Published January 7, 2021 12:44PM
UAE Team Emirates receives first COVID-19 vaccination
Nearly 60 riders and team staff received the first of two COVID-19 vaccinations at the start of a team camp in Abu Dhabi.
MONSELICE, ITALY - OCTOBER 16: Arrival / Diego Ulissi of Italy and UAE Team Emirates / Brandon Mcnulty of The United States and UAE Team Emirates / Celebration / during the 103rd Giro d'Italia 2020, Stage 13 a 192km stage from from Cervia to Monselice / @girodiitalia / #Giro / on October 16, 2020 in Monselice, Italy. (Photo: Fabio Ferrari - Pool/Getty Images)
UAE Team Emirates are the first professional cycling team to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reported Thursday that the team members — including 2020 Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar — and support staff in Abu Dhabi were prioritized for the preventative measure as they prepare for the 2021 season.
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Pogačar is set to defend the yellow jersey as well as aim for the top of the podium in other races, beginning in Mallorca at the end of January.
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“It is not difficult to motivate myself, because I love to race. I still want to achieve many things in cycling. Of course I would like to defend my overall victory in the Tour de France, but there are more important competitions. I also hope to win other major races,” Pogačar told organizers of the Volta a Valenciana. “I can look back on a good winter period, with a short holiday in the United Arab Emirates. That was nice, but we are now again dealing with stricter corona measures.”
Of nearly 100 UAE Team Emirates employees, it was reported that 60 were vaccinated, and of those, 28 are racers including Matteo Trentin, Davide Formolo, and Marco Marcato among others.
Diego Ulissi is not in Abu Dhabi with the team, as he is still at home undergoing observation for abnormal cardiac function.
The vaccine was offered to all UAE Team Emirates on a voluntary basis; every available rider and support member elected to be vaccinated.
The two-dose Sinopharm vaccine was jointly produced by Chinese, UAE, and Israeli scientists, and has already been distributed on a wide scale in Israel.
In recent days, UAE Team Emirates was linked with Swiss breakout star Marc Hirschi, but at this time, neither the team nor Hirschi have confirmed any arrangement.