Pavel Sivakov confirms mystery illness in French World Championship camp with Julian Alaphilippe among affected: "That definitely didn't help..."

Pavel Sivakov has confirmed reports that several riders in the French team were battling illness ahead of the men’s elite road race at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, describing how a “mystery virus” disrupted preparations and contributed to a tough day on the bike for the tricolore squad.

Speaking to Eurosport after finishing outside of medal contention in what many riders described as one of the hardest World Championships in recent memory, Sivakov didn’t hide his disappointment — but struck a pragmatic tone. “I didn’t have great sensations coming into this World Championship last week,” he said. “I wasn’t feeling super well. I didn’t have a good day. I was hoping for more, but I didn’t have the legs. That’s part of racing.”

France started the day with ambition, launching repeated attacks in the opening phase of the race. Julien Bernard made the early break, while Julian Alaphilippe tried a short-lived attack before abandoning just 22 kilometres into the race. “The conditions here in Africa are really something,” Sivakov continued. “We’ve been a bit unlucky these past few days with a few small viruses in the team. That definitely didn’t help.”

Bernard confirmed post-race that both Alaphilippe and Louis Barré had struggled in the lead-up to Sunday, with the latter also climbing off before the midway point. Combined with over 50 DNFs from the peloton and relentless attrition on Rwanda’s steep climbs and rough roads, France’s early firepower quickly fizzled. “Still, I think we can be proud — we gave everything up to the line,” Sivakov added. “Everyone knew this was going to be a race of suffering, a race of attrition. And that’s exactly what it turned into.”

Tadej Pogacar’s astonishing 100km solo attack delivered him a second straight rainbow jersey, with Remco Evenepoel and Ben Healy rounding out the podium. For Sivakov and France, though, the day ended with frustration and questions over what might have been had the squad been at full strength.