Paul Seixas wants to know: The exceptional cycling talent has confirmed his participation in the Tour de France 2026 (July 4th to 26th).
“It was my childhood dream, something I often imagined, and now it is within reach,” Seixas commented on his decision in a statement from his team Decathlon – CMA CGM.
“I’m only 19 years old, but as I said, age is neither an obstacle nor an excuse. This decision, which I made in consultation with the team management, has been carefully considered and developed together over the last few days,” continued the Frenchman.
Seixas is currently shaking up the cycling world. After his victories at the Tour of the Basque Country and at the Flèche Wallonne, the youngster was only defeated by superstar Tadej Pogacar at the Monument Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Cycling stars marvel at Seixas
Seixas was “unbelievable,” Mathieu van der Poel enthused in an interview with the Spanish sports newspaper “AS.”
And further: “After so many years, France finally seems to have a rider who can win the Tour de France.” In 1985, Bernard Hinault was the last Frenchman to win the overall ranking in the most important cycling tour.
“We will continue to work hard to win as much as possible in the next few years until he destroys everyone,” Pogacar said immediately after Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“I feel ready”
However, there were also voices in the cycling scene who advised Seixas not to take part in this year’s Tour de France.
“My results since the start of the season have given me a lot of confidence, I feel ready and have ambitious goals. It is not my mentality or my vision of cycling to compete in the Tour de France just to gain experience, I will aim for the best possible result,” France’s cycling hopeful made clear in his announcement.
Seixas will be 19 years, 9 months and 10 days old on the day of the first stage of the tour in Barcelona, making him the youngest participant in the tour since Adrien Cento in 1937.
