Thinking back to the start line in Venaria Reale on Saturday, May 4, the rumblings and whispers amongst the peloton, echoed by the voices of the cycling world, were focused solely on one topic and one man: if not Tadej Pogacar, then who? If Pogacar, by how much?
The expectation on the shoulders of the greatest cyclist of our generation, and arguably ever, heading into the first Grand Tour of the season couldn’t have been greater. The Slovenian sensation arrived on the start line in imperious form, blowing his competitors away in the Volta Catalunya, Liege-Baston-Liege, and Strade Bianche. Would we see a further extension of his greatness in the mountains of Italy? You bet.
Stage 1 set the tone for the entire Giro D’Italia. Pogacar attacking in a way only he can, lighting up the peloton and leaving the chasing group scrambling. He was bravely followed by Jhonatan Narvaez and Maximilian Schachmann and ultimately beaten to the stage on the line by the more powerful Ecuadorean, but it was an early warning to the rest of the peloton and a sign of things to come.
The UAE Team Emirates talisman is adored by the world of cycling for his insatiable appetite for winning, so losing on the line in Stage 1 merely poked the bear and further increased his desire to remind everyone why he is the very best. The podium isn’t enough for him. He belongs on the top step, and this was his focus heading into Stage 2. Never pull a tiger’s tail. Finishing on the podium well and truly tugged his tail.
Stage 2 went how everyone expected – a hungry Pogacar asserting himself over the rest of the field and putting 0.27 seconds into his closest competitor, Dani Martinez. Pogacar’s dominance put a marker down that he wasn’t just here to win the Giro D’Italia, he was here to dominate in a manner never seen before in La Corsa Rosa history. The race then transitioned into the first section of flatter stages, with the sprinters coming to the fore and Jonathan Milan dominating the early battles to the line.
Stage 7 showcased another string to the bow of Pogacar’s unmatched cycling immortality. The first individual time-trial of the race in Foligno looked favourable for the Italian powerhouse Filippo Ganna, but in true Pogacar fashion, he tore up every cycling norm and produced one of the all-time time-trial performances.
He’s no stranger to time-trial glory, winning his first Tour de France title in memorable fashion – producing a mesmeric effort against fellow countryman Primoz Roglic to steal the Yellow Jersey and overall victory. This time in Italy, he put in a stunning ride, rocketing up the category 4 climb at the end of the 40.6km course from Foligno to Perugia to snatch the stage victory, ultimately strengthening his grip on the Maglia Rosa.
Stage 8 saw Pogacar go back-to-back, producing a mammoth effort after some incredible work by his team in controlling the peloton, dictating the pace, and ensuring the 14-man breakaway never gained an advantage that couldn’t be made up heading into the final climb. Pogacar’s victory meant he took a monstrous advantage over his rivals heading into the first rest day, and this was just the beginning.
The next stage that cemented Pogacar’s seat on cycling’s Mount Rushmore was the Queen Stage (Stage 15), where he produced one of the greatest individual rides ever seen in Grand Tour racing. The Slovenian superstar produced a dazzling attack with 14km to go and showed he truly is a class apart from his competitors.
One-by-one he rapidly picked off riders who had attacked from the bunch, finally passing Nairo Quintana who rode valiantly, before ascending up the steepest slopes of Livigno to secure a quite remarkable victory. The brutal manner of this triumph will live long in the memory, extending his seismic advantage in the General Classification and all but securing his first ever Maglia Rosa.
After a well-earned rest day, the race was thrown into chaos with some torrential weather giving the race organisers an enormous headache as to how to navigate the stage to ensure fans were treated to the spectacle they were promised whilst ensuring rider safety wasn’t compromised.
In true Pogacar style, he didn’t disappoint. In some horrendous conditions, he prevailed victorious atop of Santa Cristina Valgardena, securing his second back-to-back stage victory of the Giro to merely thrust the dagger deeper into the hearts of his GC rivals.
The final act of the Pogacar masterclass came on the penultimate stage – Stage 20, whereby he stuck true to his word of wanting to put on one final show for his Slovenian fans by lighting up the double passage on the Monte Grappa.
After some quite brilliant work by his selfless band of brothers who again emptied themselves to put the Maglia Rosa in a position to secure an incredible sixth stage victory, the Slovenian went solo to the top of the climb after he immediately distanced the other top GC contenders and bridged the gap from his closest rival, Giulio Pellizzari.
As the No 1 cyclist in the world rolled into the Eternal City of Rome, shoulder-to-shoulder with his teammates, there was an overwhelming feeling from those watching on that we’ve all just had the privilege of witnessing cycling mastery from the standout rider not only of this season, but certainly of our generation, and arguably in the history of the sport.
And next in his sights? The Tour de France…
Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Tuesday, July 11
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court
Adrian Mannarino v Novak Djokovic (2)
Venus Williams (10) v Jelena Ostapenko (13)
Johanna Konta (6) v Simona Halep (2)
Court 1
Garbine Muguruza (14) v
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli
Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 355hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.9L / 100km
Super Saturday results
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
List of officials:
Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
