Nationality swap "changed something about me as a man", says Pavel Sivakov

Pavel Sivakov was one of the few Russian athletes to race at World Tour level, but ever since becoming a French citizen he has managed to avoid some of the sanctions that have been imposed on Russian athletes - namely from the Australian and Dutch federations, which prevents their participation in races like the 2022 Vuelta a España and World championships. 

"I was a bit afraid of being seen as a traitor by some Russians, I did get some negative reactions on social media, but it was really minimal: 95 percent of people understood and supported me," Sivakov told L'´Équipe. The Frenchman has talked about his recent change of nationality, that came in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine - and subsequent consequences that it posed for Russian athletes.

A resident in France since his childood, it was a relatively swift and easy process which has seen Sivakov become an athlete for the French federation. Sivakov, who is currently at the Giro d'Italia riding in support of Richard Carapaz, has added: "Changing nationality hasn't changed me as a rider, but I feel like it's changed something about me as a man. I find it difficult to describe that feeling, but yes, I feel different."

"I really want to participate. In the youth categories I always saw my friends go to the French championships and I could never join," Sivakov said regarding a possible presence at the French national championships later this summer. "If it fits in my race calendar, I'll be there. It would be a symbolic confirmation of the fact that I am a French rider," he concluded.