‘I was motivated to do this for Tadej, for the team and for myself’ – Pavel Sivakov narrowly misses Vuelta a España stage win for injured Pogačar

Pavel Sivakov’s breakaway bid to pay tribute to his injured leader Tadej Pogačar at the Vuelta a España fell painfully short on stage 9, but he says he and his teammates are determined to try again.

The French allrounder was off the front for nearly all of the toughest mountain day of the race to date, but after 175 kilometres ahead of the field, Decathlon CMA CGM determined acceleration on the Aitana proved fatal to his chances.

With his last win the overall of the Vuelta a Andalucia in 2025 and just seven wins to his name to date, the 29-year-old explained that he had done his utmost to claim what would have been a hugely emotive and symbolic victory. But he ran out of legs on a brutally challenging ascent, finishing 20th at the top behind stage winner Enric Mas (Movistar).

“I went really deep, but unfortunately the climb was just endless. I couldn’t see the end. When we turned right at the end onto the smaller roads, I could see the top, but it was just unfinishing,” he explained.

“The legs were pretty good. I was fighting for the victory, and actually that’s not a situation I was in so often. So I was nervous about how to manage it, but in the end I put myself in a good position. I just didn’t have the legs to finish it off.”

Awarded the ‘Most Combative Rider’ prize by the organisation for his efforts, Sivakov promised that he and his teammates would do their utmost to get a win for themselves – and for Pogačar.

“Of course, there are many other opportunities,” he told Eurosport. “It’s only the first week now, and there are many other days to give it a go. We’ll keep trying with all of the team.”

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