UAE Team Emirates rider Kristijan Durasek has set two major objectives for the year. His immediate target is to regain the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, which he won in 2015, and next is a long-term goal to qualify for a third successive Olympic Games in 2020.
The Croatian, 31, hasn’t had many races so far this year but expects a busy summer when the European season gets into full swing.
The 55th edition of the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey takes place from April 16-21, part of the UCI World Tour calendar for the third time.
“Much of my early work in the year is to prepare for the European season,” said Durasek after making a guest appearance at the Special Olympics World Games cycling event at Yas Marina on Sunday.
“My focus will be based on the team’s plan and the Tour of Turkey is one of them. Of course, I have competed in a few races already and will have a couple more ahead of Turkey.”
Durasek hasn’t given much thought to qualifying for Tokyo 2020, but insisted racing for the team will provide him with the opportunities to rack up world ranking points to help him achieve his objective.
“I enjoyed making it to the Olympics in 2012 and 2016, and a third appearance certainly is on my radar,” he said.
Durasek is also confident of the UAE Team Emirates achieving better results as the team continues to strengthen each year.
“The results are there to be seen every passing year and the team can only continue to move forward from the efforts that go into the development every year,” he said.
The UAE Team Emirates cyclist said he enjoyed his first appearance at a Special Olympics World Games and stated it was an experience of a lifetime.
“It was a great experience for me,” he said. “It was a really nice feeling to meet these athletes and share my experience as a professional athlete.
“I enjoyed watching them compete and enjoy the moments when they celebrated their achievements.
“I was there to encourage and motivate them. Speaking to them, I got emotional. I told them they must continue to participate in whatever sports they want to play regardless of the results.
“This is the best way to have fun, to express your joy on the sporting arena. It was so wonderful to see the happiness and joy on their faces when they were presented medals. It was so touching and I’ll remember this experience all my life.”
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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
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
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There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
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Rating: 4/5
