Paul Seixas: Tour de France Winner 2031

[memyselfandI]

I hope UAE signs him. Would make France go crazy to see Paul reeling in all those escape groups for Pogi no mercy. No one could escape the best team and UCI and Dave L went nuts when the best team best captain best donke..domestiques. Just perfect.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

I dont think Pogacar will be beaten for another few years
But he may never be beaten as he will prob retire before he is

 

[Pippo_San]

I'm still wondering what's all the speculation about. He may very well crash and burn even in this Itzulia. There are lots of wasted promises (Andy Schleck, Tom Dumoulin, just to name a couple) waiting for another falling star.
Let the kid prove himself.
We'll draw some EARLY conclusions after the first GT against the big bosses.

 

[Gobbo]

2031? I believe Seixas could win the Tour in 2028-2029. He already seems close to Vingegaard and give it two-three years more and he could beat Pogacar as well.....

Probalby he is not quite ready YET, because he needs experience from Grand Tours and I am not sure that in a three weeks Grand Tour he could already go on the podium. Potentially yes, but the risk is that he would have one or two off days that could cost him 2-3-4 minutes, because he still lacks some experience.

But will Seixas do the Tour this year? I have not heard about what his plans are. Surely, I would really like to see all the big names in this years Tour. Pogacar, Vingegaard, Seixas, Evenepoel, Ayuso, Gall, Pidcock, Almeida, Roglic, Lipowitz, Skjelmose, Del Toro, Healy, Riccitello, Hindley,Pelizzarri, Buitrago, Uitdebroeks and so on....

 

[AlfaLum]

I'm still wondering what's all the speculation about. He may very well crash and burn even in this Itzulia. There are lots of wasted promises (Andy Schleck, Tom Dumoulin, just to name a couple) waiting for another falling star.
Let the kid prove himself.
We'll draw some EARLY conclusions after the first GT against the big bosses.

Yeah no reason to get excited about this boy yet. I mean what has he shown these past two months that would warrant some excitement?

 

[Extinction]

Pogacar hasn't lost a one week race for 5 (!) years. Then again, they have lower priority for him (compared to GT and monuments). I would favour Pogacar over Vingo and Seixas but it doesnt matter as they wont meet in any one weeker this year. Lets wait till the Tour.

I'm saying being a contest for Pog, in response to another poster stating Pog would basically destroy this Seixas in a one week race. I find that to be an exaggeration. Paul is at a very, very high level. That he is only 19 suggests he will continue to grow this year. So we wait for Liege to see how things stand.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I'm saying being a contest for Pog, in response to another poster stating Pog would basically destroy this Seixas in a one week race. I find that to be an exaggeration. Paul is at a very, very high level. That he is only 19 suggests he will continue to grow this year. So we wait for Liege to see how things stand.

Well, he's definitely a level above the rest of strong stage racers. Strade was a good comparison since Seixas produced outrageous watts already in Drome in February. It seems the 3rd stage racing monster appeared so the rest will need some luck to get the Tour podium. Seixas will win the Tour rather sooner than later, I have no doubts.

 

[cafe_rider]

In 2 years time he will probably still be uber focussed on the Tour and prep for it the traditional way, stage races and the hilly classics.

I don’t doubt he’s a special talent but riders like Pog, who race and are competitive on all terrain and all races do not come around often, even he did not ride Ronde until his 4th year as a pro. Remco will still be around in peak shape in 2 years, by then he may well have shifted focus to a more classics orientated schedule.

"Do not come around very often" is an understatement - we have seen precisely two riders over the last 50 years; Merckx and Hinault and nobody in the era of specialization. Do not expect Seixas to be a MSR/ RVV or Paris Roubaix rider but certainly Liege and Lombardia

 

[canina82]

"Do not come around very often" is an understatement - we have seen precisely two riders over the last 50 years; Merckx and Hinault and nobody in the era of specialization. Do not expect Seixas to be a MSR/ RVV or Paris Roubaix rider but certainly Liege and Lombardia

But in the modern era you have never seen one. Just Pogacar.

 

[BubbaChuck]

Decathlon is planning to become swiss.

 

[BubbaChuck]

We are going bact to Mercks era,im sure paul is gonna go after monuments.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

"Do not come around very often" is an understatement - we have seen precisely two riders over the last 50 years; Merckx and Hinault and nobody in the era of specialization. Do not expect Seixas to be a MSR/ RVV or Paris Roubaix rider but certainly Liege and Lombardia

If Nibali could win Sanremo, finish topten at Flanders and destroy most of the specialists on the Roubaix cobbles at the Tour, then I don't see why we should automatically rule out Seixas being able to at least match that in the future. Pogacar may be an outlier, but he's not the first GT winner since the start of the 90s to be good on non-climby terrain.

 

[Red Rick]

If Nibali could win Sanremo, finish topten at Flanders and destroy most of the specialists on the Roubaix cobbles at the Tour, then I don't see why we should automatically rule out Seixas being able to at least match that in the future. Pogacar may be an outlier, but he's not the first GT winner since the start of the 90s to be good on non-climby terrain.

Nibali was like 25th in RVV. Valverde got top 10

 

[topcat]

Nibali was like 25th in RVV. Valverde got top 10

It's almost impossible to discuss Nibali without referencing Valverde.

 

[canina82]

This kid is incredible. One of the best descenders I have ever seen.

 

[Rou]

Elite climbing, elite TT-ing, elite descending.
His explosiveness and sprinting remain to be seen.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Decathlon will be riding under Swiss flag sooner rather than later.
Meaning they will be able to pay Seixas.

 

[SHAD0W93]

No win the last two days? Washed before it even began. Sky is the limit for this young man. I hope he didn’t peak too soon.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Decathlon will be riding under Swiss flag sooner rather than later.
Meaning they will be able to pay Seixas.

January, not so soon.

 

[Old-school]

Decathlon CMA CGM Press release : "the team will remain French in 2027. "This is a time when many people are speaking on our behalf. There are a lot of rumors. Last year, people were saying we would become a Belgian team or that we would move to Lille. We confirm that we will remain a French team and that our Performance Center will remain in Chambéry," the team, which has raced under a French license since its creation in 1992, stated.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Okay

Next article: Decathlon CMA CGM Ceo fired... just kidding.
Honestly it's better they remain french, instead of going through hoops.

I and the article i read stand corrected.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I ... stand corrected.

Likewise

 

[Netserk]

Decathlon CMA CGM Press release : "the team will remain French in 2027. "This is a time when many people are speaking on our behalf. There are a lot of rumors. Last year, people were saying we would become a Belgian team or that we would move to Lille. We confirm that we will remain a French team and that our Performance Center will remain in Chambéry," the team, which has raced under a French license since its creation in 1992, stated.

none of that excludes a swiss paying agent and a french license

 

[Old-school]

none of that excludes a swiss paying agent and a french license

Agree. Tax optimization is very flexible and can accomodate with anything. Some could say you're not french if you don't pay your taxes in France, but these days that doesn't matter anymore.

 

[Rob5091]

Mr Ring's blog had a long bit about Decathlon and their budget in November last year. Of course sine then Captain Bird's Eye or some other nautical type has thrown their booty behind the team. Taxation is of course the big headache and a sudden desire to relocate to Switzerland might well be beneficial.

https://inrng.com/2025/11/decathlon-ag2r-team-2024-budget/