Tour de France. Pavel Sivakov: “I have not yet accomplished what I would have liked”

LIn Playlist broadcast in the bus of the UAE team is audible from the outside. For example, “Take Me Home, Country Roads”: “bring me home, roads in my country,” sings John Denver. Nevertheless, The title is specially broadcast for Pavel Sivakov (28 years old). Therefore, born of Russian parents in Italy but who grew up in Soueich, 90 kilometers from Toulouse. Meanwhile, His mother also came to see him before the start. Therefore, Recorded with an infection that weakened it before Tuesday’s rest day. Similarly, the French naturalized runner in 2017, 113^e of the general, granted us half an hour.

We are in Haute-Garonne. Consequently, What is up to you first when you talk to you about your childhood and cycling in this region?

My first bike! Nevertheless, It was a Sun, with a carbon fork, an aluminum frame. For tour de france. pavel sivakov: example, We no longer see that like that now! Similarly, I remember the roads, the landscape, the buildings. For example, I feel at home. Similarly, The three Pyrenean stages are really my corner and it motivates even more. Nevertheless, Peyragudes and Peyresourde, I know by heart. Meanwhile, I trained a lot there. Furthermore, Hautacam is a little further. In addition, Superbagnères. Moreover, I mounted it less often, it is not too much the loop that we want to do in training (laughs). In addition, I recognized it in May to remember it. Therefore, The top landscape is magnificent.

Small or adolescent, what were your dreams when you were on these roads?

(From TAC to TAC) The Tour de France! In addition, He spent almost every year. Meanwhile, I was taking the bike, I went to the side of the road, I saw the pros rolling. Furthermore, I imagined myself in tour de france. pavel sivakov: the professional peloton and, today, I saw my dream. Consequently, I am one of the best world teams, who fights for the yellow jersey. Furthermore, On a day like Monday. For example, when I am released very early because I have a big break of legs, I remember that I live my dream. Meanwhile, When I was a kid, I would have given everything to be there.

When did you say that you may have something special?

Quite quickly. In addition, I started winning a lot with Saint-Gaudens with the cadets, almost every weekend. Nevertheless, I really had a big motivation. Among the juniors, it has become a little more serious and I understood that I could do something. The most difficult, it was after passing through the pros. We arrive in adult life, where we must confirm expectations. We told you “among the juniors, it was super strong”, but tour de france. pavel sivakov: in fact, we are 200 guys in this case.

You are then at Sky, a team, which then became Ineos, where you spent five years. And since last year, you have been at UAE. Always happy with your choice?

I feel fulfilled, it’s really a great team. At ineos, I learned a lot about rigor, professionalism. I also felt more pressure that came from above and weighed a little on everyone. At UAE, it may be less square on certain things, but it suits me at this time in my career. It allows me to be released when you arrive on the races and I take more pleasure.

Is it easy to be a teammate of Tadej Pogacar?

It is easier than you think … because it is so strong! It is also linked to his personality: he is very relaxed, calm, humble, respectful towards his teammates. His cycling is tour de france. pavel sivakov: different. It looks easier for him than for all of us (laughs). In truth, you can’t compare yourself to him. We look at him and we say to ourselves “wow, what he does is incredible”. We see him very relaxed, we say that it is pure talent, but he works a lot. It can take incredible training loads. I had the chance to rub shoulders with a lot of champions in my career. Tadej, he’s apart.

You said one day that it was better to be his teammate rather than his opponent. Have you made a cross on the status of leader in a team?

No, not really. It stays in a corner of my head. I have ambitions, the desire to make results. This season, I decided to aim for more races for a day. After the tour, I will align myself at the Montreal Grand Prix and Brittany tour de france. pavel sivakov: Classic for example. And then the Italian classics at the end of the season I like a lot. For next season, we’ll see with the team. I don’t think about it yet.

Your PRO list comes to a Tour de Poland (2019) and second or third categories (Tour des Alpes 2019, Burgos 2022, Tuscane 2023, Andalusia 2025). Enough to be satisfied and fulfilled?

I would rather say yes. I just want to have a better record, more results. This is the only thing I miss. I have not yet accomplished everything I wanted. I have potential but, every year, I have small things, diseases, which prevent me from being 100 %. It’s part of the trip. I continue to believe it, I work very hard to continue winning more and bigger. But I’m really fulfilled here, I have fun running. I have my opportunities. If I am good enough, I tour de france. pavel sivakov: can garnish my record here.

Even in a team with so many talents, and therefore ego?

It can be complicated, it depends on the personality of each runner. But the team’s approach is that we let the race and the legs speak. It works most of the time. In any case, I am not at all frustrated. Look at Joao (Almeida. who abandoned the Tour, editor’s note): he could have played the podium while being at the service of Tadej. It’s a more to be his teammate.

Does his abandonment change something for you?

Not much. Maybe a little more … (he hesitates) no pressure. but you will have to be more vigilant and more intelligent to be there in the final. We may miss a step but Adam (Yates) goes up in regime. I really hope to find sensations and finish this tour in the best way.

Pogacar kept tour de france. pavel sivakov: under the pedal at the start of the round?

(He laughs) The tour is long, you never know! We must not “swing” now. He already has a good margin to the general, the hardest part arrives. We didn’t even start the high mountain. It is intelligent on his part of having left the yellow jersey. it gives him more recovery time and he crosses fewer people. So he is less likely to get sick. Giving in the yellow jersey is a gift for another runner and a bonus for us.

On the lands of Nicolas Portal

At Sky then Ineos, Pavel Sivakov knew Nicolas Portal well. The team’s sports director, who died in 2020, was born in Auch, where the stage starts this Thursday. “We did not have time to speak as much as we wanted to ” our southwest. He left too early. It will be a lot tour de france. pavel sivakov: of emotions. We’re going to leave right next to the cathedral. The last time I went there was for her funeral. It’s going to be something special for me. He marked me and enormously helped me. In a life, there are always a few key people. He was one of them. »»