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Sivakov was born in Italy to Russian parents who were also
cyclists and moved to France when he was one.
Both cycling federations have been notified and he can now race
under the French flag at national, world championship and
Olympic events, the Grenadiers said.
"France is where I grew up and was educated and where I fell in
love with riding my bike which led me to racing. It feels like
my home," Sivakov said in a statement.
Sivakov said Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a
special operation to capture what it regards as dangerous
nationalists, had prompted him to have his change of nationality
expedited.
"I've wanted to become a French national for some time and had
made the request to the UCI, but given what is happening in
Ukraine at the moment, I wanted to fast track this," Sivakov
said.
"All my thoughts are with the Ukrainian people. Like most people
around the world right now, I hope for peace and a swift end to
the suffering happening in the Ukraine."
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison
Williams)
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