UAE Team ADQ has withdrawn from the Itzulia Women, the premier stage race on May 13-15, and the Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria on May 17, due to a positive COVID-19 case on the team.

"As a precautionary measure and to protect the health of the other teams, due to the positive COVID-19 test results conducted by the riders, UAE Team ADQ has withdrawn from the Itzulia Women (2.WWT) to be held in Spain over the weekend and the Durango- We have decided not to participate in the Durango Emacmen Sarria (1.1)," UAE Team ADQ announced on Thursday.

Spanish national champion Mavi Garcia, one of the favourites for the race in the Basque Country, expressed her disappointment on her way home after confirming that she was one of the riders who tested positive for COVID-19. She will now miss the race until further notice.

"Yesterday was one of those days where my legs worked perfectly and then everything goes wrong," Garcia posted on Instagram on Wednesday, referring to the previous day's race at Emmaquemeen-Nafaroaco.

"Number 21, which is said to bring good luck and probably ...... for not believing in it. I fell in a sprint and today I am positive for Cobit. I'm going home."

Garcia has had a good spring, finishing ninth overall in the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, sixth in the Amstel Gold Race, fifth in the Flèche Wallonne, and second overall in the Buelta Ciclista Andalucía Ruta del Sol. This week she was third in Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar and fifth in Emmacmén Nafaroaco Women.

UAE Team ADQ put in strong performances in both competitions. Teams registered for the highest stage race included Linda Zanetti, Alessia Patuelli, Eugenia Bujak, Maria Novorodskaia, and Anna Trevisi.

The inaugural Iturria Women's race is the first stage race of the Women's World Tour season and one of the most important stage races on the calendar.

"It was not an easy decision, but the management of the Emirati team made it with a sense of responsibility. Over the next few days the progress of the situation will be assessed and a decision will be made as to when she will be able to return to competition. We will keep you informed."

Garcia has made July's Tour de France Femme the main target for himself and UAE team ADQ for the 2022 season. The team will turn its attention to the next stage race in the Women's WorldTour in order to reach its July target.

"My goals are always going up," she told Cycling News in February. 'My career is always improving. But my biggest goal this year is the Tour de France. It's important for the team, for me, for everyone."