Hinault advises Seixas against riding the Tour and would rather see him face Vingegaard in the Giro

First of all, the five-time Tour winner is hugely impressed by Seixas. He especially likes the way the youngster races his bike. “It’s a bit like the way Pogačar attacks: he really attacks,” Hinault explained to RMC Sport. “Like he did in that race in the south-east of France (Faun-Ardèche Classic, ed.). He is a fantastic rider for that kind of race.”

After his win in the Faun-Ardèche Classic, plus his second place at Strade Bianche, speculation has grown over whether Seixas should already line up for the Tour de France this year. Almost all of France is now hoping the 19-year-old all-rounder from Decathlon CMA CGM will start in July, but Hinault? He would rather not, says the 71-year-old legend.

“That is just my opinion, everyone can do what they want, but I don’t think it would be a bad idea if he rode the Vuelta a España or the Giro d’Italia and won it,” he said. “Then people could say he has the potential to last the full 23 days, and especially 21 days, and above all to take on the monster that Pogačar is.”

Could Seixas win stages in the Tour de France, or ride to a strong general classification result? It certainly seems possible, but even so, his famous compatriot hopes he will tackle a different Grand Tour first. “If the plan is for him to ride the Tour de France and he ends up completely drained afterwards, then I think it is better to think it through and say that we need to approach it in the best possible way.”

When Hinault emerged, he was called the new Jacques Anquetil. The comparison with Seixas is therefore quickly made. “But I only came through when I was 23. If, at 19, he gets beaten by a Pogačar and loses 10 minutes... then he is better off proving himself in another race. And if he were to go to the Giro d’Italia, he would come up against Vingegaard. That would give you an idea of his capabilities.”

French cycling is on the rise anyway, with Seixas leading the way. “People forget Paul Magnier, it’s the same story. He won 19 races last year, and that is no small feat. And there are a few more coming through as well. I think we have a tremendous generation. Do they have the physical qualities of Pogačar, Van der Poel or Remco? We don’t know. We’ll see. Only at the end of a rider’s career can you really say that he was truly great.”