L’Équipe: Decathlon target Pogačar lieutenant Pavel Sivakov, with Jordan Jegat also in advanced talks

In football, it often happens that standout players from rival teams suddenly appear in the rumour mill ahead of meetings with the biggest clubs. Cycling seemed to get its own version of that around Seixas before Strade Bianche, where the Frenchman then backed up the hype by finishing second in Siena.

Patrick Lefevere has his doubts about the way Seixas is being linked to UAE, as he wrote in his column for Het Nieuwsblad. “I don’t mind, as long as he doesn’t end up at UAE Team Emirates. If they sign Seixas, I simply don’t think that’s right. Joxean Matxín is getting a little too eager as sporting manager.”

Lefevere, once Matxín’s boss, explained why he sees it that way. “Signing Seixas when you already have Pogačar is showboating. You can have the biggest budget in the WorldTour, but that also comes with a certain responsibility and a certain code of conduct. If they keep pushing for Seixas — apparently his younger brother was already invited to training camp — then UAE are completely ignoring that.”

He continued: “I read that INEOS, with its new backer, has also jumped straight into the fight for Paul Seixas’ signature, the new wonderboy of the peloton. I sincerely hope they can sign him. Or that he extends with Decathlon CMA CGM, something people in France still seem to believe is possible.”

Lefevere added that all of it is part of the modern transfer game. “It’s not only UAE, it’s also the rider agents. They play the game far more aggressively than before. They are now agencies with five or six representatives, all trying to score and constantly putting their riders on the market.”

According to L’Équipe, Decathlon CMA CGM are themselves shopping at UAE Emirates–XRG. Pavel Sivakov, one of Pogačar’s regular lieutenants in recent seasons, has been strongly linked with Dominique Serieys’ team by the French sports daily. L’Équipe adds that the 28-year-old Frenchman is expected to sign for three seasons from 2027 onward.

After Tiesj Benoot, Sivakov would become another valuable and experienced addition to the climbing group Decathlon want to build around Seixas. Jordan Jegat of TotalEnergies, who finished 10th in the 2025 Tour de France, is also said to be in advanced negotiations with the French squad. That would underline Decathlon’s intent to keep building a more ambitious long-term project around Seixas.