PARIS: Three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar will race the notorious Paris-Roubaix, known as the ‘Hell of the North’ for its treacherous cobbled mining roads, for the first time, his team UAE announced on Wednesday.
Of the five big one-day races known as ‘Monuments’, Paris-Roubaix is the least suited to the Slovenian’s slender frame and adding that title would confirm his growing status as one of the all-time greats.
He will be the first reigning Tour de France champion to tackle what is often a mudfest since Greg Lemond in 1991 — the American finished 55th.
Cycling legends Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx also tried to win the one-day race in 1982 and 1975 respectively, a year after winning the Tour de France.
Neither was successful although Merckx finished second, edged out on the line by Roger De Vlaeminck. However, they both achieved perhaps an even greater feat in landing the two races in the same year, with Merckx doing the double in 1970 and Hinault in 1981.
Victory on April 13 would set Pogacar up nicely to join that elite duo.
He already has seven Monument victories to his credit, including the 2023 Tour of Flanders.
Pogacar has also won Il Lombardia each of the last four years and Liege-Bastogne-Liege twice.
“It was initially planned for Tadej Pogacar to participate in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem,” read UAE’s statement.
“However, after discussions with the team, it has been decided that he will adjust his calendar to focus on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix instead, aiming for peak form in those iconic races.”
The change of plan is a victory for Pogacar, who has said he prefers the one-day races to multi-stage ones, as he had argued to compete in the Paris-Roubaix, against the wishes of the team directors who were concerned about the possibility of injury.
Paris-Roubaix is considered the most dangerous race of them all owing to its six million cobble stones, many of them uneven, which has resulted in serious injuries to the riders.
Mauro Gianetti, UAE team manager, highlighted their concerns for the best paid member of the peloton — he is believed to earn 8 million euros ($8.6 million) a year — in the one-day races after he had fallen in the Strade Bianche before getting back up to win it.
“A bad fall could put a question mark over his competing in the Tour de France and maybe the rest of the season,” said Gianetti.
“He has enough time in his career to ride in the Paris-Roubaix.”
However, his decision, after finishing third in the Milan-San Remo, delighted Paris-Roubaix race director Thierry Gouvenou.
“It is a huge moment for cycling,” said Gouvenou.
“It has been a long time since we had a Tour de France winner who is a genuine contender to win the Paris-Roubaix.
“He is going to face a challenge suited to his talent.”
Gouvenou, though, believes Pogacar is up against it with rivals like Milan-San Remo winner Mathieu van der Poel, Belgian Wout Van Aert and Italy’s Filippo Ganna.
“If Van der Poel is at the top of his game, it will be very difficult for Pogacar,” said Gouvenou.
“He is going to race on a route that is not suited to him.
“If ever he wins Paris-Roubaix it will be against the odds. But that is what we all expect: to see champions up against it.
“This race could make him even greater than he is now.”
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Pogacar’s bid was a bold move.
“That he dares take this risk in a year he wants to win the Tour is a bold move. It’ll be a hell of a fight. I can’t wait to see it.”
Tour de France champion Pogacar targets Paris-Roubaix’s cobbled ‘hell’
https://arab.news/c65ue
Tour de France champion Pogacar targets Paris-Roubaix’s cobbled ‘hell’
- “It was initially planned for Tadej Pogacar to participate in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem,” read UAE’s statement
- Mauro Gianetti, UAE team manager, highlighted their concerns for the best paid member of the peloton
Rashford double fires Villa into FA Cup semifinals
- Club have an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League
PRESTON: Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa inspired a 3-0 win against Preston that sent his side into the FA Cup semifinals for the first time in 10 years on Sunday.
Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four.
Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that made him one of England’s brightest stars prior to his steep decline over the last two years.
Amid concerns over his attitude and off-field behavior, Rashford was deemed expendable by United manager Ruben Amorim, after also clashing with former Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag.
The 27-year-old hadn’t scored since netting for United against Everton on Dec. 1.
Deployed in the central striker’s role that often seemed to dent his confidence at United, Rashford was too dynamic for second-tier Preston to handle in the latest sign that his career might not be destined to end in disappointment after all.
While struggling United have been mired in turmoil, Rashford has benefited from moving to upwardly mobile Villa.
Emery’s side have enjoyed a memorable run to the Champions League quarterfinals, where they face Paris Saint-Germain in April.
They also have an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Rashford could be part of a memorable climax to the campaign for Villa, who haven’t won the FA Cup since 1957, with their last final ending in defeat against Arsenal in 2015. Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace booked their places in the Wembley semifinals on Saturday.
Sitting 14th in the Championship, Preston were playing in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1966.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side were unbeaten in their previous 15 home games in all competitions, but the 1889 and 1938 FA Cup winners were no match for ruthless Villa.
Rashford’s free kick forced Preston goalkeeper David Cornell into action before Ezri Konsa’s glancing header whistled just wide from Marco Asensio’s cross.
Stefan Thordarson wasted a golden opportunity to give Preston a shock lead when he poked wide.
Rashford was equally profligate after half time, shooting straight at Cornell from inside the area.
But Villa broke the deadlock in the 58th minute as Rashford timed his run perfectly to meet Lucas Digne’s low cross with a clinical finish from 12 yards.
Morgan Rogers was denied by Cornell moments later as Villa went for the kill.
And it was Rogers who earned Villa’s penalty in the 63rd minute when the England midfielder was tripped by Andrew Hughes.
Rashford stepped up to send Cornell the wrong way with a nerveless spot kick.
Ramsey put the result beyond doubt eight minutes later, surging toward the Preston area and drilling a powerful strike past Cornell for his fourth goal this season.
Mitchell Starc bags five as Delhi beat Hyderabad in IPL
- Starc, a left-arm quick, returned figures of 5-35 as Delhi bowled out Hyderabad for 163
VISAKHAPATNAM, India: Australia’s Mitchell Starc claimed his first five-wicket haul in T20 cricket to help Delhi Capitals down Sunrisers Hyderabad for their second straight win in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.
Starc, a left-arm quick, returned figures of 5-35 as Delhi bowled out Hyderabad for 163 in 18.4 overs in their second home at Visakhapatnam.
South African veteran Faf du Plessis then smashed 50 off 27 balls and put on 81 runs for the first wicket with Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, who hit 38, as Delhi achieved their target with four overs and seven wickets to spare.
Hyderabad’s innings started badly as Abhishek Sharma was run out early for one when he was involved in a mix-up with fellow opener Travis Head.
Starc then struck twice in one over to send back Ishan Kishan and Nitish Reddy and then got fellow Australian Head caught behind for 22 as Hyderabad slipped to 37-4 in 4.1 overs.
Indian batter Aniket Verma, who top-scored with 74, and South African wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen then put on an attacking stand of 77 in an attempt to hit back.
Klaasen fell on 32 off 19 balls to Mohit Sharma, but Aniket kept up the charge in an eye-catching 41-ball knock laced with five fours and six sixes.
Fraser-McGurk ended Aniket’s blitz with a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket when he timed his jump to pluck a traveling ball out of the air and hand spinner Kuldeep Yadav a prized wicket.
Kuldeep, a left-arm wrist spinner, claimed figures of 3-22 before Starc completed his five to wrap up the Hyderabad innings.
In reply, Du Plessis came out firing as he smashed India fast bowler Mohammed Shami for a six and three fours in a 15-run third over to set up the chase.
Du Plessis fell after his 50 to Indian leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari who took a beating at the hands of Fraser-McGurk but hit back with his second wicket in the same over.
Ansari later bowled KL Rahul round his legs before Abhishek Porel, on 34, and Tristan Stubbs, on 21, steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 51.
Delhi, under new skipper Axar Patel, have rebuilt the team in their hunt for a first IPL title and brought in England great Kevin Pietersen as mentor.
Hyderabad, winners in 2016 under David Warner, have two losses and one victory in three outings this season.
Arsenal confirm Andrea Berta to replace Edu as sporting director at Premier League club
- Edu left the post in November, with his deputy Jason Ayto appointed interim sporting director
LONDON: Arsenal confirmed the appointment of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director on Sunday.
The 53-year-old Italian, who spent 12 years with Atletico Madrid before leaving in January, succeeds former Arsenal midfielder Edu in the role.
Edu left the post in November, with his deputy Jason Ayto appointed interim sporting director.
Berta, who has a background in banking, held roles with Italian sides Parma and Genoa before joining Spanish team Atletico, initially as technical director, in 2013.
During his time with the Diego Simeone-managed club, the team won two LaLiga titles, the Copa del Rey and Europa League, as well as the UEFA Super Cup.
“I am delighted to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club,” said Berta. “I have watched with great interest the way Arsenal has evolved in recent years and I have admired the hard work that has gone in to re-establishing the club as a major force in European football with a passionate following around the world.”
Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke added: “Anyone who knows football knows Andrea is an impressive figure. He has vast knowledge of the game, a great track record, a strong network and an insatiable desire to build winning teams.”
Sports travel agency transforms experiences for fans in the region
- UAE-based business ES Sport is committed to offering best inbound and outbound packages for local and global events
Dubai: When the Dubai World Cup takes place on April 6 at Meydan Racecourse, a fair few of the attendees will have Allan Holt to thank for their experience.
The 58-year-old Englishman has spent the past 34 years in the travel industry, and the past two decades connecting sports fans with events in the UAE and around the globe through his travel agency, recently rebranded as ES Sport. With offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, his business has taken major strides in the sports tourism industry in recent times.
Recently, ES Sport expanded its executive team, which includes group managing director Holt and group financial director Paul McSorley, by welcoming new chairman Sheikh Mohamed bin Saif Al-Nahyan to lead the agency in a new strategic direction, leveraging his Emirati perspective and a deeper understanding of the Abu Dhabi market.
Holt has come a long way since he cut his teeth in the travel industry in his native UK before moving to the UAE, where he initially set up a travel agency that would eventually become Expat Sport, focused on sports tourism.
“When I moved to the region 18 years ago, I continued that business, which is travel and tourism,” Holt told Arab News. “But we always had a strong focus on sport because I’m passionate about it.”
As the digital age transformed the travel industry, Holt realized the need for differentiation in a market increasingly dominated by online bookings.
“We were looking for something unique that could add value,” he said. “So when I moved to the UAE, I continued the business here. I saw an opportunity because the service levels at that point weren’t at the standard of what our business provided in the UK.”
This gap in service quality motivated him to create a travel agency that catered to the needs of British expats living in the UAE, ensuring they received the same level of service and trust they were accustomed to in the UK.
With time, Holt recognized the increasing demand for sporting events. “We started doing more and more sport as we realized the opportunities available here were far greater than in the UK, which was saturated.”
Holt said that sport has always been in his DNA.
“So we always had a strong focus on sport,” he said “Even in 2009, we did a tour to South Africa for the (British & Irish Lions) Science Alliance tour. And on that trip, we met some huge corporates, CEOs, because they’re all passionate (about sports).”
His agency began organizing tours for high-profile events, including, after specific requests, the Hong Kong Sevens and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which led to a shift in focus from general travel to sports tourism.
As the agency evolved and business grew, Holt made a pivotal decision to rebrand.
“We said this is what we love doing, this is where we can really make a difference,” Holt said. “We’re not going to be a travel business that does a bit of sport, we’re going to be a sports business.
“We wanted to make sure we were identified as a sports business, not just a travel agency that does a bit of sport,” he said. “Our name should reflect that. That’s when we changed our name to Expat Sport.”
Holt said the company has since gone from strength to strength, growing globally and developing an international network of tour operators and clients.
With the rebranding came new opportunities. The agency became the exclusive hospitality agency in the UAE for the FIFA World Cup.
“So we’re moving on now from only selling other people’s events to having something that we either add exclusivity to, or we provide a meet and greet or some other added value,” Holt said.
With the expansion to more and more inbound offering to the UAE, Holt said it made no sense to stick to an agency name that targeted a specific audience only.
“Expat Sport doesn’t really mean anything to (inbound clients),” he said. “When we were mainly focused on outbound from here, taking people outbound, then that made sense.”
The eventual change to ES Sport, which stands for “Experiences and Sponsorship Within Sport,” was a milestone in the agency’s journey. “This name reflects our commitment to creating unique experiences and engaging with sponsorships.”
When discussing the most popular events that draw international visitors, Holt highlighted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “It consistently attracts a significant percentage of international attendees,” he said, adding that recent events such as EuroLeague basketball and the UFC have also gained traction with international visitors in recent years, strengthening the UAE’s status as a sporting hub in the region, and globally.
Holt also emphasized the importance of collaboration with local authorities and sports organizations. “Working closely with rights holders and tourism boards allows us to create a cohesive strategy that benefits the region,” he said. Holt believes this collaborative approach not only enhances the visitor experience but also promotes the UAE as a premier sports destination. In that sense, working directly with Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) to identify opportunities has given Holt’s agency an advantage over competitors.
“I’m astounded by how popular (EuroLeague) is,” he said. “So whoever goes out and gets these events on behalf of DCT have obviously done their homework, because we’ve done our research when we were looking at our numbers in terms of what we could provide in support of DCT, because of course they wanted us to bring people from the international market over to Abu Dhabi.
“Our focus is on bringing people from outside the region to experience these events and explore the rich culture of the UAE,” he said, adding that almost all of ES Sports’ general ticket sales come from international markets, with UAE offerings tending to be mostly for corporate clients.
Holt also pointed out the trend of visitors to extend their stays to enjoy several events. “People are increasingly looking to combine their trips — attending one event and then exploring others,” he explained. The idea of “twin center holidays” is gaining traction, where travellers can enjoy various sporting events while immersing themselves in local culture.
Holt’s vision for the future of his agency includes creating packages that cater to diverse interests, ensuring that fans can experience a range of events on a single trip.
“The idea is to provide multisport experiences that allow travellers to immerse themselves in the excitement of various events, all while enjoying the beauty of the UAE,” he said.
While in the past ES Sport has been primarily focused on bringing visitors to the UAE for events such as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and other international sports tournaments, Holt highlighted the potential for more outbound travel to events such as “Premier League football matches or Formula 1 races” and that his agency has long been involved in that as well.
“We’ve been doing outbound trips for 18 years,” he said, highlighting past successes such as taking thousands of fans to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and organizing trips to major events such as Wimbledon and the ICC T20 World Cup in the US.
The agency has also established itself as an official partner for Manchester City, offering ticketing solutions and unique experiences that allow fans to engage with the team in ways that go beyond just watching a match. This includes exclusive training sessions and meet-and-greet opportunities with players.
While the recent partnership with the DCT in Abu Dhabi has shifted some of Holt’s focus back to inbound travel, he remains committed to developing outbound services.
“We’re careful about how we expand,” he said, indicating that while there is a desire to broaden their scope, the quality of service remains paramount. Holt’s strategy involves not just selling tickets but also creating comprehensive travel packages that include experiences and hospitality.
Looking ahead, Holt is enthusiastic about the potential for new events and sports to enter the regional market, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the AFC Asian Cup 2026 and, down the line, the FIFA World Cup 2034.
Holt said that ES Sport is actively seeking to bring more international events to the UAE, including potential partnerships for Grand Prix races in Saudi Arabia and Singapore. He also emphasized the importance of tapping into Asian markets as sports tourism evolves, noting that the agency is already working with teams and fans from Japan and China, which will help to diversify the clientele that ES Sport serves.
Holt said his commitment to enhancing the sports travel experience through ES Sport is as strong as ever. As he navigates the complexities of expanding the agency’s services, he is poised to make a significant impact on sports tourism in the UAE and beyond.
Messi quickly scores in return to lineup, Inter Miami tops Philadelphia Union 2-1
FORT LAUDERDALE: Lionel Messi made an immediate impact for Inter Miami against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night, with what became the winning goal in a 2-1 victory that lifted the Herons into first place in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.
Messi returned to the lineup and scored less than two minutes after subbing into the match early in the second half. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner took a pass from Luis Suarez on the right side of the penalty box, made a quick move and sent a right-footed shot past two defenders into the net for a 2-0 Inter Miami lead.
It was Messi’s second goal in three Major League Soccer matches this season. He did not start the match, but was cleared to play earlier in the week after missing some time — including two World Cup qualifiers for Argentina — with an adductor injury.
Daniel Gazdag got the goal for Philadelphia (4-2-0) in the 80th minute, but Inter Miami held on from there.
Messi also was dealing with an issue with his left thigh along with the adductor injury, which happened two weeks ago in an Inter Miami game against Atlanta. But the team did not play during that two-week stretch, so the only matches Messi missed were the World Cup qualifiers — when Argentina, which Messi captained to the 2022 title, qualified for the 2026 tournament.
