AIGURANDE, FRANCE // Alain Gallopin, the RadioShack sporting director, has played down criticism of Tour de France organisers' choice of route after the first week of racing left the dreams of several riders in tatters.
Two key members of RadioShack's team - Janez Brajkovic and Chris Horner - have been forced out after suffering injuries in crashes that some riders have blamed on the choice of roads.
Levi Leipheimer, the American, crashed alongside Horner, his teammate, eventually crossing the finish line on Friday over three minutes behind the stage winner Mark Cavendish.
Horner, with a broken nose and concussion, was 12 minutes adrift and pulled out of the Tour yesterday morning, leaving the German Andreas Kloden to shoulder RadioShack's yellow-jersey hopes.
Meanwhile, Gallopin brushed off claims that narrow roads were the cause of the carnage.
"I hear a lot of people questioning the choice of roads used in the race so far, but that is not the crux of the problem," the Frenchman said.
Referring to Friday's big crash, he added: "There was a crosswind and as the peloton approached a section of road sheltered by trees, everyone rushed to get to the front to try and position themselves.
"That's why the crash happened."
Leipheimer on Friday took a swipe at the organisers' decision to mix up the first week's stages - sprint stages, uphill finishes and a team time trial - in a bid to provide thrills and entertainment.
"Unfortunately, the race is being decided by crashes," he said. "Of course, crashes are part of the sport but I don't think it's right to have it to this degree."
A seasoned professional, Leipheimer paid a price on Thursday after he made an amateur's mistake: riding on a strip of white traffic line. It was raining and, as expected, he came down hard.
Since the defending champion Alberto Contador lost over a minute in a crash on the first stage, nerves have been on edge at the other teams with contenders for the yellow jersey.
It has led to a rush to stay near the front of the peloton in case a crash splits the bunch, as happened on stage one.
However, some believe that better bike-handling skills would reduce accidents.
"It's not just the roads," said the Welshman Geraint Thomas, who lost his team leader at Sky, Bradley Wiggins, to a broken collarbone on Friday.
"In Belgium, with the cobbles it was more dangerous and nobody complained then. It's just the riders, it's down to us," he said.
"It's up to us to chill out a bit, as well. There's always a fight to get to the front of the peloton, but you can do that without having to take so many risks. Some guys get crazy sometimes."
He added: "We are all racing together week in, week out, we should look after each other."
Thomas, an Olympic champion in the team pursuit, admitted his experience in track cycling has helped him to handle his machine better.
But asked whether the peloton was wary of certain riders, he admitted: "For sure. If you end up behind them you think, 'Oh no, not him again.' But all you can do is try to avoid them."
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
The%20specs
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Company%20profile
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Results
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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The%20Specs
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Company%20Profile
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Honeymoonish
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani