UAE Team Emirates cyclists and staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in January

Cyclists and staff of the UAE Team Emirates cycling team will be invited to receive the Covid-19 vaccine during the first training camp in January.

Mauro Janetti, general manager of the team, is now volunteering in the third phase of a vaccine trial produced by the Chinese company Sinopharm Group. He spoke about the upcoming vaccination of the entire team in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Mauro Gianetti: “I was one of 30,000 volunteers in Abu Dhabi testing the new Sinopharm vaccine. I was given two doses, no negative side effects. We are now going through the third phase of testing. The vaccine has not been approved yet, but I know that very little is left until then.

The vaccine will completely change our relationship with the outside world. Our team faced the coronavirus in February. We know what it is like to go through a nightmare due to a virus.

Our training camp will take place in January in Abu Dhabi. We want to vaccinate the entire team, riders and staff. We have already coordinated and planned everything with the team doctors. Ready to start as soon as the vaccine is certified. By the way, vaccination is not imposed. It’s a personal choice. “

Paolo Tiralongo resigns from UAE Team Emirates

Fabio Aru’s departure from the UAE Team Emirates cycling team could not but affect his former teammate and mentor, 43-year-old Paolo Tiralongo, who worked in the team as a technical assistant.

Born in Avola (Sicily), Paolo Tiralongo now lives in Bergamo. He has joined the Italian amateur cycling team Velo Plus Racing Team Palazzago, according to quiBiciSport.it.

In the team, he will hold two positions – sports director and responsible for training cyclists.
Tiralongo, who retired as a professional cyclist in 2017, was an assistant to such captains as Contador, Nibali, Aru, and will bring to the cycling team from Bergamo valuable experience in the World Tour teams.

This year the Velo Plus Racing Team Palazzago took part in Andera’s Giro d’Italia and Andera’s Giro di Lombardia. At the 2020 Giro Ciclistico d’Italia amateur, won by Tom Pidcock, Velo Plus Racing Team Palazzago cyclist Gerardo Sessa finished 15th overall.

Among the pupils of the team is Filippo Conca, who will play in the Lotto Soudal team from next year.