Pogačar has been infected with Covid-19 this past week and has in the meantime returned to training after a period of isolation.
Team doctor Adrian Rotunno announced the double Tour de France winner has been infected this past week: “Tadej tested positive for the coronavirus and had mild symptoms. According to the guidelines, and in the interest of his health and that of society, he underwent the mandatory isolation and recovery period before he could resume light training,"
Rotunno stressed though that this would not prevent him from starting off his season in the UAE Tour: "He still has some final medical clearance tests but should be on track to resume his preparation for his first race of the season, the UAE Tour."
Before going on to try and defend his Tour de France title, Pogačar will focus in the Ardennes classics, after a spring period with a very diverse calendar which includes several stage-races, Milano-Sanremo and a debut at the Tour des Flandres.