Pavel Sivakov, formerly of INEOS Grenadiers and now with UAE Emirates, spoke on The Cycling Podcast about his new role and the dynamic shift he anticipates in the upcoming cycling season. The 26-year-old Frenchman, who turned professional in 2018, will primarily support team leader Tadej Pogacar but also looks forward to pursuing his own ambitions.
Sivakov shared, “In every race where Tadej starts, he is the main man. I’m prepared to support him in races we both start in, and I’m actually excited about it.” However, he also confirmed that he would be given opportunities to ride for himself in certain races. “We’ve discussed it already. I’m likely to have my own chances in races like the Tour of Valencia and Paris-Nice. While I could have been the outright leader at other teams, the standard at UAE Emirates is very high. Here, everyone gets their opportunities,” he said.
The conversation also delved into Sivakov’s personal life and identity. Originally holding Russian nationality, Sivakov switched to French citizenship in 2022. Despite being born to Russian parents, he grew up in France and always felt integrated and similar to other children, though Russian was spoken at home.
The catalyst for his nationality change came when Russian athletes were banned from international events. Sivakov remarked, “For me personally, not much has changed. I haven’t changed as a person, and people still see me the same way, which is nice. It’s not about nationality. I may be French on paper now, but that’s how I’ve always felt.”
