With the pressure of retaining his UAE Tour crown behind him, UAE Team Emirates star Tadej Pogacar’s next goal is completing a hat-trick of Tour de France titles.
The Slovenian, 23, won the seventh and final stage of the UAE Tour from Adam Yates of Ineos Grenadiers at the summit of Jebel Hafeet on Saturday.
“I want to enjoy this career in cycling as long as possible,” Pogacar told The National as he helped to launch a new cycling academy programme by Aldar, in partnership with UAE Team Emirates, at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday.
“I’m in good shape and good races are coming, so I say to myself just go and enjoy the races. I love cycling and I love racing. That’s my goal, to enjoy what I’m doing now."
Pogacar revealed that winning the UAE Tour for the second time was the team’s big goal from the start of the season.
“We have been preparing hard for this race,” he said. “And now we have done it, we are really proud and happy to win our home race.
“With this race behind us, there is no pressure any more. There is always a bit of pressure when you know you are defending a title, especially when it’s the home event for a home team, it’s really important.
“You need to bring the A game to the table in such races. I put some pressure on myself trying to do my best, and when you do your best you cannot do anything else. You don’t have to regret on anything.”
The UAE Team Emirates rider believes the team is “super strong” this year and is in good shape to win a lot titles.
“We have some new faces in the team and we understand each other really well,” he said.
“As teammates we fit in perfectly. This year we are going to be super strong, and for me, the main objective is the Tour de France, followed by the Vuelta a Espana.”
Pogacar is aware of the task ahead.
“To defend a title every year is very hard in cycling,” he said. “It’s so hard to predict because of the competitiveness. I just hope the preparation goes well and like every year we have to take [it] step by step.
“The Tour de France is the main goal this year again. I can now really focus on this race with the UAE Tour out of the way.”
Pogacar was presented the UAE Golden Visa on the podium after being crowned the UAE Tour winner.
“I was really honoured to receive the Golden Visa,” he said. “I was really surprised and a huge thank you to everyone.
“Now I can visit the UAE more frequently and perhaps spend my holidays as well. When I come here, I love it. I’m really happy to see cycling growing here.”
Pogacar and his UAE Tour teammates joined a group of young cyclists to launch UAE Team Emirates Cycling Academy presented by Aldar at a special event at Aldar Square on Yas Island.
“Cycling has always been my biggest passion, so it’s an honour to be involved in this project,” he said.
Now I can visit the UAE more frequently. I love it when I come here.
Tadej Pogacar
“I think it’s a fantastic sport for people of all ages and abilities - especially young children. It’s a great form of exercise, because it helps to increase fitness, muscle strength and flexibility, as well as improving mobility.
“It’s also loads of fun! Watching the kids here today reminds me of when I learnt to cycle. It’s a sport that [has] given me so much in life, so I want to give back and to help inspire the next generation of cyclists.”
Salwa Al Maflahi, director of sustainability and CSR at Aldar said promoting well-being and healthy lifestyles is something Aldar are passionate about.
“We are thrilled to partner with UAE Team Emirates on this exciting new programme,” she said.
“With initiatives such as this, we hope to encourage young people to engage in a more active lifestyle - and in doing so, cultivate a health-conscious next generation.”
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
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Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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
