Editorial executives from The National with the winners of our #cycletoworkuae contest. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
Editorial executives from The National with the winners of our #cycletoworkuae contest. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Journalists from The National offer tips for cycling to work



ABU DHABI // We would never urge our readers to do something we don’t do ourselves.

So on the eve of #cycletoworkuae day on Tuesday, meet the staff of The National who do just that every day.

“I’ve been working in different countries and it’s become a habit,” said Alvaro Sanmarti, a graphic artist. “When it’s possible, because of the weather, I cycle to work.”

Sanmarti advised vehicle drivers to understand that cyclists are vulnerable on the road, and said cyclists must always be aware of what was around them.

“Be conscious, I know sometimes I do really crazy things,” Sanmarti said. “Know that you are the first one to be conscious and know that if anything is going to happen, it’s going to happen to you. You have very little protection.”

Wearing helmets and lights are a must for him. Once safety becomes a priority, he said that in terms of practicality it made more sense for him to cycle to work.

“It takes five minutes more but costs Dh15 less each way, and also I’m doing some sport and staying active,” said Sanmarti, from Spain.

His commute, which takes 20 minutes from Reem Island, is a daily ritual in which he uses the same path and methodical movements. He will continue to cycle until the weather gets too hot.

To make the switch from cycling gear to office clothing, Sanmarti carries what is essentially a “package to take a shower” – wet wipes, deodorant and other hygiene products. He also keeps a pair of jeans at his desk to wear after he arrives.

He has been cycling to work for eight years and said the campaign to encourage more people to follow his example could improve safety on the roads.

Sanmarti started cycling at his old job in Madrid in 2007 at a time when many people thought it was too dangerous.

“People were asking me, ‘What are you doing, you are crazy’,” he said. “But you could see the difference in the four or five years, you could see the drivers were not the same.”

He said part of the problem was that drivers in the UAE rarely encountered cyclists, and when they did it presented a new obstacle. The only way to change that was to get more people on bicycles.

“I think it’s very good. The more people who cycle, the more that others will take care of the cyclists.”

Another veteran cyclist at the newspaper, Michael Barnard, commutes even during the hottest months. He said cycling for him was a way he could control the road.

“It’s a little bit crazy,” he said. “I like being the master of my own destiny. When I first came here I would only take cabs.”

He used to spend about Dh600 a month on taxis to work before making the switch. He rides a Fuji roadbike now.

“Initially, it would intimidate me, but once you grow attuned to it, it’s not so challenging any more. You tend to know what’s coming.”

As he has adjusted to the lifestyle in the capital, so too have his ambitions with his bike. Now he feels completely comfortable on two wheels.

Barnard, from the UK, has cycled in some of the world’s busiest cities – London and New York – and said every city had its own set of challenges when it came to cycling.

“You learn what to expect, and develop a kind of sixth sense and anticipation,” he said. “My advice for car drivers is be aware that you are sharing the road.”

nalwasmi@thenational.ae

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

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ICC Awards for 2021

MEN

Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)

WOMEN

Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)

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US PGA Championship in numbers

Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.

To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.

Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.

4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.

In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.

For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.

Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.

Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.

Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.

10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.

11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.

12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.

13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.

14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.

15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.

16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.

17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.

18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).

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Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

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Bundesliga fixtures

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 

RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 

Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 

Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),

Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

Ronaldo's record at Man Utd

Seasons 2003/04 - 2008/09

Appearances 230

Goals 115

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