UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar strengthened his lead at the Tour de France after a tough Stage 15 that was won by America's Sepp Kuss.
Kuss, 26, became the first American since Tyler Farrar back in 2011 to win a stage on the Tour, coming home 23 seconds ahead of Spain's Alejandro Valverde.
He went clear of the leading breakaway group on the ride up the Col de Beixalis with 19km remaining of the 191.3km stage to Andorre-La-Vieille.
Pogacar is perhaps the big winner on the day after he was isolated on the windy slopes of the third climb, but kept his calm and, crucially, pace as his closest rivals took turns to attack him.
Ineos Grenadiers have said they plan to grind him down in a bid to manoeuvre their own rider, Richard Carapaz, into contention for the yellow jersey. The Ecuadorian currently lies fourth, 5 min 33 sec behind Pogacar.
The Slovenian heads into Monday's rest day with an advantage of five minutes and 18 seconds on Colombian Rigoberto Uran with Dane Jonas Vingegaard, Kuss's teammate, in third place a further 14 seconds adrift.
Krus made his move with five kilometres of the final category climb to go as the remnants of a powerful breakaway — which had also included Nairo Quintana, Julian Alaphilippe and Dan Martin — split one final time.
The 41-year-old Valverde was the only man to sustain a challenge but the Movistar rider could not make an impression on the 14.5km run down into town.
Wout Poels led home the next group of riders 75 seconds later, while Martin came in eighth a further seven seconds back.
“It's incredible. I'm lost for words,” said Kuss. “To be honest, I've really suffered a lot in this Tour, I just didn't feel I had the … the spice in the legs.
“Today I knew it was finishing where I live, and I was really motivated. Finally I had really good legs again so I'm so happy.
“My girlfriend and her family were on the final climb cheering me on. I also want to say hi to my parents back home because I haven't seen them in a long time. So I had my family of Spain and my family back home in the US.
“I know the final climb fairly well. I actually don't ride it so much in training because it's so hard but I knew the beginning was tough so I knew if I went there and got a gap then I could try to hold it to the finish.”
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)
Dunki
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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What are the regulations?
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- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
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- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
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Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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.
The specs
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Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
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