Paul Seixas: Tour de France Winner 2031

[vappa]

Yes he lost 3 minutes, but it's also not genuine to only take 2/3rds of a 40 minute climb.

I don't think losing 3 minutes on a 40 minute climb is much better really

 

[Red Rick]

I don't think losing 3 minutes on a 40 minute climb is much better really

If there's no difference between losing 3 minutes in 26 minutes and losing 3 minutes in 40 minutes, then there's also no difference with Red Rick losing 3 minutes in 20 seconds of climbing.

Therefor I can only conclude that Evenepoel is a Red Rick tier of climber.

Quod erat demonstrandum

 

[Krzysztof_O]

And that’s exactly how it should be: zero pressure, no expectations. The primary objective here is to bank experience. In the long term, he may benefit more from making aggressive mistakes and learning from them than from racing cautiously just to secure a podium. Realistically, a win is off the table this year with Vingegaard and Pogačar likely arriving in peak form; it’s highly improbable that both would falter. Even if they did, he’d still face an uphill battle against more seasoned, experienced rivals like Remco or Lipowitz.

Yes, top3 would be a considerable success for Seixas. It's realistic but if something goes wrong it'll still be learning experience regarding his capabilities. The French public shouldn't be dumb and expect the teenage rookies' victory against two all-time great climbers. They will cut him some slack surely. The pressure will surely grow in the following years though.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

If there's no difference between losing 3 minutes in 26 minutes and losing 3 minutes in 40 minutes, then there's also no difference with Red Rick losing 3 minutes in 20 seconds of climbing.

Therefor I can only conclude that Evenepoel is a Red Rick tier of climber.

Quod erat demonstrandum

Do you agree or disagree that that performance, while faster than Pantani’s best time, is not as exceptional as that implies given that he was 3 minutes behind Pogacar and over a minute back from Vingegaard?

 

[topcat]

It was exceptional. Now we're asked to apply a grade to the level of exceptionality.
A- unacceptable, even normal A, we not so crazy about.

 

[Taxus4a]

That Pantani PdB record was not super at all, of his many MTF wins at his peak, this was very unimpressive. Alpe is a super record, Hautacam by Riis is a super record, this wasn't

It wanst but it is climb they did several times later and the record keep

 

[Red Rick]

against two all-time great climbers.

I am baited and I am raged.

 

[Red Rick]

Do you agree or disagree that that performance, while faster than Pantani’s best time, is not as exceptional as that implies given that he was 3 minutes behind Pogacar and over a minute back from Vingegaard?

I think it was very strong but not crazy

 

[DogMan2026]

Anyone else hear that Seixas agent wants $8M/year for 5 years? I heard Johan Bruyneel on his podcast talking about it.

 

[Old-school]

Anyone else hear that Seixas agent wants $8M/year for 5 years? I heard Johan Bruyneel on his podcast talking about it.

I think these are just hearsay, based on market value, similar to current Pog contract at UAE. This figure has been widely circulated in all media and is entirely credible IMHO.

 

[canina82]

Change the thread to 2026

 

[ppanther92]

Anyone else hear that Seixas agent wants $8M/year for 5 years? I heard Johan Bruyneel on his podcast talking about it.

(Latest) After today he has good arguments. Pogacar earns 8m - if you want the one guy with the potential to challenge him, there is no way around Seixas. So I honestly get it.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Pay the kid! Being French alone would think maes him worth more than Pogacar, all else being equal. Not saying he’ll be as good, but at 19 based on what I’m seeing you gotta make that bet and lock him down now.

 

[ppanther92]

Incredible showing. The pressure in France will be through the roof now.

 

[jmdirt]

WOW young man!! 19! 19!

 

[Miha81]

Messiah is coming. I can't wait to see his performance in 3 week race.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Not gonna roast him too much for taking pulls after turning himself inside out on La Redoute, but his ds should have known better...

 

[canina82]

Not gonna roast him too much for taking pulls after turning himself inside out on La Redoute, but his ds should have known better...

He wanted to test himself against the best in the world. He will win plenty of LBL in the future.

 

[KZD]

Stunning ride, once again Seixas confirms himself already as one of the best riders in the world.

We are lucky to watch an all time great, Pogacar, and a potential all time great, Seixas, battling out.

 

[Faserr]

He wanted to test himself against the best in the world. He will win plenty of LBL in the future.

The new mutants are coming fast these days...

 

[Netserk]

will he also be underhyped for the tour like he has been throughout the season so far ?

 

[GdL]

Today's performance has been just incredible

 

[Didinho]

Like I expected. Following the first attack but paying for it on the next one. Insane ride though. To have already those expectations and doing it first try. Impressive once again.

 

[fenns]

maybe the race distance did for him today - but should improve.

when you consider he distanced the 22/23 winner really quite a performance

 

[Põhja Konn]

After seeing how he caught back up to Pog at Strade after missing latters initial launch, I cautiously believed he could withstand a Redoute onslaught if positioned on Slovenians wheel from the beginning and not having to do an extra effort to catch up. In the end he did just that, but RaF proved a bridge too far for now.

At this point in his career it's smarter for him to ride the way he did today, instead of doing a theoretically better tactical moves. He can learn more about his abilities and limits and how far there is still to go this way. He wasn't yet close enough to Pog for tactical wheelsucking to matter today anyway.