UAE Emirates had to withdraw from the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday at the last minute.
In the team of Tadej Pogacar and Marc Hirschi, two people tested positive for the corona virus.
The fact that UAE Emirates is affected by COVID-19 is remarkable, because in January the government of the United Arab Emirates made a vaccine available for the members of the cycling team.
The positive tests were taken with Italian rider Diego Ulissi and a staff member.
Both were vaccinated, but an injection does not lead to 100 percent protection.
UAE Emirates has announced that both tested negative before departure, but tested positive upon arrival in Belgium.
Since then, Ulissi and the staff member have been tested three more times, each time with a negative result.
The duo also show no symptoms of COVID-19.
We all have negative and we don’t start Flèche Wallone. We had false positive yesterday but came three times negative afterwards.
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Avatar Author Tamau Pogi Moment of places 08:34 – 21 April 2021
UAE Emirates hopes to participate Liège-Bastogne-Liège
UAE Emirates reports that it is frustrated by the decision, but also shows understanding for the decision of the Belgian authorities.
Pogacar reacts with incomprehension: “We have all been tested negative and yet we are not allowed to start. We had false positive tests yesterday and then three negative results”, writes the Slovenian Tour winner.
Pogacar was one of the favorites in the Flèche Wallonne, together with Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step).
Hirschi won the Walloon Arrow last year, but has not been able to achieve big results since his switch from DSM to UAE Emirates.
In the run-up to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the team members will be tested again.
UAE Emirates hopes to be able to participate in that course on Sunday.
