Pogačar's 2027 plans could shape Paul Seixas's route route to his top priority, the World Championships
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Follow us on GoogleTadej Pogačar has already hinted at where he’ll be racing next year. It appears he will skip the Giro d’Italia in favor of a return to the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. Will the other top riders then head to Italy to win a Grand Tour? The day before the 2027 Giro d'Italia route reveal, several big names are already toying with the idea. Paul Seixas is one of them.
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How much will Pogačar's 2027 schedule influence Seixas?
Paul Seixas announced himself in 2026
Seixas had an amazing 2026, with several top finishes and a resounding debut in the Tour de France. He didn’t win any stages and missed the podium, but finished fourth at the age of nineteen.
However, it’s not even certain whether he’ll ride the Tour again next year. Beppe Conti, a journalist at Radiocorsa, has already reported that he would skip the Tour and ride the Giro instead.
After his victory at the 2026 Tour of Lombardy, Seixas certainly knows what it’s like to win in Italy. “I think I have a special connection, yes,” he tells the Italian magazine Sportweek.
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Seixas is developing a connection with Italy
“I’ve won in Italy before; your races suit me well. It’s a country I want to get to know better in many ways. But when it comes to culinary specialties—starting with pasta and pizza—I’m already right at home.”
The French rider from Decathlon CMA CGM remains vague about the rumors surrounding his schedule, but wouldn’t rule out making his Giro debut. “Definitely,” he replied when asked if he would be interested in racing in Italy.
“At this point, anything is possible regarding next season’s race schedule. We’ll discuss it with the team and decide together what’s best.”
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Will a home World Championship get in the way for Seixas?
Missing the Tour de France would, of course, be a huge disappointment for French fans. They cheered loudly for their young hero during his debut.
The hope is that he’ll be able to finish on the podium next year—or even higher. What’s more, in the second week, as the Tour winds through the Alps, the route passes through Seixas’s hometown.
He’d love to compete there, but his priority lies elsewhere. The 2027 World Cycling Championships will take place on August 29, one month after the final stage of the Tour. And those World Championships will be held in Sallanches, on Seixas's training routes.
Becoming world champion on home soil, in his own region: that’s his number-one priority. And so he might skip the Tour de France and ride the Giro d’Italia instead.
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Seixas is extremely ambitious: 'I want to beat Pogačar when he's in top form'
It would mean he’d be keeping his distance from his idol, Pogacar. “I don’t know if the word ‘idol’ quite captures it. Maybe ‘role model’ is a better description,” said the young Frenchman.
“Not just because he’s the best, but also because of his style, both on and off the race course. He’s well on his way to becoming the absolute best. His presence motivates me and everyone else to improve. Maybe I’ll catch up to him someday, maybe not. But in any case, I’ll keep trying.”
This season, Seixas was one of the riders who came closest to beating the Slovenian on his home turf. For example, he managed to stay with the leaders for a long time in Liège–Bastogne–Liège, but ultimately had to concede defeat.
The youngster is certainly not afraid. “I’m not sitting here waiting for Tadej Pogacar to hit a slump: I want to beat him while he’s still in top form.”
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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
- Checking out the European course beforehand is smart. Hope she enjoys racing at home, whatever the result.jennifer1902-11-2026
- How does the starting order get decided in cyclocross? Eighth sounds impressive if she had to work her way through the whole field.cadencekingm02-11-2026
- The article’s timeline seems a bit muddled: it says this was the 2026 Koppenbergcross, then calls it her final race of 2025–Still, her progress is encouraging.pedalpowe2902-11-2026
- It’s lovely to see her smiling and thanking the fans. Taking things week by week sounds like the right approach after such a difficult year.patriciaw02-11-2026
- Eighth after starting on the back row at the Koppenberg is a strong ride. Good to see Fem building race rhythm without the pressure of chasing victories.tourdeforce902-11-2026
- I don’t understand how you can break vertebrae and not feel much pain there. Does that mean the collarbone injury was just more noticeable, or can spinal fractures sometimes cause very little pain? Hope he’s fully healed soon.sprocketspiny01-11-2026
- The recovery-score details are interesting, but they’re not a substitute for proper medical advice. Hopefully the team are keeping a close eye on him and letting the scans—not the urge to train—set the timetable.jennifer1901-11-2026
- Pogacar’s point about the safety gap between the Tour and smaller races is spot on. Riders are going faster than ever, yet some finishes still have awkward turns and road furniture right in the finale. Organisers need to take this seriously.gearguru3301-11-2026
- Two extra vertebrae fractures is a frightening discovery, especially after the concussion and collarbone injury. Glad he’s recovering, but it shows why coming back too soon would be a terrible risk.breakawaybikerd01-11-2026
- The team says it wants answers “as quickly as possible”, but speed shouldn’t come at the expense of a thorough investigation. Since Picnic PostNL commissioned it, will the full report be published? The team’s transparency will matter as much as who leads the inquiry.cyclechamp4530-10-2026