Bradley Wiggins competes in the Six Day London Cycling at the Velodrome. Justin Setterfield / Getty Images
Bradley Wiggins competes in the Six Day London Cycling at the Velodrome. Justin Setterfield / Getty Images

Bradley Wiggins, weeks after Abu Dhabi Tour withdrawal, back on the bike at London Six Day



Bradley Wiggins embarked on the penultimate event of his cycling career on Tuesday at the London Six Day, two weeks after withdrawing from the 2016 Abu Dhabi Tour.

Wiggins, a five-time Olympic champion and the winner of the 2012 Tour de France, was scheduled to participate in this year's Abu Dhabi Tour — won by Estonia's Tanel Kangert — but pulled out the week before.

While no official reason was given for his withdrawal, it came amid ongoing revelations he used a banned substance in the form of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs).

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“It’s just good to get back on the bike. I love riding the track,” said Wiggins, who received a warm welcome from the crowd at Lee Valley VeloPark.

Wiggins, 36, has been forced to answer uncomfortable questions about his stance on doping ever since cyber hackers, Fancy Bears, revealed his use of the banned triamcinolone last month.

Wiggins and Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford have strenuously denied wrongdoing over the use of the drug, which has been linked to doping offences in the sport.

He had three TUEs for the substance approved by world cycling’s governing body the UCI to treat a pollen allergy. There is no suggestion he broke any rules.

UK Anti-Doping is investigating allegations of wrongdoing after reports a package was delivered to Team Sky during the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine, which Wiggins won.

Sky, British Cycling and Wiggins are co-operating with the probe.

Wiggins will bow out at next month’s Six Day in Ghent, the Belgian city where he was born.

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Brief scores:

Juventus 3

Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'

Frosinone 0

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

Age 26

Born May 17, 1991

Height 1.80 metres

Birthplace Sydney, Australia

Residence Eastbourne, England

Plays Right-handed

WTA titles 3

Prize money US$5,761,870 (Dh21,162,343.75)

Wins / losses 312 / 181

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

Defending champions

World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack

Green ambitions
  • Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
  • Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
  • Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
  • Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water 
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SCE%20Studio%20Cambridge%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%2C%20PlayStation%204%20and%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5