Hours after UAE teammate Tadei Pogachar's solo victory on Il Lombardia, Pavel Shivakov boarded a plane to China to see his own results in the Tour of Guangxi.

On Saturday, and as practiced in the UAE reconnaissance of Il Lombardia on Wednesday, Sivakov served as the last segment of the UAE “booster rocket,” putting Pogachar into orbit on the crucial Colma di Solmano climb.

Then, while the Slovenian powered another 40 km to win his fourth consecutive Il Lombardia, Sivakov, rather than doing what a bike rider would do to slink back to earth, chased Enric Mas (Movistar) and Renate van Etveldt ( Sivakov, instead of slinking back to earth, closed in on Enric Mas (Movistar) and Renate van Eotveld (Lot Doustony). He then attacked on the final climb, but was reeled in. But the 27-year-old Sivakov still had plenty of energy left in him, and he decided to sprint in Como to take his best finish of the race in the fallen leaves, sixth place.

The Frenchman told reporters in the finish line mixed zone that he had already volunteered for Il Lombardia after finishing sixth in the Coppa Bernocchi the previous weekend. He is now in the Tour of Guangxi, which includes 2017 race champion Tim Wellens, 2018 overall runner-up Felix Groschertner, and Colombian sprinter Juan Sebastian Morano, who won a stage in last year's premier World Tour race in China, He will be part of a well-rounded UAE team.

So far, Sivakov's only participation in Guangxi has been an anonymous 27th place overall in 2018. However, as he told reporters in Lombardy, he is in great shape. More than that, at a time when staying motivated and focused is nine-tenths of the law of success in cycling, Sivakov is certainly eager to end his first year in the UAE on a high note.

“There is still one race left. We'll head to China and see what happens there. He said, “At first I wasn't keen on racing in Italy, but I ran the Bernocchi and felt so good that I asked the team if I could run not only in Guangxi, but also in Lombardy.

Before taking the long flight east, Sivakov said that by the time the season gets to October, “what really matters is the mental aspect of the competition, and I am really motivated.”

“I couldn't be happier about this season. Seeing what I was able to do at Lombardia makes me even more confident in my condition."

“I am at my best level since I turned pro,” said Sibakov.

Sivakov, already a member of Pogachar's Tour de France winning team, said, “We did really well as a team.

While not as difficult as Il Lombardia, Guangxi is a good race route for Sivakov this year.

Traditionally, sprinters play an important role, but this year's route is significantly more hilly, so the GC could start with the undulating finale of stage 2. And as in 2023, the final climb to Nongra on stage 5 (the race's only summit finish) will be the decisive hierarchy in the overall battle. Sivakov, who had a great run on Il Lombardia, will be aiming for the top overall as well.