Peter Sagan will start Tirreno-Adriatico hoping that the seven-day race will shake off his recent flu virus and get him back on track after his preseason training in January was thrown into chaos by a second COVID-19 infection.

Saga, a three-time world champion, had hoped to start 2022 with a flourish after moving to France's Total Energy, but both he and the team are facing a tough spring.

Sagan faces a race against time for the Cobblestone Classic, while the Total Energy team is in the news after veteran French rider Alexandre Genès received a four-month suspended prison sentence for domestic violence against his ex-wife.

Team manager Jean-Rene Bernodeau initially avoided talking about the case, but was forced to explain why the team could not take action against Alexandre Jéniez.

In an interview with Cycling News, Bernaude said that while his rider is appealing the French court's ruling, he is "helpless." Bernaude repeatedly cited French employment law as the reason for the team's attitude, or lack thereof.

Sagan had never met Jenyes and did not want to discuss his case specifically, but told Cycling News that his position on violence against women is clear.

"I don't know anything about this case. Violence against women is wrong," Sagan said once and for all.

Sagan was happy to move from Bora-Hansgrohe to Total Energies for 2022, but the opening two months of the year have been a battle with health issues: a second bout of COVID-19 caused him to miss more than two weeks of training in January, and he is trying to move forward as quickly as possible. His recent illness was another step forward for him as he tries to make progress as quickly as possible.

"I had COVID-19 for the second time in January. This week I had a bit of the flu. I just hope it gets better in Tirreno - Adriatico," Sagan said on Sunday.

"You can't set goals for yourself. It all depends on my form."

Sagan made his season debut in a stage race at the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var in France in mid-February and competed in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Couleurs Bruxelles Couleurs before his latest illness.

His results are understandably modest due to the setback, and he will need to race hard in Italy this week. Milan-San Remo is March 19, followed by the Belgian Classic.

"After Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice, the real season begins.

"Then Milan - San Remo and the next Classic in Belgium. These are big goals for all the players competing in the Classics, and for me as well."

"There's not much else to say. Just keep racing, keep suffering, and hope to be in better shape as soon as possible."