UAE Team Emirates' Pogacar wins Tour de France title
Two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark took second place overall with German Florian Lipowitz finishing third.
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Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Look: 53-year-old Dubai doctor defies injury to scale Europe's highest peak
A 53-year-old Indian expat and full-time medical professional in Dubai has become one of the oldest Indian women from the UAE to summit Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak at 5,642 metres. Dr Kiran Vemuri reached the summit on July 10, days after sustaining a leg injury that nearly forced her to pull out of the expedition. 'What makes this summit especially meaningful is that I undertook it 10 days after a leg injury,' she said. 'At this stage of life, women often fight not just physical but societal limitations. My climb was about proving to myself and others that resilience, grit, and belief can defy age and setbacks." A long-time Dubai resident, Dr Vemuri lives in Executive Towers, Business Bay. Her training ground? The stairs of her own building. 'My tower has 41 floors and I used to climb 100 floors in 40 minutes, about 2.5 rounds up,' she said. 'It helped build stamina, and since it was right outside my door, there were no excuses.' Her successful Elbrus ascent is the latest milestone in a two-decade-long passion for high-altitude trekking. Her list of past adventures spans continents: Everest Base Camp (5,364m), Roopkund (5,029m), Rupin Pass (4,650m), Kilimanjaro (5,895m), and Stok Kangri (6,153m). 'Kilimanjaro happened way back in 2012. Elbrus was a natural next step, but mentally, it was harder,' she said. She likened her journey to the Bollywood film Vijay 69, in which a 69-year-old man trains for a triathlon. 'He doesn't do it for medals. He does it to feel alive again,' she said. 'This climb was my version of Vijay 69.' The knee injury nearly derailed her plans. 'I was honestly quite shaken and worried. I had pain even walking, forget climbing a mountain. I could barely take the parking stairs,' she said. Under medical supervision, she followed a strict recovery plan. Two days before departure, she got the go-ahead. "Armed with painkillers, knee support and prayers, I went ahead.' She described the summit as euphoric. 'That moment is not about milestones. It's pure gratitude. I prayed to the morning sun and thanked the universe. It felt powerful, like real, money-can't-buy happiness.' The climb had its share of challenges. While the ascent was steady, the descent tested her mental limits. "While descending, I hit a psychological wall," she said. "I told the trek guide, 'It's not my job to get back to base; that's your problem.' He laughed and said, 'That's not my job either. You can stay here forever.' It was both scary and funny. But when the goalpost is clear, willpower gets you through." Since her return, she's been flooded with messages from women. 'Many women I know, including some of my classmates, are grandmothers now, which is nice. There are people telling women in their 50s: to slow down.' 'I wanted to send a different message: You can pause. You can rest. But don't slow down. There's still so much to explore, to feel, to experience. Whether it's a mountain, a new passion, or charity, 50s is the new 40s.' Her family was worried, especially after her injury, but never wavered in support. 'My husband, my sons Shrikar and Krish, and the extended family were behind me all the way,' she said. Next up for Dr Vemuri is Mount Mont Blanc, planned for next year. "There's always a next,' she said.
Gulf Today
3 hours ago
- Gulf Today
L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France returns for second edition in January
Following its successful debut in February this year, L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France will return for its second edition on Jan. 25 2026. Organised with the support of official partner Skoda and government partner Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the world-class cycling event is set to attract even more participants, while offering an expanded weekend program of activities for all of the family. The inaugural edition of L'Étape Dubai welcomed over 1,000 participants, including 243 international riders and 266 Emiratis, making it the largest first-edition amateur cycling event of its kind in the UAE. The race featured 101 km and 50 km competitive courses, a 20 km family-friendly ride and kids' races, passing key landmarks across the city. Reinforcing its status as the premier platform for amateur cyclists to experience the spirit of the Tour de France in the Middle East, the 2026 edition of L'Étape Dubai aims to build on this momentum by increasing participation to a total 2,000 cyclists across the various categories. Pre-registration opens on 27 July 2025, offering a 15% early-bird discount ahead of the official registration launch in September. In addition to the main race, the 2026 weekend program will expand its community and family engagement elements. The (Jan.24) will once again host the popular, non-competitive Family Ride and Kids' Races, with new initiatives and family-oriented activities led by Skoda, welcoming even greater participation of families and first-time riders. The weekend will also feature an enhanced fan village and broader race village activations, with community cycling activities being planned after the summer in the lead-up to the race. The 2026 edition of L'Étape Dubai is also set to welcome legendary former Tour de France riders to the UAE, building on the participation of three former Tour de France riders in 2025. Essa Sharif, Director of the Sports Events Department at the Dubai Sports Council, said: 'We are delighted to welcome this truly world-famous race back to Dubai, following the huge success of the inaugural edition held in 2024, that witnessed the participation of more than 1,000 amateur cyclists of various nationalities from within and outside the country. 'I am confident that the next edition will be even more successful, thanks to the heightened stature of cycling in Dubai and the availability of tracks extending hundreds of kilometers across the city. This is in addition to the increasing number of people practicing this wonderful sport, and the extensive experience of the Dubai Sports Council and the organising committee in hosting cycling races.' He further added: 'The race will be held in January, at a time when we enjoy wonderful weather, and I feel this will be the perfect opening to a busy season of international cycling races in Dubai. The race routes will be carefully selected to allow thousands of participants to enjoy cycling in the most beautiful areas and destinations in Dubai, which boasts a variety of unique cultural, tourist and residential landmarks. Participating in this race will be an unforgettable experience that will remain in the participants' memories and in their records of achievements.' Antoine Quiers of A.S.O, organisers of the Tour de France, said: 'After this successful first year, we are very proud to announce that L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France will come back to the UAE for a second edition. At A.S.O. we are already looking forward to the next edition. Thanks to the priceless support of the key stakeholders, including Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Police, Škoda Middle East, and all the event sponsors we are certain that L'Étape Dubai will be even more successful in 2026. Together, we will once again bring the magic of the Tour de France to Dubai!' Fairouz Al Qazi, race director of L'Étape Dubai by Tour de France powered by Skoda, commented: 'The first year of the event confirmed that road cycling is booming in Dubai and throughout the Emirates and I am extremely happy and proud that today we can announce the date for 2026 as well as the launch of the pre-registration period for the second edition. We would like to thank Škoda Middle East, Dubai Sport Council and Dubai Police, as well as our other partners for their support and we look forward to another cycling adventure.
Gulf Today
4 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Pogacar skips Spanish Vuelta to recover from Tour de France victory
Four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar has decided against taking part in the Spanish Vuelta next month as he recovers after winning cycling's biggest race. 'After such a demanding Tour, we decided it was best to take a break,' Pogačar said. 'The Vuelta is of course a race I would dearly love to return to. I have fantastic memories there from 2019 (finishing third), but now the body is telling me to rest.' The Slovenian rider from the UAE Team Emirates-XRG was not included in the eight-man squad for the Vuelta, which will start on Aug. 23. The team will be led by Portuguese rider João Almeida - who retired from the Tour earlier this month after fracturing a rib - and Spain's Juan Ayuso. After doing the Giro d'Italia and Tour double last year, Pogačar had planned to ride both the Tour and the Vuelta this summer. 'The idea this year was for Tadej to return to the Vuelta, but the season has been a long one for him,' the team's sports manager Matxin Fernández said. Tadej Pogacar celebrates on the podium on last Sunday. File/AFP 'We spoke and agreed that the best thing for him now is to take a good rest and build up to his final season goals.' It has already been a long season for Pogačar, a versatile rider known for his unsatiable appetite for victory. In addition to his Tour title, he also won the Critérium du Dauphiné, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Flèche Wallonne and Strade Bianche this year. On the way to his fourth Tour title, Pogačar won four stages to take his Tour tally to 21, and 30 at major races, including six at the Giro d'Italia and three at the Vuelta. Only four riders have won the Tour de France five times: Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Induráin and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. Pogačar will take a break until September. He is planning to compete in North America at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. 'I'm excited to go back to Canada. The races are tough but beautiful, and they fit my style well,' said Pogačar, who also wants to defend his world champion title later this year in Kigali, Rwanda. 'I'll be aiming to be back racing well again for that part of the season and for the world championships especially.' Meanwhile, veteran Dutch rider Marianne Vos took the overall leader's jersey in the women's Tour de France on Monday after finishing second behind compatriot Lorena Wiebes on the third stage. Three-time former world champion Vos, 38, moved six seconds ahead of Mauritius' Kim Le Court in the general classification after a flat 163.5km ride from La Gacilly to Angers in western France. France's Olympic cross-country champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot completed the top three, 12 seconds behind, with last year's Tour winner Katarzyna Niewiadoma fourth. One-day expert Vos has made an impressive start to this year's edition of the Tour, having won Saturday's opening stage in Vannes. Despite her incredible list of achievements, including 2012's Olympic gold, the women's Giro d'Italia and countless Classic success, she has yet to win the Tour, but wore the yellow jersey in 2022 for five days. 'We knew there was quite a good chance for a bunch sprint,' Vos said. Agencies
