Tour de France sprinters will be breathing a sigh of relief and be anxious to take their chances on Friday’s 198.5km Stage 13 from Muret to Rodez.
After three gruelling days in the mountains trying simply to get home within the time limits, the sprinters will be feeling this is a stage for them.
Despite the Pyrenees being about the climbers and overall contenders, the Tour’s green sprint jersey was eagerly contested over the last three days.
Slovak Peter Sagan started the Pyrenees in green but Germany’s Andre Greipel wrested it away from him on Tuesday’s first mountain stage courtesy of the day’s intermediary sprint.
However, he was unable to follow an acceleration on an uphill slope on Wednesday – his birthday – and lost it as Sagan finished much the higher in the day’s intermediate sprint.
And Greipel just missed out on snatching back the jersey on Thursday by a mere two points.
Friday’s stage starts off flat and although it’s made for a breakaway, there will be points to pick up in the intermediate sprint, where Greipel may well become the virtual green jersey wearer on the road, should he finish above Sagan.
However, the stage then starts becoming very lumpy and the finish in Rodez tackles a 570m climb with an average gradient of 9.6 per cent.
That’s far more suited to a Sagan or John Degenkolb than the bigger, burly Greipel.
So far the green jersey battle has been a straight shoot-out between the German and Sagan but Degenkolb and Mark Cavendish have been keeping their points ticking over to give themselves a faint chance of wearing green in Paris.
To do so, though, they’re going to need to win a couple of stages as the sprint points on offer at the finish are far greater and the differences wider than in the intermediate sprints.
Degenkolb and Sagan, though, will likely get their teams to up the pace into the finish in Rodez in the hope of dropping Greipel and Cavendish on the steep finishing climb.
But as long as the breakaway has been reeled in, punchers such as Joaquim Rodriguez – winner of the third and 12th stages already – Alejandro Valverde, Dan Martin and Michal Kwiatkowski may all fancy their chances.
So too could Australian Michael Matthews who’s been recovering day by day from his crash on the third stage of the race in Belgium.
The overall contenders will at least be hoping for a quieter day in the saddle, particularly with the Alps looming.
And Chris Frooome will likewise expect to be given a break from constant questions about doping and bicycle motors.
It’s a transition day at the Tour and wary limbs, and minds, will be keen for some respite.
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Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
The%20Specs
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
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The%20specs
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Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
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UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.