UAE Team Emirates are having issues related to Covid-19 as Tadej Pogacar's bubble has seen a case emerge from one of his teammate, with Matteo Trentin being pulled out of the Tour de France due to a positive Covid-19 test.
The Italian was set to be part of the team in a crucial role of protection throughout the flat stages and the cobbled day in northern France. He was brought as a domestique but a positive test ahead of the race has taken him out. Replacing him will be Marc Hirschi who was initially expected to be in the race but with a positive Covid-19 test at the Tour de Suisse he became a substitute.
Hirschi is a different type of rider than Trentin meaning the role will be relatively void and will make the Slovenian more vulnerable in the classics-like stages, however the Swiss brings in added firepower to the hilly stages - however the importance of that role is rather minimal. This will be Hirschi's third Tour de France and he'll be likely having a supportive role despite his traditional freedom.
