Here is the Decathlon team to help Paul Seixas end 41 years of hurt at the Tour de France

Decathlon CMA CGM has announced its team for the 2026 Tour de France. Much of the attention will be focused on the highly talented Paul Seixas, who will be making his debut. But the French team is bringing a very strong squad to support their French team leader as he tries to end 51 years of hurt.

Seixas is having a stellar season, highlighted by victories in the Tour of the Basque Country and the Flèche Wallonne. The 19-year-old Frenchman has rapidly emerged as France’s top hope for the Tour, and will already have a shot at a top finish in the general classification in this edition. He took a hard fall in the Tour Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes, but will be fit in time for the start in Barcelona.

This will reassure French fans. “After my crash and withdrawal from the Tour, I was able to resume my training for the Tour de France almost as usual, with a few adjustments due to my injuries,” Seixas says on his team’s website. “With five days to go before the Grand Départ, I feel ready to give it my all to complete these three weeks and achieve the best possible result.”

The young rider isn't making any specific statements about his goals just yet. "I'm heading into the unknown—I've never ridden such a long and demanding race before. I hope to play an important role, continue to improve, and enjoy it as well. This is the race I’ve always dreamed of, and I realize how privileged I am to be able to compete in it so early in my career.”

Kooij is the other key rider on the French team. The Dutch sprinter joined the team last winter with his sights set on the Tour, but his spring season didn’t go as planned. As a result, his spot on the team was briefly in jeopardy, but with three wins in a month, he has secured his place.

In the sprint stages, Kooij will have the chance to compete against riders such as Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier, whom he has already beaten in the Baloise Belgium Tour. “My start to the season wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but we’ve managed to stay patient and work hard. The victories I’ve achieved in recent weeks, since my return to competition, have given my confidence a huge boost.”

Kooij will be going all out for stage wins. "I know the competition will be fierce, since we're participating in the world's biggest cycling race, but our goals are clear—both for the team and for me: for Paul to finish as high as possible in the general classification and win at least one sprint stage. I want to thank the team for the trust they’ve placed in me.”

However, despite Seixas’s presence, Kooij won’t have a full sprint train to support him: he’ll have to make do with his compatriots Cees Bol and Daan Hoole. The latter will also be invaluable in the team time trial on day one. The team is further built around the young leader, as Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Matthew Riccitello, Tiesj Benoot, and Nicolas Prodhomme will be able to keep up for long stretches in the tougher stages.

"We’re approaching the Tour with ambition, but also with humility, determined to build on the progress we’ve made over the past few seasons," says manager Dominique Serieys. "We’ve put together a very balanced and close-knit team, consisting of riders whose profiles are well-suited to achieving our goals. Paul Seixas is making his Tour de France debut with this team, with the goal of achieving the best possible result while also learning along the way."

"Olav Kooij, who is also riding his first Tour de France, will have several opportunities to showcase his speed in sprints. With this lineup, the team, led by Luke Rowe—who is making his Grand Tour debut as a sports director—will aim for the general classification and try to secure at least one stage victory when the opportunity arises,” concludes Serieys.

Paul Seixas
Olav Kooij
Daan Hoole
Cees Bol
Matthew Riccitello
Nicolas Prodhomme
Tiesj Benoot
Aurélien Paret-Peintre