Paul Seixas: Tour de France Winner 2031

[YavorD]

I agree, I wouldn't put him through that amount of pressure at this age, and ride the TDF as his first GT. French talent riding French GT is asking for trouble.

On the other hand, if he goes to the Vuelta and he wins it, something not totally unlikely at this point, next year the pressure and expectations will be much higher and he'll be just 20.
I think it's better to deal with it when the expectations are perhaps slightly lower.

 

[Berniece]

On the other hand, if he goes to the Vuelta and he wins it, something not totally unlikely at this point, next year the pressure and expectations will be much higher and he'll be just 20.
I think it's better to deal with it when the expectations are perhaps slightly lower.

I don't understand why everyone thinks he can already win the Vuelta. He hasn't shown he's able to perform for 3 weeks straight and not have a dip. And on top of that, I still expect Pogacar to ride the Vuelta, because what else was his reason to have such a "weak" spring season... That's because you might want to add another GT to it so the season isn't too heavy.

 

[canina82]

I also think Pogacar will race the Vuelta and for that reason Seixas should ride the Vuelta. Pressure will be low with Pogacar racing.

 

[YavorD]

I don't understand why everyone thinks he can already win the Vuelta. He hasn't shown he's able to perform for 3 weeks straight and not have a dip. And on top of that, I still expect Pogacar to ride the Vuelta, because what else was his reason to have such a "weak" spring season... That's because you might want to add another GT to it so the season isn't too heavy.

I just said it isn't unlikely.
And the fact that Evenepoel didn't prove anything in 3 weeks didn't stop people thinking he would win that Giro in 2020. Some of them even tipped him as a favourite. I think Seixas slightly more impressive climbing wise now than Evenepoel was in 2020, hence the reason I believe he could especially if Pogacar doesn't ride. Of course I might be wrong and Seixas could be another Simon Spilak or Richie Porte.
Yes, I find it likely that Pogacar rides the Vuelta, but if he isn't that race seems wide open.

 

[AlfaLum]

I don't understand why everyone thinks he can already win the Vuelta. He hasn't shown he's able to perform for 3 weeks straight and not have a dip. And on top of that, I still expect Pogacar to ride the Vuelta, because what else was his reason to have such a "weak" spring season... That's because you might want to add another GT to it so the season isn't too heavy.

He has done a lot of other things the last few races he raced for which he hadn’t shown the capabilities before.

That is kind of the thing with a 19-year old wonderkid, there is no real evidence yet. Just surprise after surprise.

Its normal that people think a Vuelta win without Pogacar and Vingegaard participating is a possibility with the way he is currently going. But of course it is far from a certainty.

 

[Salvarani]

He has done a lot of other things the last few races he raced for which he hadn’t shown the capabilities before.

That is kind of the thing with a 19-year old wonderkid, there is no real evidence yet. Just surprise after surprise.

Its normal that people think a Vuelta win without Pogacar and Vingegaard participating is a possibility with the way he is currently going. But of course it is far from a certainty.

13th at Worlds, 4th Euros and 7th Lombardia was a strong end to his season. After already impressing in Tour of the Alps and Dauphine. Winning Tour de l'Avenir.

With those results at the end of last season, Im not shocked to see what we have seen in Algarve and Faun-Ardèche.

Whats impressive is how confident he has looked imo. Tougher races coming up and over the season will tell more obviously of where he is at currently. We will see.

 

[James M]

Indeed. Will be interesting to see how he does when hes thrown into the lion’s den in Strade now, which in where hes got nothing to lose btw just like everyone else who is still quacking and ducking around.

 

[memyselfandI]

The Hornerism:

View: https://youtu.be/N98aunBkc2k?si=GnH7k7cTKdup9hBP

 

[Lequack]

‘He’s the Messiah’ and ‘not seen since Hinault’: France is already buckling under Seixas-mania
Madiot is not holding back. “I think he’s the chosen one. He’s the rider France expects to win the Tour. And also the rider of ‘old Europe’. Pogačar is Slovenian — in a way, he’s an alien from another world. In cycling, we’re rooted in history: the Italians, the Belgians, the Spaniards… In that sense, Seixas is the Messiah. That’s what is expected of him.”

‘He’s the Messiah’ and ‘not seen since Hinault’: France is already buckling under Seixas-mania

Paul Seixas showed unbelievable things in the Faun-Ardèche Classic. The Frenchman demolished a very strong field with a stunning solo, underlining that he truly is an exceptional talent. The 19-year-o...

www.idlprocycling.com

 

[Rob5091]

Messiah?! Not putting any pressure on the teen then?! Jeez!

 

[Gratemans]

Messiah?! Not putting any pressure on the teen then?! Jeez!

He isn't. He's just a very noughty boy.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I don't understand why everyone thinks he can already win the Vuelta. He hasn't shown he's able to perform for 3 weeks straight and not have a dip. And on top of that, I still expect Pogacar to ride the Vuelta, because what else was his reason to have such a "weak" spring season... That's because you might want to add another GT to it so the season isn't too heavy.

Riding all spring monuments plus two prestigious one-week races isn't weak schedule at all, it's similar to last year. I'm not talking about racing days obviously.

 

[Berniece]

Riding all spring monuments plus two prestigious one-week races isn't weak schedule at all, it's similar to last year. I'm not talking about racing days obviously.

I am. He’s missing a lot of great races, because of Vuelta. Which is fine, as long as he rides Vuelta. If he doesn’t I’ll find his total year schedule weak. Not that that matters he can do whatever he wants.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I am. He’s missing a lot of great races, because of Vuelta. Which is fine, as long as he rides Vuelta. If he doesn’t I’ll find his total year schedule weak. Not that that matters he can do whatever he wants.

What great races before the Tour? The guy is aiming for 5 monuments and WC with great chance of winning/podiuming all of them. This coupled with Tour + two prestigious one week races look like a reasonable stage races/classics balance maximizing his legacy without burning out. Flandres+Roubaix going all out > 10 stages in moderately difficult races.

 

[Netserk]

What great races before the Tour? The guy is aiming for 5 monuments and WC with great chance of winning/podiuming all of them. This coupled with Tour + two prestigious one week races look like a reasonable stage races/classics balance maximizing his legacy without burning out. Flandres+Roubaix going all out > 10 stages in moderately difficult races.

selfishly , id like him to show up wherever mvdp does ( in one day races )

 

[Cycling111]

What great races before the Tour? The guy is aiming for 5 monuments and WC with great chance of winning/podiuming all of them. This coupled with Tour + two prestigious one week races look like a reasonable stage races/classics balance maximizing his legacy without burning out. Flandres+Roubaix going all out > 10 stages in moderately difficult races.

Once again, the preparation and effort required for someone like Pogacar to compete in Flanders, and especially Roubaix, is being underestimated.
There are no races more prestigious than these, apart from the Tour de France and the World Championships, which he always participates in.
He has already won the GiroThe Vuelta is the only prestigious race he doesn't ride again, and that's because he's the first reigning Tour de France champion to race Roubaix in 30 years. I think Pogacar will be remembered more for this than for winning a Vuelta in his prime.

@Berniece
Doing all the Monuments and two one-week stage races before the Tour de France isn't a less demanding spring for him than other rider´ schedule.
Doing Tirreno-Adriatico and the UAE Tour instead of Flanders and Roubaix would be much less demanding for him because he wouldn't need to be at 100% for those races, whereas he´d need at Roubaix.
The schedule of Remco, Ayuso or Del Toro is not more demanding because it has more days of competition.
It would be harder for them to prepare physically and mentally for all the monuments.
Pogacar's worst day last year was at Amstel, after Roubaix. He finished much fresher after Catalunya in 2024.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

selfishly , id like him to show up wherever mvdp does ( in one day races )

Ok but why MVP, who's a classics specialist, isn't present in Strade?

 

[Cycling111]

Ok but why MVP, who's a classics specialist, isn't present in Strade?

Because is MVDP and not Pogacar No one questions why VDP race Tirreno-Adriatico instead of Strade Bianche or Amstel last year.

However, the Tour de France favorite has to go to Omloop, E3, Ghent..., and all the classics, even though he then has to go to the Romandie and de Suisse to win the GC.

 

[Netserk]

Ok but why MVP, who's a classics specialist, isn't present in Strade?

not good enough ( but selfishly , id like him to go )

 

[Krzysztof_O]

not good enough ( but selfishly , id like him to go )

Still, I think he (together with Pidcock) would be top favourites for podium places. Pogacar's presence maybe discourages him to some extent.

 

[Cycling111]

not good enough ( but selfishly , id like him to go )

I think MVDP would clearly be second at Strade Bianche. His physical condition over the last three years has been impressive.

Anyway, if he doesn't go, we don't know how close he would be to Pogacar.
Many also didn't believe Pogacar would make the podium in his first Roubaix. He's not the favorite and will probably lose every time, like in Sam Remo, but he has to try.

They talk about Strade as if it were Liège, and honestly, I think the current VDP would be second favorite by far.

 

[Cycling111]

I also think Pogacar will race the Vuelta and for that reason Seixas should ride the Vuelta. Pressure will be low with Pogacar racing.

No, he won't. WC is on another continent; he'll do the Canadian Classics.
Next year is better since Sallanches is before the Vuelta. Although I think he'll try to win 6 Tours, and if he succeeds, he will retire from the Tour with record (official). In 2028 Giro-Olympics-Vuelta like Nibali

I think Seixas should have gone to the Vuelta this year. I know he's French and the sponsor is important. But in the Vuelta he'd be a contender for stages and who knows what position he could have in the GC. In the Tour, his main aspiration is the podium.
And it wouldn't be surprising if he's overtaken by other ridr¡ers who don't seem as strong as him right now. It wouldn't be unusual forto have some collapse in the Tour with this age, although this year's route is so easy that it's less likely.

 

[memyselfandI]

Ok but why MVP, who's a classics specialist, isn't present in Strade?

?
Already won it in '21 with a hefty margin against Pogi, TP and others. Nothing much to prove there I guess.

For Seixas this is excellent race. If there's no major hassles and he stays upright, the race will open up nicely later on and we'll see if his peak is still up there.

 

[Cycling111]

?
Already won it in '21 with a hefty margin against Pogi, TP and others. Nothing much to prove there I guess.

For Seixas this is excellent race. If there's no major hassles and he stays upright, the race will open up nicely later on and we'll see if his peak is still up there.

So, since Asgreen beat VDP in Flanders, if he hadn't returned, that would have been enough because he'd already proven he was better 😅.

With that logic, no one would ever return to races they've already won.

Furthermore, it's not that VDP isn't going because he's at altitude like Remco. VDP is going to Tirreno-Adriatico; other race he's done before.
Following that logic, he shouldn't go there either. Ithink it's more logical to expect a classics rider to go to classics.

Sorry, but that argument doesn't make sense. It makes more sense not repeat long races like a GT (Giro oe Vuelta) but classics' riders repeat races every year, even if they've won them.