Tadej Pogacar dug deep to keep the overall Tour de France lead after Friday's stage seven with Remco Evenepoel winning a thrilling 25.3km time trial through the Burgundy vineyards.
It was a first Tour de France stage win for the 24-year-old Belgian time trial world champion who finished 12 seconds ahead of UAE Team Emirates rider Pogacar, who was second on the day after a gutsy effort.
Veteran Primoz Roglic was third at 34sec and two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard fourth at 37sec. The result leaves the so called 'Fab Four' favourites in the top four positions after seven stages of the 21-day race.
The four all sped down the starting ramp at Nuits-Saint-Georges within 10 minutes of each other, making the finale a nail-biting edge of the seat affair.
Timekeepers Tissot employed state of the art cameras at three intermediate points along the route packed with fans as the fates swung one way then another.
Evenepoel was powering ahead to a wider margin of victory before his gears stuck, a problem he solved by bouncing hard on his seat, testimony to his cool under pressure despite this being his first Grand Boucle.
At the raucous finish line fans pounded on the barriers and cheered as the see-saw struggle between the pretenders panned out well for all four of them.
Evenepoel has now beaten Pogacar in all six time trials in which they have gone head-to-head.
Denmark's Vingegaard had beaten Pogacar in the last two time trials they faced off, but dropped time on the Slovenian on Friday.
Speaking after his win, Evenepoel said: "Crazy. It was on a good day, the climb was actually pretty tough. I wanted to start fast and keep something for the climb and the descent was on the limit, pretty technical and fast but I enjoyed every metre of this time trial. Coming out with a win is simply amazing so I am super happy.
“I was pretty sure I had a puncture actually but I think someone maybe dropped a glass or hit the fence or something, it was exactly the same sound as a puncture. After a few hundred metres I knew nothing was wrong but I kept going with a bit of fear in my head because I thought it was a slow puncture.
"I had to take risks because I knew Tadej was close to me. It was a close one but I wanted to win today and that’s accomplished.
“We weren't really thinking about the time gaps in the GC. We just want to take a stage win that is done. So perfect day for me and my team, took some time on the others so mission accomplished and now we have to focus on tomorrow and on Sunday, of course."
Pogacar had no complaints about being beaten by the world time trial champion.
“To lose against Remco, against the the world champion and best time triallist in the world right now, I think that’s pretty good and I can be satisfied,” he said.
“For sure I would love to take a stage win, but against Remco it’s pretty tough. I gained time on Primoz and and Jonas and the other guys so I can be happy. I need to keep an eye on Remco, he’s a bit closer, but also Jonas and Primoz can show good legs in the mountains.”
Stage seven results
1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal-Quick Step) 28mins 52secs
2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) +12secs
3. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +34secs
4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +37secs
5. Victor Campenaerts (Bel/Lotto-dstny) +52secs
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Raghida, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,200m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Liwa Oasis Group 2 (PA) Dh300,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Trolius, Ryan Powell, Simon Crisford
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Company%20Profile
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ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
