Cycling: Franco-Russian Pavel Sivakov calls for peace in Ukraine
Pavel Sivakov during the Tour of Italy 2021. AFP - DARIO BELINGHERI
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 mins
Pavel Sivakov, Franco-Russian runner, expressed his disagreement with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
His professional career could be put on hold if the International Cycling Union (UCI) decided to ban the Russians from the peloton as requested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
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The Franco-Russian runner of the British team Ineos Grenadiers expressed his support for the Ukrainian people on his social networks.
He also made an update on the hateful comments aimed at the Russian population.
"
First of all, I want to say that I am totally against the war and I cannot condone what is happening in Ukraine, all my thoughts are with the Ukrainian people
," he said.
And to continue: “
I want people to understand that most Russians only want peace and have never asked what is happening now.
We should therefore not be targeted or hated just for our origins.
I know these few lines won't make a huge difference given the current situation, but I just wanted to share this.
»
A career on hold?
In 2021, he represented Russia at the Tokyo Olympics.
He also participated in the Worlds of Innsbruck in 2018 and Yorkshire in 2019 with Russia.
Pavel Sivakov, 24, who grew up in Haute-Garonne took part in his first Tour de France in 2020. He also took part in two Tours of Italy and two Tours of Spain.
Both of his parents were top cyclists.
Born near Venice in Italy, he arrived in France at the age of one when his father signed for the French team Big Mat-Auber 93.
Today, Pavel Sivakov could see his career stopped if the UCI decides to deprive Russian athletes of competitions.
The UCI declared on February 25 to follow “
with concern
” the situation in Ukraine and to condemn “
with the greatest firmness the violation of international law and of Ukrainian territorial integrity
”.
The world cycling body sided with the position of the IOC, which condemned "
the violation of the Olympic truce
".
The IOC recommended on Monday February 28 to ban Russians and Belarusians from sports competitions, a proposal supported by the American Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
pic.twitter.com/117lbgCSwL
— Pavel Sivakov (@PavelSivakov) February 25, 2022
A good climber, Pavel Sivakov was spotted in 2017 by the British team Sky, the richest in the peloton at the time, when he had just won the last stage of the Tour de l'Avenir alone.
He even took the best climber's jersey ahead of a certain Egan Bernal.
The following year, he joined Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas, at the same time as the Colombian.
It only took him a year of apprenticeship with the pros to then confirm.
In his second season, he won the Tour of the Alps, the Tour of Poland, and finished 9th in the Tour of Italy.
It already impresses.
The war in Ukraine that he denounces could have enormous repercussions on his room for improvement and on his future in the peloton.
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