 team guide and route info

Confirmed team line-ups for the 2023 Tour de France.
Confirmed team line-ups for the 2023 Tour de France.
Confirmed team line-ups for the 2023 Tour de France.
Confirmed team line-ups for the 2023 Tour de France.
Confirmed team line-ups for the 2023 Tour de France.
Confirmed team line-ups for the 2023 Tour de France.
Tour de France jerseys and their roles in the race.
Tour de France jerseys and their roles in the race.
The 2023 Tour de France route.
The 2023 Tour de France route.

Swiss rider Mader died aged 26 due to injuries suffered when he crashed into a ravine during a high-speed descent, raising more questions and concerns about rider safety. And Bernal's Ineos teammate Tom Pidcock believes Mader's death could result in riders being more cautious at the Tour de France.

Descending is one of Pidcock's strengths but the 23-year-old, who last year won an iconic Tour de France stage at L'Alpe d'Huez which included a lightning speed descent, said Mader's death may have an impact on his style.

"I think especially for everyone who was at the race, that was pretty hard hitting," said Pidcock, who also competing in the eight-stage race.

"I think I didn't see a single rider take any risks on the last two stages after that incident. Personally, one of the things that hit me was it happened descending, which is something that I love.

"It showed me what the consequences can be when it goes wrong. I don't take unnecessary risks but things can happen when we're riding down a descent at 100kph in lycra."

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Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Grand slam winners since July 2003

Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam

Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)

Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)

Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)

Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)

Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)

Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open) 

Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)

Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)

Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)

Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)

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Key facilities
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  • 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
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  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)

3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)

4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)

5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)

6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)

7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)

8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)

9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)

10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)

11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)

12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)

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The biog

Name: Salem Alkarbi

Age: 32

Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira

First started supporting Al Wasl: 7

Biggest rival: Al Nasr

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Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

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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.

Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

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War

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Rating: Two out of five stars 

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness' 

   

 

Director: Sam Raimi

 

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams

 

Rating: 3/5

 
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Our legal advisor

Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation. 

Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.

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Updated: July 04, 2023, 10:00 AM`
CyclingTadej PogačarUAE Team Emirates