Fujairah: Much of the attention on the first two days of the 2018 Dubai Tour went to a certain Charles Planet. The Team Novo Nordisk rider — who was instructed to “rest and recover a bit” on Day 3 — was more than happy that he had managed to “get the job done” for his team.
His job was to break away and stay at the front of the pack while challenging some of the best cyclists on the globe. But herein lies the difference as Planet is not your typical sportsman. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when only ten years old, the Frenchman has relentlessly battled in driving home the core values of his team — inspire, educate and empower people with diabetes.
“I want to show the world that there is no time for regrets. I am here to participate against the best and one day even win a race for my team,” Planet told Gulf News on Thursday.
Now 24, Planet began his career in mountain biking and cyclo-cross, only to switch on to road racing when he heard about the all-diabetes Novo Nordisk team. In his fifth year with the team, Planet continues to develop into a promising and talented General Classification rider as demonstrated by his breakaway feats on Stages One and Two earlier this week.
“I am a bit disappointed to miss the jersey [for Intermediate Sprints] here. But, like I said I have no regrets. Type 1 diabetes is part of my life and I need to just go ahead and live a normal life. The breakaways on both days gave me a lot of confidence as I saw the amount of exposure I and my team received being at the front of the race. It was all over social media and it gave me a sense of satisfaction to see the Novo Nordisk colours at the front,” he related.
“I always wanted to be a professional cyclist and today I am living my dream while riding for a professional team, travelling the world and just being happy. I am happy with the life I have, and one day I will win a professional race and that too will be a huge part of this dream,” Planet added.
RESULTS
Dubai Tour, after Stage 3
Top 10 Individual Classification on Stage Three: 1. Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) 12hrs, 19.38secs; 2. Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) 12:19.42; 3. Nathan Van Hooydonck (BMC Racing) 12:19.45; 4. Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana Pro Team) 12:19.46; 5. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) 12:19.46; 6. Loic Vliegen (BMC Racing Team) 12:19.46; 7. Marcel Kittel (Team Katusha Alpecin) 12:19.48; 8. Ricardo Minali (Astana Pro Team) 12:19.48; 9. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) 12:19.52; 10. Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) 12:19.52.
JERSEYS
Blue Jersey — sponsored by Commercial Bank of Dubai — (for General Classification by time): Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors).
White Jersey — sponsored by Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) - (for Best Young Rider): Nathan Van Hooydonck (BMC Racing).
Red Jersey — sponsored by Emirates — (for General Classification by Points): 1. Dylan Groenewegen (Team Lotto NL — Jumbo) 42pts; 2. Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) 41; 3. Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) 33.
UAE Flag Jersey — sponsored by Dubai Health Authority (DHA) - (for Intermediate Sprint Jersey Classification): 1. Nathan Van Hooydonck (BMC Racing) 12pts; 2. Loic Vliegen (BMC Racing Team) 10; 3. Charles Planet (Team Novo Nordisk) 8pts; 4. Yousuf Mirza Al Hammadi (UAE Team Emirates) 7pts.