Paul Seixas‘ future is one of the most interesting current plotlines in pro cycling, with the Frenchman delivering incredible results this season as an 18 and 19-year old. His potential is immense, he is France’s best hope when it comes to winning the Tour de France in the next few years and his potential is already through the roof. But will he race the Tour already in 2026? The decision may have been taken.”It’s still up in the air. We have a training camp with the staff very soon, and this is one of the questions we’ll have to think about and try to answer,” team DS Rowe, formerly of INEOS Grenadiers, told Eurosport France. “There are things I know, but I can’t reveal them. I think the team will publish Seixas’s schedule when it’s ready.”
“There aren’t many riders representing France who, according to observers, can win the Tour de France, so people are naturally going to put pressure on him, but I’m sure he’ll be able to handle it.”
Could this mean that Seixas will race the Tour already next season? It would, in traditional sense, come as a shock as its been widely argued that he does not need to take on the Grand Boucle at such a young age, and that it is a more natural step to instead aim for the Vuelta a España first, or even the Giro d’Italia.
Not the same sport as when Rowe started out
“You know, it’s not the same sport it was 10 years ago. Before, you took it slow, you did two or three years, you raced the Giro, the Vuelta, and then you moved on to the big race, the Tour de France. Now, it’s more ruthless,” the Welshman argued. “It’s like being thrown into the deep end and being told ‘swim or sink’.”
This comes as a potential argument to justify Seixas’ selection towards next year’s Tour debut, and this also comes in the context that a decision has been made already, whilst the only route announced thus far is that of the Tour.
However if this was to happen it also might not come as a negative thing for the Frenchman, who would from early on begin to gain experience in his ultimate goal – whilst the team may also want this, taking into consideration he is currently only signed until 2027 and if he does not race it this year, he could potentially make his debut in his departure year.
He has given enough evidence already that he is capable of racing amongst the top riders, winning the Tour de l’Avenir this fall, finishing eighth at the Criterium du Dauphiné, seventh at Il Lombardia and third behind Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel at the European Championships.
Seixas at the 2025 European Championships. @Sirotti