French phenom Paul Seixas embraces the Tour de France spotlight as American climber Matthew Riccitello earns his first Tour start.
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Seixas starts the 2026 Tour de France with huge pressure and even bigger expectations. (Photo: Gruber Images)
Updated June 30, 2026 03:32AM
Paul Seixas has spent the past year being told he’s France’s next Tour de France winner.
Now comes the hard part.
The 19-year-old starts his first Tour carrying the biggest expectations of any French rider in decades, yet he’s trying to keep his feet on the ground.
“I feel ready to give everything I have over these three weeks and achieve the best result possible,” Seixas said. “I am not setting myself a more specific goal because I am heading into the unknown, having never raced an event this long and demanding before.”
Decathlon-CMA CGM is betting big on Seixas. At 19, he will lead its GC ambitions and become the youngest Tour starter since 1937.
The expectations are enormous. France hasn’t produced a Tour winner since Bernard Hinault in 1985, and many believe Seixas is finally the rider who can change that.
Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard start Saturday as the big favorites, with a crowded group of podium contenders behind them.
No insiders expect Seixas to beat them this year. It’s more about finding out how close he already is.
Crash recovery and Strava frenzy
Seixas crashed out of the Auvergne-Rhones-Alpes in June. (Photo: Getty Images)
Seixas’ dream season was nearly derailed in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where a hard crash forced him out just as he was gearing up for a showdown with Isaac del Toro.
Despite some severe cuts and abrasions — and a few sleepless nights for French fans — the injuries proved little more than a scare.
“After my crash and withdrawal from the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, I was able to resume my preparation for the Tour de France almost as planned, with a few adjustments to some training sessions because of my injuries,” Seixas said.
Since recovering, his public Strava account has been full of monster rides in the Alps, including a handful of KOMs that have reignited the buzz heading into Barcelona.
Despite all the hype, Seixas says he wants to enjoy the biggest race of his life.
“I hope I can play an active role in the race, continue to improve, and enjoy the experience along the way,” he said. “It is the race I have always dreamed of, and I know how fortunate I am to be taking part in it so early in my career.”
Riccitello set for Tour debut
Riccitello, shown here earlier this season with Seixas, will also make his Tour debut. (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Decathlon isn’t putting all of its Tour chips on Seixas.
The team also brings Tour debutant Olav Kooij, giving the Dutch sprinter chances in the bunch sprints and perhaps easing some of the pressure on the teenager to deliver results on his own.
“We approach the Tour with ambition, but also with humility,” team manager Dominique Serieys said. “We will target the general classification while also aiming to claim at least one stage victory whenever the opportunity arises.”
The team brings some muscle and brawn for the flats and sprints.
Tiesj Benoot is back from surgery and lines up for his 11th grand tour. Nicolas Prodhomme, Daan Hoole and Cees Bol pack experience to offset the rookies.
There’s another reason to watch for American fans.
Matthew Riccitello sees his first Tour de France after fifth overall at last year’s Vuelta a España.
The Arizona climber is expected to be one of Seixas’ key mountain domestiques alongside Aurélien Paret-Peintre, giving the French teenager some valuable support when the road tilts skyward.
The hype is over. The Tour starts Saturday.
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