Transfer specialist: 'Visma | Lease a Bike has a strong case in the Seixas saga’

At first, UAE Team Emirates-XRG was mentioned as the leading contender. Tadej Pogacar’s team reportedly viewed Seixas as Tadej Pogacar’s natural successor and had already offered his younger brother Nino a spot on the development team. But now that the Slovenian and Isaac Del Toro have both signed new contracts, those rumors seem to be less credible than initially thought.

Lidl-Trek, Netcompany INEOS, and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe were also mentioned as interested teams. Pinarello - Q36.5, Tom Pidcock’s team, is reportedly even looking to make him the highest-paid cyclist in the world. But according to new information from transfer journalist Daniel Benson, it is Visma | Lease a Bike that currently has the strongest case.

Team manager Richard Plugge confirmed the Dutch team’s interest in Seixas. “He would be a good fit for us,” the Dutchman said during the Tour de France. “He’s with Decathlon and has a contract there. He has to honour that, and we abide by the rules, so we’re not actively pursuing anything at this point. But if he decides to leave, we’re the best team to win Grand Tours.”

Plugge knows there are quite a few snags with the plan, and so does Benson. Financing could be an obstacle. But Jonas Vingegaard’s contract expires in 2028, while Seixas would enter the market a year earlier. This could facilitate a natural transition from one rider to the other.

One notable detail is that a sponsorship deal with the young Frenchman could also lead him to the Netherlands. In addition to the watch brand Breitling, Seixas also added helmet manufacturer Giro to his Instagram page. That brand has nothing to do with Decathlon CMA CGM, but it does have a connection to… That’s right, Visma | Lease a Bike, which uses Giro helmets. It might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s still an interesting connection.

But Decathlon CMA CGM has no intention of letting Seixas go just like that. According to Benson, the French team remains confident that it can extend its superstar’s contract. No new signings have been announced yet, but team manager Dominique Serieys previously stated that he plans to bring in “four or five new riders, ” with the main goal being to provide additional support for the young team leader.

So far, things have been quiet on the transfer market, including regarding Seixas. Serieys previously said negotiations regarding the Frenchman would take place between August and September, and that period has now passed. According to Benson, anything could still happen. Will Seixas stay with Decathlon, or will he join Visma? Or will Netcompany INEOS step in after all? Only time will tell.