My favourite race of the year is just around the corner and I can’t wait to return home and build on the amazing momentum the team has from winning the Tour de France.
The Giro d’Italia has always been special to me as I get to head back to Italy and race in front of my own fans, friends and family. It will obviously be a little different this year with less spectators, but I am more motivated than ever to do well.
The Giro is well known for its long, high mountain stages in the Alps and Dolomites and, just like the Tour de France, spread over 21 gruelling stages.
We will start in Monreale on Saturday with a strong team and look to be as competitive as possible. Personally, I look forward to the hilly stages and climbs the most as they are well suited to my size and attributes. Being agile and using my savvy should help me in these stages.
This year we will face three-time trials, including one on the final day in Milan which could make a big difference in the GC standings, just like we saw in the Tour de France with Tadej Pogacar and Primoz Roglic.
My memories of the Giro are very satisfying and it always make me smile when thinking about it.
Last year I put in one of my most memorable performances since joining UAE Team Emirates and I hope to do the same this time. I managed to keep hold of the revered pink jersey for six days in some really tough weather.
It was not easy to keep the pink jersey for that long and it was a big achievement for the entire team at the time. Every stage is hard, so we had to be ready at our best every single day. Everything was thoroughly well-planned, and we got our tactics spot on. I think we took everyone by surprise - something that may not be the case this year.
After Tadej’s Tour de France win, teams will now be looking at us as one of the main teams to beat. The experience we gained last year puts us in good stead for the race and I feel prepared to do well.
Funnily enough, it was my teammate Jan Polanc who rose to the top of the GC and took the pink jersey from me last year and kept it for a further two days. I was of course delighted for Jan as he has done a lot of work for me in the past and I hope we can work together this year to bring the Maglia Rosa home.
I had a wonderful race last year but was I unfortunately forced to abandon early because of an injury that hampered my pedalling. This is not how I want my Giro to end. I will always remember the days I spent in pink and they will motivate me to go even further.
My goal this year is to help the team, to win stages and wear the pink jersey again. It has been a somewhat different year because of Covid but I am ecstatic the team did well during this year’s Tour the France.
It’s incredible to think that the team is only three years old and we’ve already got a Tour de France win under our belts. The future is very bright and we’re all very excited to be a part of such an incredible project.
Hopefully we can bring that team spirit to Italy. I am super proud of Pogacar, he was unstoppable during the Tour and I hope I can show my family and fans the same at the Giro.
We know it will be a difficult tour this year. We have a strict calendar with lots of races in a short time. I want to thank the team that has become a family. I have special gratitude for them; they have faith in me, and I will do my best.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS & THE ECONOMY
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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Dubai Creek Open in numbers
- The Dubai Creek Open is the 10th tournament on this year's Mena Tour
- It is the first of five events before the season-concluding Mena Tour Championship
- This week's field comprises 120 players, 21 of which are amateurs
- 15 previous Mena Tour winners are competing at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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