Growing up in the northern town of Negrar in Italy, cycling has always been a constant in my life. I have been on the saddle since before I can remember, exploring the Italian countryside and getting lost in my own little world whilst on two wheels.
I was incredibly energetic as a child, often needing to find different activities to escape and exert the bundle of energy that I had bubbling away inside of me. Cycling gave me this release, and it quickly became my biggest passion in life. As I started to take up cycling seriously as opposed to just a hobby, my parents were on hand to offer unwavering support. They would take me to all of the races and drive me around the country. I certainly wouldn’t be here today as a professional cyclist without the sacrifices they made for me.
Today, I find myself among my fellow UAE Team Emirates riders at the Giro d’Italia. As an Italian cyclist, the Giro carries a little more importance to me due to it being my home Grand Tour event. It is such a special race for so many reasons – the breathtaking route through the Italian countryside and mountains, the incredible passion of the Italian fans out on the roadside, and the world-class level of competition. The Tour de France is often viewed as the pinnacle of the cycling calendar, but the Giro also has an exclusive spot at the top.
So far, we have performed well as a team without really turning the screw and bringing home race wins. Fernando Gaviria and I have both made the podium across different stages, but we have given ourselves numerous opportunities to convert race positions into stage wins, which we haven’t quite been able to achieve yet.
Finishing third place on Stage 7 was a really pleasing result for me in my home country. Of course, I wish I could have won the stage, but I gave it absolutely everything so I can have no regrets. It was a really tough day, and I knew I was one of the strongest on the climbs, but Team Jumbo-Visma had two riders well placed so it made for a really good battle. I was able to create a gap on the last climb, but they managed to claw some of it back before a sprint finish – which isn’t necessarily my strongest skill on the bike – meant I had to settle for third place.
The atmosphere in the team is still incredibly positive as we enter into the final week of the event. Delivering positive results is always the aim, but to do it for a team that make you feel like family makes it even more special. I feel very privileged to be here and have had some of the best years of my career as a part of this team.
Looking ahead, the next big goal for the team is the Tour de France. Tadej [Pogacar] and the rest of the guys know what it takes to win that event, so we will be looking to cross the line in Paris victorious for the third year in a row. This would be such an incredible achievement.
From a personal perspective, I will be taking a bit of a break upon completion of the Giro to allow my body to fully recover. From there, I will start to build up towards other races such as the Tour of Poland and II Lombardia at the end of the year. As a team, we have never targeted anything other than race wins in each event that we compete in, so we won’t be changing that mindset anytime soon!
Last but not least, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the Emirati people for their continued support for our team. Having visited the UAE many times now, the passion and enthusiasm around cycling is growing with each visit. This is certainly felt within our team, and it inspires us to give our best for the people of the UAE and represent them on the world stage.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
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
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
%3Cp%3EMATA%0D%3Cbr%3EArtist%3A%20M.I.A%0D%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Island%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More on Quran memorisation:
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
