“But the body doesn’t always respond as you want: he’s had crashes, which is bad luck, and when you crash you try to force it and end up battering your body before you’ve recovered, which can lead to infections. You have to strike a fair balance. It could have been better without those issues, sure, but there’s a lot of year left.”
With the Tour de France in mind, Valverde does not rule out big ambitions, though he avoids setting a timeline for the Spaniard.
“I can see it being feasible, of course. I don’t know if it will be this year, but I do see him on the podium at some point. It’s hard, of course, but if he sets his mind to it he has to go for it. Then it will come off or not, but the key is to believe.”
Seixas breaks through with force
One of the early-season spotlights falls on the young Frenchman, whose progression has not gone unnoticed.
“Incredible. A 19-year-old, riding the way he is… at Strade Bianche, taking the fight to Pogacar. It’s impressive how he wins, how he kicks, attacking from distance, brave. He’s a superb talent we must follow closely.”
Despite the excitement around his performances, Valverde argues for a gradual build-up if he does line up at the Tour.
“He can go, but you have to know what you’re going for. I don’t see him trying to win or do a top three. He’s very young. He’s started the season very well and needs to grow step by step. We mustn’t burn him out. He can go to learn, to read the race, and later on, if all goes well, then go all-in.”
Paul Seixas dominated the 2026 Itzulia