The big news has been confirmed: Paul Seixas will debut in the 2026 Tour de France

The presence of Paul Seixas in the Tour de France is now official. He will debut at 19 years old in an edition that starts on July 4 in Barcelona, following the final decision of the Decathlon CMA CGM Team, made after analyzing his data from the spring classics.

Seixas will race in the 2026 Tour de France after a season opener that put him among the best

The announcement was made in a video recorded with his grandparents and ends weeks of uncertainty. The decision is based on immediate results. He has won the Fleche Wallonne and the Tour of the Basque Country, and has finished second in Strade Bianche and Liège, competing directly against Tadej Pogacar.

The debate about his young age to compete in such an event seems to have been postponed. He has not participated in any grand tours and will move on to race the most demanding one on the calendar, but the team has conditioned the decision on his load and recovery metrics, focusing on his response to accumulated efforts.

RECOMENDADO

This is how the UCI put a stop to the most radical revolution in bicycle design

Over €2,000 for winning an intermediate sprint and over €10,000 for winning the stage: all the prize money for the 2026 Giro

Specialized Epic 9: Models, weight and prices for the entire new range

Time takes its toll, but it doesn't mean you have to stop performing

The perfect crank length doesn't depend only on your height, and here's why

What is the origin and history of the pink jersey of the Giro d'Italia?

Moreover, Seixas does not seem to view the debut as an adaptation. And although he has no references in efforts of three weeks, he does have sustained performance in one-day and one-week WorldTour races, he is directly aiming for the general classification.

Before the Tour, he will compete in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes as specific preparation. After that, his calendar includes Quebec, Montreal, a possible World Championship, and Il Lombardia.

With this news, France once again dreams of having a cyclist who can conquer its most emblematic sporting event, something that has not happened since Bernard Hinault's last victory in 1985.