DUBAI // The Dubai Tour may be a relatively new event, with Wednesday marking only its second staging, yet it arrives with the typically grand ambitions expected of major sports events in the UAE.
Organisers already have managed to position it prominently on the calendar and attracted some of the best-known riders in the sport, such as Vincenzo Nibali, Mark Cavendish and Joaquim Rodriguez. They now hope the first race of the new year can show enough promise to justify claims that one day it can develop to be on par with the famous Giro d’Italia.
“We always look to achieve bigger and better to what we have now,” said Saeed Hareb, the secretary general of Dubai Sports Council. “We want to become one of the top tours in the world and we are doing good work. In this second year, we will do much better, and in another couple of years, we want to increase the number of stages. We will never stop.”
The UAE race, won last year by American Taylor Phinney, is the first of three Middle East events this month, with the Tour of Qatar and the Tour of Oman following up immediately afterwards.
This year’s Dubai Tour has been extended by 60 per cent and the time trial that shaped the overall classification last year has been eliminated in favour of a regular stage that includes a short climb in the southern region of Hatta.
This year’s race is likely to be decided by the bonus times offered at the end of the four stages, meaning sprinters could have a large impact on the outcome of the general classification.
RELATED
– Interactive map examining the race stages
– Interactive guide and map to Dubai Tour road closures
Riders to watch
Vincenzo Nibali
The Italian rider won the 2014 Tour de France and arrives as the star of the Astana Pro Team.
The Kazakhstan-backed outfit are looking to clean up their image following the doping scandal that last year resulted in them dismissing brothers Valentin and Maxim Iglinsky. In Nibali, Astana have one of only six riders in history to have won Europe’s three Grand Tours. In 2010, he won the Vuelta a Espana and three years later won his native Giro d’Italia on the snow-covered slopes of Tre Cimi de Laveredo. At last year’s Tour de France, he claimed four stage victories in three mountain ranges, perfectly showcasing his strength and power.
Mark Cavendish
The Englishman is widely regarded as the fastest road cyclist in the world, having won 43 Grand Tour stages, including the final Champs-Elysees stage of the Tour de France four times in succession. He was named British Sports Personality of the Year in 2011 and followed it up the next year by being named the Tour de France's "best sprinter of all time" by L'Equipe. After suffering a crash in the first stage of the Tour de France last year that left him with a dislocated shoulder, he missed much of the season, but returns to Dubai this week with his Etixx-Quick Step team.
Alejandro Valverde
At 34, the 2009 Vuelta a Espana winner is one of the older riders at the top of the Dubai Tour field, but the Spaniard insists he is improving with age. Recent results would indicate he is not exaggerating: since 2012, Valverde has finished on the podium at the Vuelta all three years and finished fourth – his best finish yet – at last season’s Tour de France. He also won the La Fleche Wallonne and the Clasica de San Sebastian last year, for the first time since 2008.
Philippe Gilbert
In 2011, the Belgian became one of only two riders to win all three Ardennes classics in the same season and followed it up a year later with the World Road Race Championships title. He has a reputation as a Classics specialist, after taking 11 titles in the past seven years, and on the Grand Tour has won stages of all three events, including five stages of the Vuelta. He races in Dubai as the headline act of the United States’s BMC Racing Team.
John Degenkolb
The 26-year-old German races for Team Giant-Alpecin and is one of the most highly rated young riders in the sport, having won the 2012 UCI Europe Tour, a stage of the Giro d’Italia and nine stages of the Vuelta a Espana, including Stage 4, which was contested in energy-sapping temperatures similar to what he may face this week in Dubai. Last year, he won the Gent-Wevelgem as well as the points classification and three stages of the Tour Mediterranean. After claiming the points classification at the 2014 Vuelta, he was taken to a Frankfurt hospital with swollen lymph nodes.
Where to watch
Dubai International Marine Club, Mina Seyahi
Every day, from 9am; With the riders starting all four days at the Dubai International Marine Club, it will be the prime place to speak with the athletes, get some autographs and watch them interacting with each other before they set off to tackle each stage.
Union Flag
Day 1, 1.30pm to 3.30pm; After 145km, the first stage ends with a turn at the Union Flag at the start of Jumeirah Beach Road. Position yourself there and you can witness the entire end phase as the riders race in, turn and proceed at pace back to the finish line.
Atlantis Hotel, The Palm
Day 2, 2.30pm to 3.35pm; On the second day of the Dubai Tour, a 187km stage will culminate in front of the Atlantis. A place at the tip of Palm Jumeirah puts fans between the Gulf and the finish line, which fine views of both.
Hajar Mountains
Day 3, 2.30pm to 3.45pm; On the third day, after more than 150km of flat riding, the field will face a short climb into the Hajar Mountains. As well as some of the most beautiful natural scenery the emirate has to offer, the Hatta stage of the event is also expected to produce a few surprise performances.
Burj Khalifa
Day 4, 2.30pm to 3.35pm; The Burj stage on the final day is 123km and the riders will be able to see the finish line throughout given its position at the foot of the world’s tallest building. It will act as the backdrop to the podium ceremony when the winner of the general classification stands – blue-shirted – and celebrates winning the second Dubai Tour.
Dubai Tour terms to know
Breakaway specialist: A rider who is specialised in attacking the race from the start in order to try to win the stage without having to fight at the finish line.
Bunch sprint: The riders, arriving near the finish in massive numbers and at speeds in excess of 60kph, attempt to draft their sprinters in a good position to claim the victory.
Classic: A one-day race of great prestige.
Climber: A rider who specialises in riding uphill.
Commissaire: A race judge.
Domestique: A rider who supports and works for other riders in their team.
Flamme rouge: A red flag displayed with 1km remaining from the finish line of a race.
GC: An abbreviation for General Classification, the timing splits used to determine who is winning.
Intermediate sprint: To keep the race active, points are offered along the course where the riders will sprint for time bonuses or other prizes.
Peloton: The large main group of riders.
Sprinter: Rider with the ability to generate high power over short periods.
Time trial: A solo race against the clock where riders start one at a time.
ENTERED TEAMS AND STAR RIDERS
AG2R La Mondale (FRA), Jan Bakelants (Belgium); Astana Pro Team (KAZ), Vicenzo Nibali (Italy); Bardiani CSF (ITA), Giovanni Battaglin (Italy); BMC Racing Team (USA), Philippe Gilbert (Belgium); CCC Sprandi Polkowice (POL), Grega Bole (Slovenia); Etixx-Quick Step (BEL), Mark Cavendish (Great Britain); Lampre-Merida (ITA), Filippo Pozzato (Italy); Movistar Team (ESP); Alejandro Valverde (Spain); Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team (UAE), Francisco Mancebo (Spain); Team Giant-Alpecin (GER), John Degenkolb (Germany); Team Katusha (RUS), Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain); Team Novo Nordisk (USA), Javier Megias (Spain); Team Sky (GBR), Geraint Thomas (Great Britain); Tinkoff-Saxo (RUS), Michael Valgren (Denmark); UAE National Selection (UAE), Badr Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE); United Healthcare Professional Cycling Team (USA); Marco Canola (Italy)
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Jiu-jitsu calendar of events for 2017-2018:
August 5:
Round-1 of the President’s Cup in Al Ain.
August 11-13:
Asian Championship in Vietnam.
September 8-9:
Ajman International.
September 16-17
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Ashgabat.
September 22-24:
IJJF Balkan Junior Open, Montenegro.
September 23-24:
Grand Slam Los Angeles.
September 29:
Round-1 Mother of The Nation Cup.
October 13-14:
Al Ain U18 International.
September 20-21:
Al Ain International.
November 3:
Round-2 Mother of The National Cup.
November 4:
Round-2 President’s Cup.
November 10-12:
Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro.
November 24-26:
World Championship, Columbia.
November 30:
World Beach Championship, Columbia.
December 8-9:
Dubai International.
December 23:
Round-3 President’s Cup, Sharjah.
January 12-13:
Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
January 26-27:
Fujairah International.
February 3:
Round-4 President’s Cup, Al Dhafra.
February 16-17:
Ras Al Khaimah International.
February 23-24:
The Challenge Championship.
March 10-11:
Grand Slam London.
March 16:
Final Round – Mother of The Nation.
March 17:
Final Round – President’s Cup.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SHAITTAN
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Schedule
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How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
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Baby Driver
Director: Edgar Wright
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James
Three and a half stars
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
More on animal trafficking
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Result
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,950m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Adam McLean, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,950m; Winner: Conclusion, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh100,000 1,400m; Winner: Pilgrim’s Treasure, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m; Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,000m; Winner: Midlander, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
More on Quran memorisation:
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
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
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.8%22%20edge%20quad-HD%2B%20dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%20Infinity-O%2C%203088%20x%201440%2C%20500ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20120Hz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204nm%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%20Gen%202%2C%2064-bit%20octa-core%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F12GB%20RAM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20128%2F256%2F512GB%2F1TB%20(only%20128GB%20has%20an%208GB%20RAM%20option)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20quad%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20f%2F2.2%20%2B%20200MP%20wide%20f%2F1.7%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%20f%2F4.9%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%202.4%3B%203x%2F10x%20optical%20zoom%2C%20Space%20Zoom%20up%20to%20100x%3B%20auto%20HDR%2C%20expert%20RAW%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208K%4024%2F30fps%2C%204K%4060fps%2C%20full-HD%4060fps%2C%20HD%4030fps%2C%20full-HD%20super%20slo-mo%40960fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%20f%2F2.2%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205000mAh%2C%20fast%20wireless%20charging%202.0%2C%20Wireless%20PowerShare%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205G%2C%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.2%2C%20NFC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3B%20built-in%20Galaxy%20S%20Pen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESIM%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20single%20nano%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20cream%2C%20green%2C%20lavender%2C%20phantom%20black%3B%20online%20exclusives%3A%20graphite%2C%20lime%2C%20red%2C%20sky%20blue%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh4%2C949%20for%20256GB%2C%20Dh5%2C449%20for%20512GB%2C%20Dh6%2C449%20for%201TB%3B%20128GB%20unavailable%20in%20the%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
The years Ramadan fell in May
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions