Sivakov adds new detail on cause of Pogacar’s Vuelta crash

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider was directly behind Pogačar when the incident happened and was therefore one of the closest witnesses to the crash.

“I was just in his wheel when it happened,” Sivakov explained to reporters ahead of stage 9, including Domestique. “Actually, I could avoid it, but there was nothing I could have done there.”

Asked what had caused Pogačar to go down, Sivakov recalled seeing his team leader handling a bottle immediately before losing his balance.

“I think he was drinking. It happened so fast, but he was just taking a bidon or putting it back. I don’t exactly remember, but I remember him taking a bidon at this moment, and that’s how he lost his balance so quickly.”

Television replays later provided another piece of the explanation. Pogačar was riding near the front of the peloton with 32 kilometres remaining when he struck a large rock at the side of the road. The impact knocked him off balance and sent him heavily to the ground.

Sivakov’s account adds further context to the incident, suggesting Pogačar may have had only one hand on the handlebars when he hit the rock, as he was either taking a bidon or putting it back at the time.

The consequences proved serious. UAE confirmed on Saturday evening that Pogačar had suffered a concussion, a displaced fracture of his left collarbone and a stable C7 cervical fracture, as well as multiple abrasions. The team said there was no neurological damage. Pogačar will require surgery on his collarbone, although the procedure was delayed because of concussion precautions.

The crash has left UAE having to completely rethink its approach to the race, with Pogačar no longer there as the focal point of the team.

For Sivakov and his teammates, however, the immediate concern was Pogačar’s condition rather than the sporting consequences.

“We are devastated,” Sivakov said. “These kind of things happen in cycling. The most important thing is that Tadej is not badly hurt.”

Pogačar spent the morning in hospital and had already been in contact with his teammates by the time Sivakov spoke to reporters.

“He sent a message in the group,” Sivakov said. “He’s in hospital, obviously. I think he’s quite hurt, but that’s how it is.”

The Frenchman admitted the atmosphere inside the team had inevitably changed following the loss of its leader, but stressed that UAE now had to find a new purpose for the remaining stages.

Pogačar has carried much of the team’s ambitions throughout the season and Sivakov believes it is now up to the rest of the squad to respond.

“He gives so much for the team, so it’s our turn now,” he said.

That means shifting the focus away from riding around a single leader and towards aggressive racing and stage victories.

“It’s not easy, but you have to change directly,” Sivakov explained. “Tadej is not here anymore. Now it’s up to us to do the work and to try to win stages.”

UAE still has several cards to play, according to Sivakov, who also intends to take his own opportunities in breakaways.

“I think we have several options,” he said. “Jay [Vine] would be a good option as well. Myself, I will try again in the breakaway.”