French top talent impresses in Dauphiné but skips Tour: "There are issues with workload and intensity"

"Of course, it's a dream to ride the Tour, but I don't think it makes sense to do it now. Regardless of the result at the finish of the Dauphiné, I will not ride the Tour," Seixas said himself. Jean-Baptiste Quiclet, director at Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, explained to L'Équipe why the team has decided not to let him start in Lille. ”Last year, he rode in the junior category 100-120 km."

“The Tour is the most intense and grueling race of the year, and if he were to participate, his training load could increase by 15-20% in a month,” Quiclet continued. "That's where a physiological overload could occur. Because he is talented, he could get through it without any problems. But you could also end up in a pattern of overloading or overtraining and struggle with that. That could potentially disrupt his upward progression.“

The French national coach, Thomas Voeckler, also told L'Équipe that the Tour is a huge step forward, both mentally and in terms of intensity. The Frenchman, therefore, thought it was logical that Seixas would not be participating in La Grand Boucle at this stage. "If a rider is ready and mentally capable of handling it all, then you shouldn't set any limits. Afterward, you have to realize that the Tour is a completely different ball game."

”The pace is higher than in the Giro or the Vuelta, and I'm not even talking about the race itself: it's unforgiving,“ Voeckler continued. ”At his age, you have to dream, so I would find it logical not to send him to the Tour. I don't see the point, given that this Dauphiné is already a major milestone after his first preparation at altitude."

Seixas' schedule for the rest of the year remains unclear. However, the young Frenchman is expected to travel to the Vendée at the end of this month for the national championships, after which he will head to Les Arcs for altitude training. After that, the Tour de l'Ain, which takes place from August 6 to 8, is scheduled.

Whatever Seixas does this year, teammate Aurélien Paret-Peintre is convinced of his young compatriot's potential. "When you finish eighth in the Dauphiné at 18, people expect you to prove yourself elsewhere. And if you finish 12th next time, they'll think you've taken a step back. It's difficult to protect a rider like him, given the situation this week, but he's someone who keeps a cool head and knows where he wants to go. So it'll be fine."