"I will not take risks for anything other than the overall classification": Seixas arrives at the Tour with a champion's mindset

The expectation surrounding Paul Seixas continues to grow as the start of the 2026 Tour de France in Barcelona approaches. The young rider from Decathlon CMA CGM, who at 19 years old will be the youngest debutant in the race in nearly nine decades, starred in one of the most crowded press conferences on the eve of the race this Thursday and made it clear that he has not come to the Tour just to gain experience.

Paul Seixas does not shy away before debuting in the Tour: “The priority is the general classification”

Despite it being his first participation in a grand tour, the Frenchman did not hide what his ambitions are for the next three weeks. “The priority is the general classification, to see how everything goes. After that, what position I can achieve, I don’t know yet. But I will not take risks for anything other than the general classification,” he explained to the media present in Barcelona.

Seixas' presence at a conference usually reserved for world champions, Tour winners, or major stars of the peloton reflects the significance of his emergence this season. The Frenchman has had an exceptional campaign, with prestigious victories and performances that have allowed him to compete head-to-head with the best riders in the world.

RECOMENDADO

“The biggest contract in cycling history”: Q36.5 aims to break the market to sign Seixas

The UAE points to Seixas as one of the biggest threats to Pogacar in the Tour: "He is at the level of Vingegaard"

Romain Bardet signed with Decathlon... to try to retain Paul Seixas?

Van Rysel designs an ultra-reflective helmet to locate Olav Kooij during a sprint

Wilier celebrates its 120th anniversary with an exclusive Filante Ultimate priced at 18,000 euros

Bianchi becomes the official bicycle of the Tour and celebrates it with a limited edition of the Specialissima RC

However, Seixas himself tried to downplay the media noise surrounding him. “Now it’s the Tour. It’s a new experience for me. You want to win something because you know you can do it and you’ve already proven it before, but first I have to live this experience,” he pointed out.

Recovered from the fall at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

One of the most repeated topics during the appearance was his accident at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes last June. That fall, which caused him to abandon while he was among the best in the general classification, raised doubts about his form just weeks before the Tour.

Seixas assured that the episode is now completely overcome. “At first, it wasn’t easy, but now I’m fine. I’ve been able to complete solid training in the last few days and a good altitude camp with the team in Les Arcs, so I’m in good shape,” he said.

The Frenchman also rejected the idea that the accident was a result of excessive impatience. “The fall was a mistake on my part, but it wasn’t a matter of impatience. I was simply trying to position myself in the descent like any other rider. Mistakes happen,” he stated.

Learning without giving up anything

Although his speech combines ambition and caution, Seixas does not seem intimidated by the challenge of facing three weeks of competition against riders like Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, or Remco Evenepoel.

“What I need to discover is how I will recover after each stage, after ten or fifteen days of racing. It’s not about being afraid. There will be complicated days and I will make mistakes, but I will learn,” he explained.

With France searching for decades for the heir to Bernard Hinault, every word and every pedal stroke of the young talent from Decathlon CMA CGM will be closely watched during this Tour. For now, Seixas faces his debut with a very clear idea: to learn, yes, but without giving up the fight for the general classification from day one.