Champion Pogacar to ride Tour de France for UAE team

Despite the continuing COVID-19 uncertainty, UAE Emirates on Monday unveiled how they plan to deploy their array of stars in the three Grand Tours this year. The team announced three riders for each of the major three-week races. Predictably, 22 year old Slovene Tadej Pogacar will defend his Tour de France title starting on June 26. UAE also said that star winter recruit, 22 year old Swiss rider Marc Hirschi, will ride the Tour. Hirschi won the combativity award on last year's Tour. Veteran Norwegian sprinter Alexander Kristoff will also compete in the race.

UAE said that Pogacar would also ride the Vuelta a Espana, which runs from August 14 to September 5, backed up by Italian Matteo Trentin and Spaniard David de la Cruz. For the Giro d'Italia, scheduled for May 8-30,

UAE will be represented by 26 year old Colombian sprinter Fernando Gaviria, Italian rider Davide Formolo and another 22 year old, the American Brandon McNulty who, riding the race for the first time, was 15th last year.

FIFA upholds Trippier’s ten-week ban

Kieran Trippier's ten-week ban for breaching betting rules has been upheld, after FIFA said on Monday the suspension applies worldwide. Trippier's suspension from the English Football Association had been temporarily put on hold pending an appeal from Atletico Madrid, which FIFA has dismissed. It means Trippier will be banned until February 28 and is due to miss eight La Liga fixtures, as well as Atletico's first-leg at home to Chelsea in the Champions League last-16.

Neville leaves England women’s manager role

Phil Neville has left his role as England women's manager, the Football Association (FA) said on Monday, with the former Manchester United player set to take over at David Beckham's Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. The 43 year old ex-England player was previously due to leave his role in July, at the end of his contract. The FA said it would confirm the name of an interim head coach ‘shortly’. The governing body last year announced that Neville's successor would be Netherlands women's boss Sarina Wiegman, but she is not due to start her new role until after the Tokyo Olympics later this year.