UAE Team Emirates' superstar Tadej Pogacar won his fourth consecutive Tour of Lombardy title on Saturday to round off what is perhaps the greatest season of all time.
The Slovenian had already captured the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and the World Championship Triple Crown before destroying the opposition to cross the line in Como for victory.
In a near-identical move to his attack at the World Championships two weeks ago, Pogacar broke clear around 50 kilometres from the end. No other rider even tried to catch him as he clinched the final one-day classic of the season.
The Team Emirates rider finished three minutes and 16 seconds ahead of Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step, with Lidl-Trek's Giulio Ciccone in third, 4:31 back. Pogacar chose not to take part in the Games in Paris shortly after becoming the first man in 26 years to seal the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double.
Saturday's victory was his fourth straight triumph in the Lombardia and drew him level with Italian Alfredo Binda (1925-27 and 1931) and just one behind Italian great Fausto Coppi (1946-49 and 1954) in the 120-year -old race, the season's final Monument Classic.
Pogacar also won another Monument this year when he triumphed in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege back in the spring. Saturday's win was his 25th of the season.
The undulating and scenic autumn race in Lombardy, known as the “Classic of the Falling Leaves” started in Bergamo and finished 255 kilometres later, with riders tackling iconic climbs such as Colma di Sormano and San Fermo della Battaglia before reaching Como's famed lakefront.
An early breakaway formed into about 10 riders, who were eventually caught with 48 kilometres left, which is when Pogacar decided it was time to go. One he made his break away, there was no attempt to reel him in.
After the race, Pogacar said: “Every victory is special, and today also. The team worked so hard all year for all the victories we achieved, and today is no different. It was a big day for us, long race, hard race, and it was all dependent on our team, but we did a super good job and I’m super happy to win with the team.
"We planned it like this [the attack on Sormano]. The race is so hard that in the end the last 40km is more or less man to man. I knew if I had a decent gap on the top I can come to the finish, but you never know. There was a moment after the descent where it was false down but really fast, then a little bit up and down, and there I tried to push to win some seconds and win the mental game on this chase. Then it was one by one to the finish anyway.
"I was just enjoying the crowds, and looking forward to off-season."
Asked about the history he has made this season, he added: "Let's see what at the end of the career."
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
