Decathlon updates the status of Seixas after his abandonment and sends a reassuring message ahead of the Tour

Paul Seixas' abandonment in the final stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes raised alarms around one of the most promising riders currently and his early debut in the Tour. However, just a few hours after his withdrawal, the Decathlon CMA CGM team issued a reassuring medical report indicating that his preparation for the Tour de France has not been significantly compromised.

Decathlon reassures about Paul Seixas: the Tour de France remains in his plans despite the withdrawal in the Dauphiné

The 19-year-old Frenchman suffered a hard fall during the seventh stage while descending at high speed towards the Grand Colombier. Despite injuries to his hands and elbows, he managed to return to the favorites' group after a long chase with several teammates and finished the day limiting losses in the general classification.

Although he started the eighth and final stage in sixth place overall, the discomfort from the fall ultimately forced him to abandon after being dropped on the early slopes of the Col du Pré.

The team confirms that the priority was to avoid risks

The medical update released by Decathlon CMA CGM makes it clear that the decision to withdraw was purely preventive and that the main objective was to avoid any complications just weeks before the Tour de France.

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"It was a stupidity and it is completely my fault": Seixas takes responsibility for his fall

The team's medical director, Jacky Maillot, explained in an official statement:

“After a good night’s rest, Paul had decided to test himself on the first climb of the stage, but with the effort, pain appeared in several areas and the various injuries to his hands and elbows made it too difficult to handle the bike.”

Maillot added that there was a very clear directive from the team:

“The instruction was, above all, not to take any risks.”

According to the team's doctor, the fall occurred at about 70 km/h and resulted in significant physical strain in addition to superficial injuries. Nevertheless, the prognosis is optimistic, and it seems that Seixas will only need a few days of rest before resuming preparation for the Tour de France.

They had already ruled out taking risks with his major objective

Maillot's words align with statements made after the stage by his teammate Aurélien Paret-Peintre to CyclingPro.net.

The Frenchman insisted that it made no sense to force the situation when Seixas' major goals are still ahead.

“His main objectives are still in three or four weeks, so it made no sense to take risks.”

Paret-Peintre also explained that the young leader of Decathlon CMA CGM was very motivated to try to continue in the race, but that the feelings after a fall of such magnitude are not easy to manage.

“Last night he was very motivated, but this morning things were obviously different. It’s normal not to feel well after a fall like that, and it makes no sense to force it.”

The most anticipated debut of the next Tour is still on track

While waiting to learn more details about his recovery in the coming days, the message coming from Decathlon CMA CGM is clearly reassuring. No serious injuries have been detected, and the decision to withdraw is more a matter of caution than a significant medical concern.

All of this keeps the planned schedule intact for Paul Seixas to compete in July in his first Tour de France, a participation that is already generating enormous anticipation and could make him the youngest rider to start the French race since the 1930s.