'The king is dead, long live the king'; The international press goes all in on Paul Seixas's historic Il Lombardia win

In the Netherlands, De Telegraaf refers to a “unleashed Paul Seixas” and emphasizes above all the historic significance of his achievement as the youngest-ever winner of the Koers van de Vallende Bladeren. “Just how good was Seixas this afternoon? Even Giulio Ciccone and Tom Pidcock had to let the French prodigy go. Seixas crushed everyone.”

The Algemeen Dagblad describes it as an “impressive solo effort” and “the youngest postwar winner ever of a Monument.” Seixas skipped the European Championships to be at his best in Lombardy, following “an inconsistent World Championships” in Montreal. “In Lombardy, everything fell into place. Seixas took advantage of the absence of the injured Tadej Pogacar and claimed his first Monument victory of his career.”

"Le roi est mort, vive le roi," HLN begins, referring to the French saying "The king is dead, long live the king." “Much has already been written about Seixas’s talent, but this performance is yet another impressive feat in his young career,” the Belgian newspaper reports. “With his hands over his eyes, the crown prince of cycling crossed the finish line.”

In *Het Nieuwsblad* as well, Remco Evenepoel’s fourth-place finish is briefly set aside in favor of a tribute to Seixas. The victory is called “a statement.” “The 20-year-old Frenchman clearly seemed eager for redemption after his disappointing World Championships,” the paper noted. “On the final climb up San Fermo della Battaglia, Seixas once again put his climbing skills to the test.”

Ready for La Gazzetta dello Sport? Because the Italians have outdone themselves again with a bit of poetry. “The new star of cycling could very well usher in a new era,” the pink sports newspaper declares right off the bat. “It’s his day—the day he imagined as a child when he dreamed of becoming a cyclist.”

"The climax in Como is so special because it comes at the end of a season full of successes in which Seixas was a phenomenon, but also made mistakes. Patience isn’t a trait typically expected of boys his age, and if we’re to believe his teammates, Paul doesn’t have much of it. He may not be patient, but he has many other qualities.”

"An extraordinary talent, an impressive drive. And the ability to take full responsibility for the defeat after a World Cup where he didn't hide, but instead said he was there to win," the article states. "The challenge for him now is to manage France’s desire and need for a complete champion."

Finally, L'Equipe, the newspaper from France, his home country. At least five articles are devoted to Seixas’s victory in Lombardy. “In the Tour of Lombardy, Paul Seixas wrote a new chapter in cycling history, which he is experiencing at a rapid pace,” the article states. But it also notes: “We wondered what he was doing when he took the lead in the peloton on the Civiglio.”

The French hadn’t yet seen any of the other top favorites make a move, and yet Seixas stood up on his pedals. “Like a diligent student, Paul Seixas essentially carried out the plan he had devised in his head, driven by unshakable self-confidence.” On Sunday evening at 8:45 p.m., Seixas will be honoured by his favorite club in Lyon before the Olympique Lyon–OGC Nice match.