'I would send him to the Tour': Oliver Naesen backs Seixas for a big Ardennes week and a big future

With La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday, Paul Seixas is the name on everyone's lips. The Frenchman is the only top favourite starting in both races, meaning he could claim his first Walloon classic this week. Teammate Oliver Naesen rates his chances highly, speaking on the HLN Wielerpodcast.

Since Remco Evenepoel's withdrawal, the super talent is considered the outright favourite for La Flèche Wallonne. But the young Frenchman is also being taken very seriously for Sunday's Monument. At Liège, the 19-year-old will have to contend with Tadej Pogačar, who has proven year after year he is in a class of his own at this race.

Decathlon CMA CGM teammate Oliver Naesen sees it the same way. "I think Paul has more of a chance in La Flèche Wallonne than in Liège, but the fact that he can genuinely contend for victory on Wednesday at that age is extraordinary," the Belgian says. Yet he still sees his teammate as a dangerous outsider on Sunday. "I think he's the only one capable of following Pogačar."

Following the world champion's wheel tends to mean you are very much in contention for the prizes. "I expect him to finish on the podium, and I think he expects the same," Naesen looks ahead to Liège. Former professional Greg Van Avermaet adds that it will be a significant test for Seixas — a chance to see how far he can go in his first Monument.

Before that, though, La Flèche Wallonne comes first. On the brutally steep Mur de Huy, Seixas will need to shake off his compatriots most of all, as nearly all of the top favourites are French. The young Frenchman reconned the finish on Tuesday — and it made an impression. "It's pretty steep up here," he said of the famous climb's 30% gradient section in a video on his Instagram.

After the Ardennes Classics, Seixas's programme is still undecided, Naesen confirms. "The decision on a potential Grand Tour hasn't been made yet — but if I were the team manager, I'd send him to the Tour." It is a view that many pundits consider the wrong call. Naesen, however, has a clear line of reasoning.

"If he rides the Vuelta this year and finishes fifth, he won't be able to go to the Tour next year without pressure. Anything less than fifth place would be seen as a failure by the French." The Belgian therefore assumes the team will bring him to France. "If you send him now and he finishes twelfth and competes for stage wins a couple of times, that's an enormous success for his age."

For now, though, that decision remains on hold. First comes Wednesday, and a date with the ultra steep Mur de Huy. Bonne chance, Paul.