Top talent Paul Seixas opts for balanced program in first months of 2026, French media already starting to salivate

France has become even more enamored with Decathlon super-talent Paul Seixas in the final months of 2025, and that means his 2026 program is being watched with great interest. It will probably be fully announced next week, but the first outlines have already come out.

At La Provence, drawing immediate comparisons to France's last Tour winner Bernard Hinault, Seixas is bringing out his races for the first few months of the year. Starting he will do in the Tour of the Algarve on Feb. 18, which will be preceded by an altitude training camp at Sierra Nevada.

Afterwards, he will move on from the Faun-Ardèche Classic to his first WorldTour race of the season: Strade Bianche, on March 7. "The idea is to build up my form in my first two races before focusing exclusively on World Tour events," Seixas explained at La Provence, owned by new co-sponsor CMA-CGM.

Next, the 19-year-old rider will not be racing for about a month, before competing in the Tour of the Basque Country. Following that, the number three of the most recent European Championship will also ride the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. 'The Ardèche Classic, Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège are races that are close to my heart and whose profile suits me,' he stated.

In France, the main concern is which grand tour Seixas will ride in 2026. The Giro d'Italia seems to be difficult with the proposed schedule through April, making the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana seem more realistic options. In France, the hope is that he will be there in his home country in July.

'Paul is going to ride his second World Tour season and the idea is to offer him a balanced calendar and at the same time give him the chance to compete with the world's best,' sport director Sebastien Joly is still keeping that choice open.

Feb. 18 - 22: Tour of the Algarve
Feb. 28: Faun-Ardèche Classic
March 7: Strade Bianche
April 6 - 11: Tour of the Basque Country
April 22: Flèche Wallonne
April 26: Liege-Bastogne-Liege