Team Sapura Cycling have cancelled their plan to race in Greece after one of their Italian riders tested positive for Covid-19.

Team principal Sayuti Zahit revealed that Pierpaolo Ficara, who finished fourth overall in Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) last season, tested positive for the virus in Syracuse, Sicily last month. Sapura’s foreign riders have been training in their own countries since the pandemic struck last year.

“Pierpaolo’s condition has improved, he has informed us that he has been discharged from hospital and is now undergoing home quarantine in Italy,” said Sayuti yesterday.

Sapura has named Le Tour de Langkawi winner Danilo Celano (Italy), Jesse Ewart (Ireland), Ahmet Orken (Turkey), Nur Aiman Rosli, Zawawi Azman and national road champion Akmal Hakim Zakaria for their Tour of Turkey squad.

Sapura pared down their squad this year due to the pandemic and had allowed Roy Eefting (the Netherlands), Marcus Culey (Australia), Serghei Tvetcov (Romania) and Nur Aiman Zariff to leave at the end of last season after receiving offers from other teams.