In a year when Olympic glory is dominating her thoughts, Silvia Persico's immediate priority is to maintain what has been a flying start to the 2024 season for UAE Team ADQ at their home race.
Having finished third in the general classification of 2023's inaugural UAE Tour Women, the Italian is now looking to move up the podium this time round.
It is a huge season ahead for the 26-year-old, one that will hopefully see her racing as part of a successful Italian team in the Paris Olympics road race.
Persico's performances has established her as one of cycling's most exciting riders over the past couple of years, starting with 2022's first Tour de France Femmes where she finished seven of the eight stages inside the top 10, ending up in fifth place overall.
An eighth-place finish at the 2023 Giro d’Italia followed, and she now has high hopes of representing her country at this year's Olympics. But before that, Persico's focus is firmly on the four-day race that started in Dubai on Thursday.
“If I will go, yes, of course it will be my first Olympics and I'm super excited because I think that just to be there will be really amazing,” Persico told The National.
“In case I will be there, I will try my best and try to maybe win a medal and I think that will change your life. So, we will see, and representing Italy in the Olympics is a lifetime achievement. We are really united as a team. We race all the year in different teams but when we put on the same jersey, we are really united.
“With the Olympics in mind, I did one winter easy and one without cyclocross, which was my passion.
“However, I prefer to be relaxed and of course think about the Olympics when it gets closer. For now, I want just to think about the days ahead that are important for me and for my team.
“The Olympics is in July-August and I can put those thoughts behind me for the moment as my focus now is on the UAE Tour. This is my first priority because this is a home race for us and it’s important to achieve a good result.”
UAE Team ADQ has made an impressive start to 2024 with three victories and have shown steady progress since their first participation in the World Tour last year. Eleonora Gasparrini was first up, winning the Challenge Ciclista Mallorca Femenina; Sofia Bertizzolo claimed victory in the Geelong Classic in Australia while Dominika Wlodarczyk finished second in the Deakin University Elite Women's Road Race and also took the UCI Women's World Tour leader's jersey.
Now Persico is looking to maintain the team's flying start at the UAE Tour Women. She looks back fondly on her third-place finish in last year's race when riders had to negotiate strong crosswinds, but the forecast this weekend is for heavy rain which will make conditions even more problematic.
“I'm super happy to be here for the second time,” said Persico of her return to the UAE. “Last year, I finished on the podium and, of course, I have good memories of that as it was very special because it's the home race for us.
“It's my goal to get a better result in this UAE Tour because the level of the other girls in the team is really high. It was really hard last year but I was looking at the forecast and of course, also this year it will be maybe worse."
The race route consists of three flat stages and the Jebel Hafeet mountain climb.
Persico finished third on the summit finish last year which was won by the eventual GC winner Elisa Longo Borghini, with her teammate Gaia Realin in second.
“Jebel Hafeet is hard but it's not the hardest,” Persico said of the steep mountain stage that usually tilts the balance of the GC.
“I'm happy to climb, and OK, I'm not a pro climber, but I have really good power in the climb, so we will see. Of course, I really like it and with Erica [Magnaldi – her UAE teammate], we will also go for the win on this stage, or do really good work for the general classification.”
The UAE Team ADQ have gone through numerous changes with only Persico and Chiara Consonni remaining from last year’s line-up in the UAE Tour.
Joining them for the first time in the home race are Magnaldi, Alena Amialiusik, Karlijn Swinkels, and Tereza Neumanova, with the team having assembled on February 4 in Al Ain for training.
“Last year was the first year together and I think this year we are stronger and more united as a team,” Persico added.
“We did a really good training camp in December and one in January and we really started the season in a good way with two victories already. So, I think it's really important for the team to come here and be ready to compete with the right mentality.
“We got just two of us from last year, me and Chiara, and the others are new, but like I said before, we really worked together for almost one month, so we know each other.
“It's a really good group this year with the other girls. I feel super good and we really work together. I think that it is important because it's important to be united.”
“We did the mountain climb [Jebel Hafeet] a couple of times and stayed together which I think was important. The weather here was a bit different than in Italy. It’s like almost 20 degrees warmer.”
Away from cycling, Persico spends her spare time running, reading, listening to music and doing photography, as well as spending time with her family.
“I try to do something different than biking, because I think that it's important for my mind,” she said. “We spend a lot of time far from the family so when I'm at home I really like to enjoy being with them and staying together.”
But her family's links with the sport are strong, so talk will inevitably lead back to cycling. “My younger brother Davide is a pro cyclist. He’s in his first year as a pro,” she explained.
“So, he has just finished second in the Tour Colombia first stage. I am really happy for him. We really support each other. We are always far but little messages every now and then keep us together.”
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
Golden Shoe top five (as of March 1):
Harry Kane, Tottenham, Premier League, 24 goals, 48 points
Edinson Cavani, PSG, Ligue 1, 24 goals, 48 points
Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A, 23 goals, 46 points
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, 23 goals, 46 points
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, 22 goals, 44 points
DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP) 151
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP) 136
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing) 107
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 83
6. Sergio Perez (Force India) 50
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 45
8. Esteban Ocon (Force India) 39
9. Carlos Sainz (Torro Rosso) 29
10. Felipe Massa (Williams) 22
Messi at the Copa America
2007 – lost 3-0 to Brazil in the final
2011 – lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-finals
2015 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
2016 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
If you go
The flights
Emirates (www.emirates.com) and Etihad (www.etihad.com) both fly direct to Bengaluru, with return fares from Dh 1240. From Bengaluru airport, Coorg is a five-hour drive by car.
The hotels
The Tamara (www.thetamara.com) is located inside a working coffee plantation and offers individual villas with sprawling views of the hills (tariff from Dh1,300, including taxes and breakfast).
When to go
Coorg is an all-year destination, with the peak season for travel extending from the cooler months between October and March.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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
match info
Southampton 2 (Ings 32' & pen 89') Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Son 45', 47', 64', & 73', Kane 82')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
