UAE Team Emirates riders and staff, including Tour de France winner Tadey Pogachar, will be vaccinated against COVID-19 coronavirus at a training camp in the Emirates in January.

"I was one of the 30,000 volunteers who tested Sinopharm's new vaccine in Abu Dhabi. I was one of 30,000 volunteers who tested Sinopharm's new vaccine in Abu Dhabi.

"It's currently in phase 3 trials, it's not approved yet, but we're going to distribute 1 billion doses in 2021; we're going to vaccinate all the athletes and staff in January."

The Sinopharm vaccine was developed by China, and part of the trial was conducted in the UAE in collaboration with computing company Group 42. Other vaccines are about to be rolled out around the world, but are expected to be administered first to older, more vulnerable patients. Gianetti has secured vaccines for all 28 riders and nearly 100 team staff.

UAE Team Emirates contracted several cases of COVID-19 during their tour of the UAE last February. Fernando Gaviria, in particular, contracted the disease and spent a month in quarantine. Other players and teams, including Pogachar, also had to live in quarantine in the UAE. Dario Marini, the team's osteopath, spent nine days in the intensive care unit.

For the 2020 season, the team raced according to a special COVID-19 protocol and protective bubble, and many riders and staff tested positive during frequent testing before and during races; the UCI is expected to extend this protocol through 2021, and the team is planning to hold extensive training camps and international expeditions with caution. Sinopharm would give UAE Team Emirates an advantage and facilitate their planning and racing for 2021.

"It will completely change our relationship with the outside world," Giannetti suggested.

"As a team, we were hit hard by the coronavirus in February," Giannetti said.

UAE Team Emirates will hold a training camp in the UAE in January, and if the Sinopharm vaccine is approved, everyone will be vaccinated.

Pogacar will make his 2021 debut at Challenge Mallorca, but is expected to then return to the UAE to target the UAE tour.

"We have a training camp planned and the goal is to get everyone vaccinated during the training camp.

"As soon as the vaccine is approved and certified we will be able to begin. The vaccine will be an individual choice, not a mandate."