FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 18

Bahrain-Merida confirm signing of Nibali back on bike Rohan Dennis Italian aims to return at Vuelta a Espana

Cycling News | Paris

incenzo Nibali (Bah- rain-Merida) has re- Vturned to training on the road this week following the crash on Alpe d’Huez that left him with a fractured verte- bra and forced him out of last month’s . The World Championships road race remains the major objective in the final part of his season, and Nibali is still plan- ning to ride the Vuelta a España as preparation. Although a final Rohan Dennis decision on Nibali’s participa- tion has yet to be taken, Bah- rain-Merida team doctor Emilio Cycling News | Paris including the Grand Tours. Magni told La Gazzetta dello At this year’s Giro d’Italia he Sport that he was “moderate- ohan Dennis will leave wore the pink jersey, won the ly optimistic” on the Sicilian’s RBMC Racing at the end stage 16 time trial, and finished chances of making the start in of the season, joining Bah - 16th overall, though nearly an Malaga on August 25. rain-Merida on a two-year hour down on winner Chris Nibali sustained a fractured Vincenzo Nibali deal. First revealed by Cycl- Froome. T10 vertebra after he was ingnews in June, the move It’s a path he is set to contin- brought down by a spectator a bit of discomfort.” and , and Nibali was confirmed by the team ue at Bahrain-Merida, where four kilometres from the sum- Nibali’s team doctor Magni plans to ride the race with no yesterday. he will act as a secondary mit of Alpe d’Huez on stage 12 has described his progress as overall ambitions, but rather Dennis, 28, began his World- option away from the team’s of the Tour. Although he com- BETTER “encouraging” and suggested as build-up to the Innsbruck Tour career with the Garmin- figurehead Vincenzo Nibali, pleted the stage, Nibali was participation in the Vuelta was Worlds, where he will be among Sharp squad of Jonathan much like he has done with forced to abandon the race that more likely than not. Coach Pao- the favourites for the rainbow Vaughters but left the team Richie Porte at BMC over the evening. After undergoing per- KNOW lo Slongo has maintained that jersey on an especially demand- midway through the 2014 sea- past year or so. cutaneous vertebroplasty sur- riding the Vuelta is essential to ing course. son after they agreed to allow “I am extremely excited to gery on July 31 at the Clinica Nibali’s Worlds preparation. Two years ago, Nibali rode the him to break his contract to be joining Bahrain-Merida for Madonnina in Milan in order to “Vincenzo has some pain in Tour in a similar manner, es- move to BMC. the next two years. The organ- speed up the recovery process, Nibali’s biggest wins the right hemithorax area. That chewing the general classifica- He helped the team to back- isation has been upfront and Nibali returned to training on are 2010 Vuelta a could be derived from muscular tion to prepare for the Rio 2016 to-back victo- honest about their plans and a stationary bike last week. In Espana, 2014 Tour de contractions following the inju- Olympics. He duly performed ries at the World Champion- objectives for me the entire recent days, he has ventured out France and Giro d’Ita- ry he suffered,” Magni told La strongly in Brazil only to crash ships, and in 2015 he won the time, which is really positive. onto the road near his home in lia twice (2013 and Gazzetta. “We’ve spoken about out while leading the race on the opening time trial of the Tour As I know, we are working to- Lugano, Switzerland. it with Professor Broggi, who final descent of Vista Chinesa. de France and wore the yellow wards the same goals,” said “Today [Wednesday – ed.] I 2016), making him operated on him in Milan, and According to La Gazzetta, Ni- jersey for a day. Dennis. rode for around three hours,” one of seven cyclists the situation can be defined as bali will meet with Magni, coach In the past couple of sea - “I’m looking forward to Nibali told La Gazzetta dello who have won the under control. On the Vuelta, Paolo Slongo, soigneur Michele sons, Dennis has sought to ex- working with a team that is Sport, though he admitted to three Grand Tours in I’d declare myself moderately Pallini and osteopath Gianluca pand on his qualities against going to invest in my future feeling some muscular pain their career optimistic.” Carretta on Friday to assess his the clock and target the gener- and I am very keen to see what on the right side of his chest. Bahrain-Merida’s team for recovery and discuss his build- al classification in stage races, we can achieve together.” “When I’m under strain, I feel the Vuelta will be led by Ion up to the Worlds.

Polish team aim Courtois hails Real Madrid high for Sky’s Tour Abdulrahman joins Al champion Thomas Hilal on one-year loan move as a ‘dream come true’ AFP | London

AFP | Madrid new Polish cycling Ateam is targeting Tour hibaut Courtois said his de France champion Ge- Tmove to Real Madrid from raint Thomas, offering him Chelsea was a “dream come a contract as he is yet to sign true”, as he was unveiled by a new one with Team Sky. the European champions at the The 32-year-old Welsh- Santiago Bernabeu yesterday. man -- who dethroned The 26-year-old goalkeeper team-mate as joined Real for a reported fee Tour champion last month of 35 million euros ($40.6 mil- after years of loyally work- lion) on a six-year deal, with ing for Froome to win the midfielder Mateo Kovacic de- race -- received the offer UAE’s Omar Abdulrahman in action parting Madrid for Stamford from the Poland-based CCC Bridge on a season-long loan. WorldTour -- which is due “Today is a dream come true to compete in 2019 under Reuters | Riyadh for me, you can’t imagine how that name when CCC Spran- happy I am,” said Courtois, who Thibaut Courtois di Polkowice and BMC Rac- ormer Asian Player of the won the Golden Glove award as ing merge. FYear Omar Abdulrahman the World Cup’s best goalkeep- done my best at every club I’ve Thomas has said he feels has joined Al Hilal on a one- KNOW WHAT er after helping Belgium finish played for,” he added. Team Sky and their chief year loan deal from Al Ain, third last month. He will be only the second Dave Brailsford are like the Saudi Arabian club have “Coming to the best club in Belgian to play for the capi - family having been with announced. Omar started his ca- the world is a responsibility and Coming to the best tal-city giants, after Fernand some of them since he was Abdulrahman, who was reer when he went on an honour. I’d like to thank Real Goyvaerts, who was at Real 17 but with his contract up named the continent’s lead- a trial with Al Hilal Madrid for the efforts they’ve club in the world from 1965-1967. at the end of the year he ing player in 2016 when he made, and all the people who is a responsibility “Real Madrid can boast the won’t accept any old offer guided UAE side Al Ain to the in 2000. He joined have contributed to bringing and an honour. I’d arrival of one of the world’s from them out of sentiment. final of the Asian Champions Al Ain in 2006 at the me to play here. like to thank Real best goalkeepers, if not the very The Daily Telegraph League, will join the Jorge Je- age of 15 “I want to show I can match Madrid for the efforts best,” said Perez. had suggested that Team sus-coached Al Hilal for the the expectations this badge en- they’ve made, and “He comes to Real Madrid at Sky were prepared to offer upcoming Saudi league sea- tails.” all the people who 26 years of age, but having al- £3,500,000 ($4.5million, son and play alongside current region, the midfielder turned Courtois signed his contract ready experienced huge success 3.9million euros). Asian Player of the Year Omar down offers from several Eu- alongside Real president Flor- have contributed to in European football.” “We have made an offer to Khrbin. ropean clubs to sign with the entino Perez in the corridors bringing me to play Courtois is expected to take him and we are waiting for The 26-year-old Abdulrah- Riyadh-based side. of the Bernabeu, and in front of here over as first-choice ‘keeper a reply,” CCC WorldTour’s man represented Al Hilal at Al Hilal kick off the defence the club’s record 13 European THIBAUT COURTOIS from Costa Rican Keylor Navas, sports director Piotr Wa- youth level before moving to of their title at the end of the Cup trophies. but says he is prepared to fight decki was quoted as saying Al Ain as a teenager and, ac- month when they host Al Fei- “Throughout my career, I’ve for the shirt,. in the British media. cording to media reports in the ha.