The Faun-Ardèche Classic was won by Paul Seixas. The young Frenchman already finished third on the same roads at last season’s European Championships, and that experience clearly paid off. On the very spot where Tadej Pogačar decided the title fight back in the autumn, Seixas rode Matteo Jorgenson out of his wheel — then stayed away for a solo of more than 40 kilometres.
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Cycling fans may have felt a sense of déjà vu while watching the Faun-Ardèche Classic. Wasn’t this the European Championships? The race indeed used the same kilometres, including the feared Val d’Enfer climb — a short, brutal wall that had to be tackled four times. A beautiful course, and one that always invites big moves.
This year, the script was completely different — likely inspired by that Euros scenario, and powered by Seixas’ exceptional legs. The Decathlon CMA CGM youngster opened his season by winning a stage at the Volta ao Algarve, but had to concede the overall victory to Juan Ayuso. He looked hungry again here.
After an early break of eight was reeled in, the race lit up on the Mur de Royes (6.8km at 7.3%) with around 40 kilometres still to race. Seixas stood on the pedals and went clear. Jorgenson could follow briefly for Visma | Lease a Bike, but quickly had to let go.
Seixas never looked back and finished almost two minutes ahead of the rest. Christen (second) and Martinez (third) came past Jorgenson in the finale, with the American taking fourth. Mattias Skjelmose rounded out the top five, more than two minutes down.
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.