UAE Team Emirates have achieved plenty in a short time since taking over UCI World Tour team Lampre in December 2016.
They were winners of the first UCI Abu Dhabi Tour in 2017; there have been stage wins across the globe, including all three grand tours, and just this week the team won the Tour of California - the only top-level World Tour in the United States - after Tadej Pogačar claimed general classification (GC) honours.
All of these accomplishments - as well as the recruitment of top-bracket riders such as Dan Martin, Fabio Aru, Alexander Kristoff and Fernando Gaviria - have all contributed to UAE Team Emirates' transformation into serious contenders on the UCI World Tour.
Now the team has another major achievement to highlight their rapid progress: earning and retaining a general classification jersey in a grand tour.
That is thanks to Valerio Conti, who adorned the Giro d'Italia's maglia rosa - pink jersey - at the end of Stage 6 and has kept it in his possession for the three subsequent stages.
Standing on the top step of the GC podium at a grand tour is what all aspiring road race cyclists strive for, but to do it four times in his home race makes it even more memorable for the 26-year-old Italian.
“To be in the pink jersey is a dream come true. It's something I’m finding hard to believe, and I feel it will take still some time to really get my head around it," Conti said.
“It is very special. Every young kid that starts cycling – especially in Italy – dreams about wearing the pink jersey. Of course, it is something very special and it makes my whole family very happy.
"My father, Franco, was a pro rider and he won the amateur Giro d'Italia, whilst my uncle Noè was a pro rider too – so cycling runs in the family. The pink jersey is a prize for all the efforts my family made over the years.
“This is my best moment for sure, I cannot imagine something better. It is even better than when I won a stage at the Vuelta a Espana.”
Conti predates the takeover of UAE Team Emirates, having signed professional terms with Lampre in 2014 after one year in which he rode for the team as a stagiaire - an amateur rider who temporarily competes for a professional team.
That does not make him any less committed to the current cause.
“It is of course an honour, especially after being here so long and how deeply involved I am in the team project," Conti said.
"I really like the goals of the team and that’s why I am here. The pink jersey has set a new bar, and this helps the team in its path towards achieving the best possible level.
"The quality in the team is constantly increasing – this season we have added more great riders – and we all work together to achieve big results.”
Conti is aware that his time in the pink jersey is likely to be limited. Pre-race favourite Primoz Roglic closed the gap significantly after Sunday's individual time trial, and as the Giro heads into the mountains, other contenders are likely to emerge. Conti remains defiant, though.
“I’ll keep hold of the pink jersey until my legs, heart and brain will support me! Realistically, that will probably be at the end of this week, when we approach the first tough climbs and the general classification contenders start to put on the pressure.”
As well as achieving success on the World Tour, UAE Team Emirates continue to place huge importance on using their platform to encourage younger generations - both in the UAE and around the world - to take up cycling.
After making his own "dream come true" of leading a grand tour, Conti hopes that his achievements can inspire the riders of the future to pursue their own ambitions.
“It's important that youngsters all over the world see us at the front of the race, because it shows that dreams can become true, and that you should never stop believing they can,” he said.
“If me being in the pink jersey makes even just one young kid fall in love with cycling, then it is a good thing. But I hope that it will help to inspire many young boys and girls to cycle, across the UAE and beyond.”
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
WORLD CUP SQUAD
Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 450
Price, base / as tested Dh525,000 / Dh559,000
Engine: 3.0L V6 biturbo
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 369hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm at 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.0L / 100km
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
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Meydan Cup – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,810m
Winner Dubai Future, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mouheeb, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
8.15pm Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
9.50pm Meydan Classic – Conditions (TB) $$50,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm Dubai Sprint – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Man Of Promise, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Company%20Profile
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