Paul Seixas: Tour de France Winner 2031

[Hugo Koblet]

But a 12 hr solo ride in the Alpes is still an impressive training ride for a 19 year old. In three years time, who knows what he can do - in WT races too?

Twelve hours in the saddle and 8,000 metres of climbing – French prodigy Paul Seixas caps breakout season with monster Alpine ride

While most riders are already switching off for the winter, France’s 19-year-old sensation Paul Seixas seems determined to keep pushing his limits. The Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team starlet ended hi...

cyclinguptodate.com

Three months time you mean?

 

[proffate]

I don't think any top climber (even those thought to be weaker in long races like Roglic) would have problems to complete this race in a similar time. This is hardly comparable to WT racing as the level and competition there is not the same as during monuments (where just a 3 minute loss is enough to be perceived as a weaker endurance rider).

Yeah but it's the off-season so we'll take what we can get

 

[Cookster15]

Three months time you mean?

No, I meant by the time he is 22. That was Pogacar's age when he first won the Tour.

 

[MJR]

And the "will Seixas ride the Tour in '26?" dumb articles have begun.

Le Sigh.

 

[James M]

Ill just say that which is the elephant in the room, I dont trust French cycling teams properly taking care of this talent in modern cycling. I hope they're up for the challenge though. They can start by not sending him to the Tour next year.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Ill just say that which is the elephant in the room, I dont trust French cycling teams properly taking care of this talent in modern cycling. I hope they're up for the challenge though. They can start by not sending him to the Tour next year.

I think in 2-3 years one of the giants (Visma or UAE, likely the former) will want him.

 

[Squire]

I think in 2-3 years one of the giants (Visma or UAE, likely the former) will want him.

Maybe in 2-3 years Decathlon is one of the giants.

 

[YavorD]

Maybe in 2-3 years Decathlon is one of the giants.

Honestly yeah. Who would have thought in 2016 that only a couple of years later Lotto Jumbo would be the best team in the peloton?!
Seixas may be the tool that lifts Decathlon on the top. They should have the budget to back it up.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

who’s gonna tell him?

Big 4 Beware: These Rising Stars Are About to Shake Up Pro Cycling's Hierarchy

Gen Next is here with the Rising 5: Del Toro, Onley, Ayuso, Lipowitz and Pellizzari lead a new generation shaking up pro cycling's hierarchy.

velo.outsideonline.com

 

[MJR]

who’s gonna tell him?

Big 4 Beware: These Rising Stars Are About to Shake Up Pro Cycling's Hierarchy

Gen Next is here with the Rising 5: Del Toro, Onley, Ayuso, Lipowitz and Pellizzari lead a new generation shaking up pro cycling's hierarchy.

velo.outsideonline.com

I definitely found his absence in that article strange.

 

[Lorzenz08]

who’s gonna tell him?

Big 4 Beware: These Rising Stars Are About to Shake Up Pro Cycling's Hierarchy

Gen Next is here with the Rising 5: Del Toro, Onley, Ayuso, Lipowitz and Pellizzari lead a new generation shaking up pro cycling's hierarchy.

velo.outsideonline.com

I think there is some kind of understanding in the cycling world that we should not build hype around Paul Seixas as he is so young

 

[Berniece]

I definitely found his absence in that article strange.

Maybe he only focused on riders that have actually finished a GT. It also seems as if he looked at 2026 season, and not further.

 

[elguapo]

I think there is some kind of understanding in the cycling world that we should not build hype around Paul Seixas as he is so young

We've seen the hype built on then young Sicard, Alaphilippe, Pinot, Bardet, Martinez L, and Gregoire. So far, it's Paul Magnier who is unexpectedly, the most prolific among the young French talents. In multi-stage races though with MTF/undulating parcours, Seixas is locked on the radar of other riders like Widar, Finn, Lipowitz, Nordhagen, Decombe, Alvarez and et al. In 2024, even the younger Hector Alvarez sas already beaten Seixas, only that the Spaniard suffered an injury that delayed his progress that slowed him down in 2025. Next year, perhaps we could see these young riders would start their season in good condition to start their elimination races on their way to possibly carve out their names along Pogacar or Remco or Vingegaard.

 

[tonymikejoe]

I have just discovered that within his team there is a 'Project2030' plan for the Tour de France.
This seems a reasonable goal and I think many readers here think the 2031 prediction is too far away.
I must admit 2030 does seem the optimum date, but taking into account mishaps; injuries; incidents; crashes; that can put the project back another twelve months I'll stick with 2031, but fully accept I may well be proved incorrect.
(Worth noting that if Paul's GT career plan mirrors Pogi his three-week debut will be the 2027 Vuelta).
Talk of the 2026 Tour de France seems crazy to me.

 

[Cycling111]

Honestly yeah. Who would have thought in 2016 that only a couple of years later Lotto Jumbo would be the best team in the peloton?!
Seixas may be the tool that lifts Decathlon on the top. They should have the budget to back it up.

Last year, Decathlon achieved a podium in a GT and second in the world championship with O'Connor.
Before Pogacar, UAE hadn't even managed a podium in a GT. So he's not really starting on such a bad team.

 

[Cycling111]

I have just discovered that within his team there is a 'Project2030' plan for the Tour de France.
This seems a reasonable goal and I think many readers here think the 2031 prediction is too far away.
I must admit 2030 does seem the optimum date, but taking into account mishaps; injuries; incidents; crashes; that can put the project back another twelve months I'll stick with 2031, but fully accept I may well be proved incorrect.
(Worth noting that if Paul's GT career plan mirrors Pogi his three-week debut will be the 2027 Vuelta).
Talk of the 2026 Tour de France seems crazy to me.

I wouldn't compare them by age. You have to compare them by years on pro. And yet it's complicated because Seixas is surely much more professional because he's in a structure like Decathlon since junior.

Pogacar debuted later, and as an amateur he was on a team like Ljubljana. Seixas was on Decathlon's development team, and Decathlon´s club since junior, which already has much more professional equipment and preparation than a team like Ljubljiana. So, presumably, he's much more professional.
Differente age and differente progression teams. That's why I wouldn't compare them so meticulously.

I wouldn't compare them so much by age. I remember many people used that reference with Ayuso, saying that his future would be better than Pogacar's because he managed to get on the podium in the Vuelta a year younger, even though his wasn't as spectacular. And over time, it's become clear that those references can be misleading.
Achieving the same thing at the same age or a year younger doesn't necessarily mean it will be the same or better. The opposite can also happen; Vingegaard's example is a clear example of this.

They need to focus on Seixas, forgetting about other references, or they could end up like Ayuso, who thought he could go to the Tour the following year and get on the podium.

Furthermore, Seixas now seems to have no rival in his generation. But look at Vingegaard; he's two years older than Pogacar and was his rival after Pogacar won 2 Tours. Perhaps there's a 21 years rider who will be Seixas's biggest rival, or better, that it's not standing out right now
I think this plan to win the Tour in 2030 is excessive. He needs to keep progressing, and if he can win the Tour, we'll see, but going in with the preconceived notion of winning it in 2030 seems like a mistake.

 

[AmRacer]

I wouldn't compare them by age. You have to compare them by years on pro. And yet it's complicated because Seixas is surely much more professional because he's in a structure like Decathlon since junior.

Pogacar debuted later, and as an amateur he was on a team like Ljubljana. Seixas was on Decathlon's development team, and Decathlon´s club since junior, which already has much more professional equipment and preparation than a team like Ljubljiana. So, presumably, he's much more professional.
Differente age and differente progression teams. That's why I wouldn't compare them so meticulously.

I wouldn't compare them so much by age. I remember many people used that reference with Ayuso, saying that his future would be better than Pogacar's because he managed to get on the podium in the Vuelta a year younger, even though his wasn't as spectacular. And over time, it's become clear that those references can be misleading.
Achieving the same thing at the same age or a year younger doesn't necessarily mean it will be the same or better. The opposite can also happen; Vingegaard's example is a clear example of this.

They need to focus on Seixas, forgetting about other references, or they could end up like Ayuso, who thought he could go to the Tour the following year and get on the podium.

Furthermore, Seixas now seems to have no rival in his generation. But look at Vingegaard; he's two years older than Pogacar and was his rival after Pogacar won 2 Tours. Perhaps there's a 21 years rider who will be Seixas's biggest rival, or better, that it's not standing out right now
I think this plan to win the Tour in 2030 is excessive. He needs to keep progressing, and if he can win the Tour, we'll see, but going in with the preconceived notion of winning it in 2030 seems like a mistake.

2030, no Pogi no Jonas no Rogla No Remco....but a whole bunch of other riders.