Sawt Falasteen - Seixas 'crushes' teammates in training to draw Pogacar comparisons

And there is no doubt that he is impressed by the young rider, who turned 20 on Thursday, having already taken bronze in the individual time-trial in Montreal as well as capturing fourth place in the Tour de France.

As one of Tadej Pogacar's lieutenants on UAE Team Emirates, Sivakov has also watched the Slovenian at the closest of quarters and sees similarities between the two star riders.

"Like Tadej, he (Seixas) is a notch above physically," the 29-year-old told AFP.

"He reminds me of Tadej. When we go out riding together, he crushes us.

"When they're on the bike, they're undisputed leaders, you can feel it, it's an aura they have.

"Beyond that, Tadej has a lot of experience, whereas Paul is just starting out. That's maybe where I can give him a bit of advice, a few things I know that he hasn't yet had the chance to experience."

It is high praise indeed for Seixas because Pogacar, still only 28, is already one of the greats of cycling with five Tours de France to his name as well as 13 Monuments and the Giro d'Italia.

Sivakov sees further similarities between the master and the young pretender.

"Both of them are really laid-back off the bike," he said.

"They don't overthink things. That's what makes them strong. They're not hyper-focused on certain details that can eat away at you and make you stressed or bring negative energy at race time.

"As a result, when they're on the bike, they're so strong they don't have anything to prove to us."

- 'Everyone trusts me' -

Sivakov said Seixas has evolved enormously since his first races last year.

"He's coming in with a completely different status," he explained.

"Last year, he was a rider who was discovering everything. Now he's coming with the ambition to win, so it's totally different.

"He's had an extraordinary season. And of course, Tadej's absence also changes his status here."

Pogacar only recently returned to the saddle after fracturing his collarbone and neck in a crash at the Vuelta a Espana.

Sivakov, who was born in Italy, changed allegiance from Russia in 2022. He said he is now at home in the French jersey and ready to help Seixas see off the other favourites Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro.

"I see it as an honour, it means everyone trusts me," Sivakov revealed.

"It's an important role that really suits me. I'm here for Paul.

"Of course, we have personal ambitions as cyclists. Of course, I'd like to stay in the race as long as possible, to be there in the finale, but the goal is to be world champion with Team France as a collective, and we're putting our egos aside."

N.Shalabi--SF-PST