This year's Tour de France finally witnessed a home win as Valentin Paret-Peintre secured a breathtaking Stage 16 victory on top of Mont Ventoux on Tuesday.
The Soudal-Soudal Quick-Step rider had to dig deep to edge out Ireland's Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) on the line to secure only his second Grand Tour victory – following a triumph in last year's Giro d'Italia – with Colombian Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) finishing four seconds back on the top two.
Yellow jersey holder Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard fought an enthralling battle up the iconic 15km climb as the second-placed Dane attacked on four separate occasions but was unable to drop the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider.
In the end, Pogacar came home fifth on the 'Giant of Provence', two seconds ahead of Vingegaard, with the Slovenian extending his overall lead to 4 minutes and 15 seconds. Germany's Florian Lipowitz is in third, more than nine minutes off the pace.
There was more frustration for two-time winner Vingegaard when he crashed into a photographer after the stage finished.
“[He] just ran straight out of in front of me, straight after the finish line. I don't know what he was doing,” said the 2022 and 2023 champion. “I went down. I think people in the finish area, they should use their eyes a bit more.”
Vingegaard insisted he would continue to fight Pogacar all the way for the title. “I was feeling very good today, so happy with the feeling today, and happy with the attacks I tried to do,” he said.
“I didn't gain any time today but I take a lot of motivation. “He [Pogacar] followed me every time I attacked, and I followed him when he attacked.
“So I don't know if I could see any weaknesses today. But at least it gives me some motivation how good I felt today. And as I said earlier, I will keep trying.”
In what was one of the most exciting breakaway days in recent Tour memory, Paret-Peintre came out on top and secured the first French win at the summit of Ventoux for 23 years and only the fifth of all time.
“I honestly didn’t believe it,” he said. “I thought Pogacar would go for victory today. But when we built a real gap, I told myself, you can’t let a win on Mont Ventoux slip through your fingers.”
Meanwhile, Mathieu van der Poel's Tour de France is over after the 2023 world champion was diagnosed with pneumonia, his team Alpecin-Deceuninck announced on Tuesday.
The Dutch rider was taken to hospital on Monday after cold symptoms worsened and he failed to make it to the start line for Stage 16.
Van der Poel had edged out Pogacar in a sprint finish to win Stage 2 and had worn the yellow jersey for four days but had fallen one hour and 40 minutes behind the leader by the end of Sunday's Stage 15.
“Mathieu had been showing symptoms of a cold for several days, but yesterday afternoon his condition deteriorated significantly. In the evening, he developed a fever and was taken to Narbonne hospital for tests,” the Belgian team said.
“Medical tests revealed that Mathieu was suffering from pneumonia. In consultation with the medical staff, it was decided that he cannot continue the race. His health is the priority.”
Stage 17 should be one for the sprinters as Tim Merlier hopes to add to his two stage wins and current green jersey holder Jonathan Milan also targets a second win at the 700m straight run to the finish line at Valence.
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
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
MATCH INFO
What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae
More coverage from the Future Forum
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
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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