How much does Seixas earn today and why does his signing point to record figures?

The name of Paul Seixas is at the center of the market, and here we are going to put numbers to that phenomenon: how much he earns today, in what range his next contract is moving, and why there is talk of amounts typical of the great stars of the peloton. His performance in 2026, the interest from the most powerful teams, and his imminent presence in the Tour de France 2026 have created the perfect scenario for his value to skyrocket and make his signing one of the most important operations in recent years.

Seixas revolutionizes the market: current salary, offers, and the figure that scares the peloton

Although Paul Seixas is the big revelation of the year and we have been hearing rumors about his future for months, everything has skyrocketed in the last few hours. The Frenchman is having a 2026 that is difficult to fit into any historical comparison for a 19-year-old rider. He has won in Algarve, dominated the Itzulia, and taken the Fleche Wallonne, but even more impact has come from his second places in Strade Bianche and Liège, where he went head-to-head with Tadej Pogacar.

This context has completely changed with the confirmation that he will be in the Tour de France 2026. A decision that places him in the biggest showcase possible without real sporting pressure in terms of results. If he shines, his value skyrockets. If he doesn't, his age and lack of experience in grand tours will serve as a shield. Another matter is the external pressure: France has been waiting for a real contender for years, and the media focus will be total.

His current salary is far from the elite

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Economically, Seixas's situation still does not reflect what he is doing in races. According to the French economic portal L’Essentiel de l’Eco, his salary at Decathlon–CMA CGM Team is around 350,000 euros gross per year. A coherent figure for a professional with little experience, but completely outdated when compared to his current performance.

To put it in context, Pogacar is around 8 million euros per year, while names like Remco Evenepoel or Primoz Roglic move in figures between 4 and 6 million. Even within French cycling, Julian Alaphilippe is around 2 million.

The contrast is evident. Seixas is already competing with the best, but he is paid like a developing project.

All the big teams are behind acquiring Seixas's services

His contract ends in 2027, but no one expects the situation to last that long. The feeling in the peloton is that his future will be resolved in a matter of months and that his decision will condition a large part of the market.

All the big teams are positioned. UAE Team Emirates was the first to make a move with the idea of securing the possible successor to Pogacar. Visma–Lease a Bike has recently entered the scene and has already started talks with his agent, Joona Laukka, according to the Belgian media HLN. INEOS Grenadiers and Red Bull-BORA are also in the equation.

The case of Visma also introduces a strategic variable. Various reports suggest that the team may be considering a mid-term restructuring that would affect Jonas Vingegaard, with rumors placing him even outside the team in the future. In that scenario, Seixas would directly become the axis of the project.

Meanwhile, in France, the movement has an almost political component. From the country's environment, there is insistence on the idea of retaining him and building a winning project around him, with even insinuations of institutional support from Emmanuel Macron for him to continue in the French team.

A jaw-dropping figure

This is where the story enters another dimension. According to Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin in the podcast The Move, with information from his agent's environment, the figure being discussed for his next contract is 8 million euros per year. It is the same salary level as Pogacar.

Italian journalist Beppe Conti has also pointed in that direction, indicating that Decathlon itself would be willing to approach that figure to retain him. In other words, this is not just external rumors, but a real reference in negotiations.

The jump is gigantic. Going from 350,000 euros to 8 million would mean multiplying his salary by more than twenty in just one year.

The problem is evident. Seixas has not yet raced in a grand tour. His talent is beyond doubt, but the history of cycling is full of young riders who have not confirmed what they promised.

That is why this figure raises doubts even within the sector itself. Spencer Martin summarized it clearly in The Move by stating that investing 8 million annually over five seasons represents a bet of 40 million. An investment at the level of the best contracts in the peloton without yet having that backing in grand tours.

And yet, the context pushes in the opposite direction. His agent has halted negotiations with Decathlon, partly to tighten the market and partly because they believe the current contract does not reflect his real value. Moreover, his commercial attraction is enormous, especially in France.

The Tour de France will be the turning point. If Seixas shines, those 8 million may fall short. If his performance is more discreet, the market will have to decide how much weight to give to what he has already proven against what he has yet to prove.

In any case, we are facing one of the most important signings in recent years.