An Olympic cycling champion, trapped in the anguish of Dubai due to the war. "We are in a tense calm, not knowing very well what might happen. In the early hours, we were alarmed by the alert messages and the explosions that could be heard in the distance," explains the Asturian Samuel Sánchez (48 years old), winner of the gold medal in road cycling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, who has been residing in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) since the beginning of January. The former cyclist moved to this war-affected city with his wife to accompany their eldest son, who works there in a multinational advertising company.
"Last Saturday, the beginning of the conflict caught me near the Strait of Hormuz, where we had gone with the family to spend the day cycling. Then we received alert messages, advising us not to leave the house. Later, we saw missiles, flashes in the sky, the smoke from the impacts, and how shrapnel fell. It's a loud noise that surprises and scares you. The closest comparison is the sound heard during a firecracker display," recalls the Asturian former cyclist, who resides near Business Bay and Downtown, to EL MUNDO.
Samuel Sánchez, who retired from professional cycling in 2017, hopes for a decrease in tension in the Middle East and does not wish to convey alarm about the current situation in Dubai: "The Government of the Emirates, the consulate, and the Spanish Embassy reassure us by saying that Iran's missile targets are military bases, not cities. They also assure us that the defense lines of the Emirates are responding well... but you never know what might happen."
The former rider who triumphed with the Euskaltel-Euskadi team (he was second in the Tour de France 2010 and in the Vuelta a España 2009) has received encouraging calls from friends, family, and the Presidency of the Principality of Asturias in the last few hours. He states that the situation in Dubai is not distressing: "Life here is relatively calm, people can carry out almost all daily activities. Stores, supermarkets, food establishments, gas stations are open... However, many companies have opted for telecommuting, schools are closed, and classes are held online."
"There is a tense atmosphere, occasionally in the sky, you can see the marks of how they intercept a missile. They recommend that we do not go out on the streets. All of this is concerning, but the city has not come to a standstill," adds the winner of five stages in the Vuelta a España and one in the Tour de France.
The Spanish former cyclist warns that the situation in Dubai cannot be compared to the fear experienced in cities in Iran and Israel: "No missiles have fallen here, intercepted drones have appeared, detonations can be heard, but I believe those explosions are at a distance of about 20 or 30 kilometers. There is a danger that some debris may fall on the population, but for now, life is hardly disrupted. We spend the nights with a certain tranquility."
The gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics emphasizes that the Spanish Embassy reassures the Spanish community in Dubai and that they stay in touch through WhatsApp groups and social networks.
Samuel Sánchez left Asturias at the beginning of the year, but his intention is to come to Spain periodically, something that is currently impossible due to the closure of the airspace of the United Arab Emirates. He hopes that the Dubai airport will reopen soon.
"Before this conflict began, I had planned to return to Spain on March 9th because I need to go to Asturias and take care of some matters in Madrid. Let's see if it could happen. Our plan is to stay in the Emirates for a while. My wife and I came here at the beginning of the year to accompany a son who works here. We like the city and feel comfortable. We have another son studying in London, and we hope he will join us soon," adds the former Olympic champion, who is now concerned about the uncertainty in Dubai.