UAE Team Emirates to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at January training camp
The WorldTour squad will receive a coronavirus vaccination at a training camp in Abu Dhabi in the new year
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5WcsXTXadTSiYXeiNU6BnG-415-80.jpg)
UAE Team Emirates at the Tour de France 2020 (Photo by Marco Bertorello - Pool/Getty Images)
UAE Team Emirates are likely to become the first professional cycling team to be vaccinated against Covid-19 when the entire squad comes together at a training camp in the new year.
The WorldTour outfit will travel to Abu Dhabi for a winter training camp in January, where the entire squad will be vaccinated ahead of the new season.
Team owner Mauro Gianetti has already been vaccinated, having been part of a group of volunteers who tried out a coronavirus vaccine made by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm Group.
Gianetti says that although the vaccine has not yet been approved, the hope is that it will be by January and all his riders and staff members will be able to receive it.
>>> Geraint Thomas dislocates shoulder after crashing on ice during training ride
"We are currently in phase 3. It has not yet been approved, but I know very little is missing and the aim is to produce a billion doses by 2021. In January we want to vaccinate the entire team, the riders and the staff members ”, Gianetti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"The vaccination consists of two doses. I had no negative side effects" he continued. "Our training camp in January is in Abu Dhabi and the goal is to vaccinate everyone there."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The team have already figured out the logistics of vaccinating their employees, and now only wait for the vaccine to be approved by authorities, and that each individual member of staff will be allowed to choose themselves whether they want to be vaccinated.
"We have already coordinated and planned it all with the medical staff. We are ready when the vaccine is validated and approved by the certified authorities," Gianetti said. "Incidentally, the vaccination is not imposed, it is a personal choice."
UAE Team Emirates had a very successful 2020 campaign despite the coronavirus pandemic disruptions, winning stages at all three Grand Tours as well as the yellow jersey with Tadej Pogačar.
In 2021 they will bolster their squad with the signings of Rafał Majka and Matteo Trentin, as well as Ryan Gibbons from NTT.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
How to watch the Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
Get all the information you need to watch the action of the men's and women's Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
By Cat Glowinski Published
-
Ribble Cycles looking to capitalise on 'big summer of sport' with 30% off highly-rated models
Direct-to-consumer Ribble Cycles has always been rated highly among the Cycling Weekly tech team. This is our pick of the best Road, Gravel and E-bikes from their 'Summer Sale'
By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published
-
A UAE Emirates Tour de France podium clean sweep is a real possibility
Adam Yates, Tadej Pogačar and João Almeida are all hitting form at the perfect time with the Florence Grand Départ fast approaching
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Meet Vegard Stake Laengen, Tadej Pogačar's right-hand man at Grand Tours
The Norwegian bodyguard has been present in each of the Slovenian's Tour de France participations, and is now at the Giro d'Italia, too
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I pulled it off and turned everything around' - Brandon McNulty on the ride that changed him
US star grabbed his first ever Grand Tour win at last year’s Giro d’Italia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'We were lucky with the weather': Brandon McNulty admits rain helped UAE Emirates edge Paris-Nice stage three team time trial
American pulled on the yellow jersey after a rain soaked finale to stage three in Auxerre
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
UAE Team Emirates power to team time trial victory on stage three of Paris-Nice
Team take advantage of more clement weather to put Finn Fisher-Black into yellow jersey
By Adam Becket Published
-
'He’s making history': Paris-Nice reacts to Strade Bianche masterclass from Tadej Pogačar
'He can still surprise us all the time’ João Almeida on Pogačar's performance in Tuscany
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘He’s learning fast’: Isaac del Toro, the peloton’s ‘best neo-pro’ triumphant at Tour Down Under
The Mexican has had raced just twice at WorldTour level, and taken his debut victory at the second opportunity
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar and UAE-Team Emirates angry with motorbike but remain optimistic of taking Tour de France yellow
It's proving almost impossible to separate the two at the top, and a close motorbike on stage 14 didn't help Pogačar's intentions
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published