Paul Seixas wants follow in the footsteps of Pogačar and Evenepoel in every way: 'I'd love to try my luck'
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Follow us on GooglePaul Seixas had an amazing year. After an outstanding debut season as a pro, the Frenchman had his big breakthrough in 2026. He needs to keep up this upward trajectory next season. The hyper-ambitious youngster isn’t just focused on the upcoming races—he’s looking ahead and hopes to improve in every aspect.
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Seixas finished 2026 with strong results
Seixas quickly made his mark at the WorldTour
Seixas made his professional debut in 2025 and, as an 18-year-old rookie, was already tearing up the roads.
He won the points jersey in the Tour of the Alps, finished eighth in the Critérium du Dauphiné, and had an incredibly strong end to the year, including a bronze medal at the European Championships for elite riders.
This year, he took it even further, finishing fourth in the Tour de France and winning the Tour of Lombardy.
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Seixas: 'The average level is extremely close'
"The leap forward in results is significant," Seixas tells Marca. He remains very level-headed about whether the next step can be taken.
“In terms of performance, the differences between a good climber and a top climber are very small. You can’t see it on TV, but the average level is extremely close, and a small step can completely change the results.”
Read more below the photo!
Seixas wants to do even better next year than he did in his breakthrough year.
Seixas to prioritise the World Championships over the Tour de France?
The question of what races Seixas will ride in the coming year is on everyone’s lips. The 20-year-old climber could return to the Tour de France and aim for a podium finish. But a start at the Giro d’Italia is also a possibility. His reasoning suggests he might skip the Tour.
"The fact that I rode the Tour this year doesn't guarantee me a spot in the next edition," he says realistically. Moreover, the Tour isn't his main goal for the coming year.
“The World Championships are my top priority: they’re being held close to my home and where my family lives, so it’s a unique opportunity that I want to prepare for as best I can.”
A 'home' World Championships for Paul Seixas
The 2027 World Cycling Championships will be held at the foot of the French Alps, in Sallanches. It is, in fact, just a stone’s throw from the region where Seixas grew up.
Of course, Tadej Pogačar will be the top favorite, but his young rival said it before: “I want to beat Pogačar when he’s at his best.”
And that World Championships on home turf would be the perfect place to pull it off.
Read more below the photo!
Will Seixas return to the Tour next year?
Seixas wants to follow in the footsteps of Pogačar and Evenepoel
Of course, Seixas will also be competing against the Slovenian outside the World Championships. The spring season, with Liège–Bastogne–Liège as the main race, will also be a priority.
But the Decathlon CMA CGM team leader is looking much further ahead than that. It’s quite possible that he’ll go after not only Pogačar but also Remco Evenepoel and head for the cobblestones.
"I really enjoy cobblestones. I've already enjoyed those kinds of races in the junior category. For now, I'm sticking to my current schedule, but once I've gained more experience and achieved other goals, I'd love to try my luck on the cobblestones."- Paul Seixas
Seixas has scored well on the cobbles in the past
In 2023, Seixas finished eighth in the E3 Saxo Classic for juniors. A year later, he placed third at the European Championships in Hasselt, which featured several cobblestone sections.
What’s more: Seixas wasn’t just a road cyclist. Between 2022 and 2024, he competed in two full cyclocross seasons. In that final year, he became the French junior champion (even after a crash) and finished 36 seconds behind Aubin Sparfel.
That's the Aubin Sparfel who became the European U23 champion this weekend. As we've seen, cyclocross riders are, of course, generally good on cobblestones as well. To be continued, no doubt...
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- Is the Giro the race that happens before the Tour? And does winning the mountains jersey mean Carapaz scored the most points on climbs? Which race was everyone’s favourite?bikebuffj05-11-2026
- How did Mathieu van der Poel miss the list? His classics results surely put him in the conversation.sprocketspiny05-11-2026
- McNulty deserves more credit than his ranking suggests. A world title and all that work as a domestique make for a superb season.tourdeforce905-11-2026
- Seixas winning Lombardia at 20 is astonishing. The “next Pogačar” label feels a bit premature, though—let him build his own story before piling on the comparisons.andrewf05-11-2026
- Pogačar’s palmarès is ridiculous, but Van Aert deserves a special mention for Roubaix. Beating Tadej in the velodrome was one of the moments of the season.cyclechamp4505-11-2026
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026