Amidst fierce negotiation battle for Paul Seixas, Decathlon declares to be "ready to counter any offer"
CyclingMonday, 06 July 2026 at 23:00
At 19 years of age, Paul Seixas continues to amaze with a 4th place in today's challenging Tour de France stage. Just a quick look at his rapidly-growing palmares confirms that he's rightfully a very hot property on the transfer market. And teams are willing to offer astronomical resources to ensure the Frenchman writes the next chapter in his career wearing their colours.
Several teams have already expressed genuine interest, launching the offers to the moon. Most recent rumours have suggested that Tom Pidcock's team Pinarello Q36.5 presented Seixas' agent with an outstanding €13 millions per year offer, a rumour which has since been debunked by rider super agent Alex Carera as hoax.
For context (private sponsors aside) Tadej Pogacar as the best paid cyclist in the world is said to be earning roughly €8 millions per year on his current contract through 2030 at UAE Team Emirates - XRG, the world's richest team.
And, unlike an unproven talent that is Seixas, Pogacar's name is backed by five Grand Tour titles, 13 Monuments and two rainbow jerseys.
Whether Pinarello Q36.5 can afford to spend such sum is another question.
Decathlon ready to counter
However, it is a clear warning to the team management of Decathlon CMA CGM that other teams will jump at any moment of hesitation. That is why they need to act fast before others do, even though Seixas still has a running contract through 2027.
And the works on a new, more lucrative deal for Seixas are in the works, it seems. The management of the French team confirmed in an interview with Le Parisien that the Grand Tour rider is "a strategic priority" for the team.
According to the French newspaper, Decathlon CMA CGM is reportedly willing to run through a large part of their budget. Apparently, an attractive renewal offer is to land on Seixas agent's table very soon. Details are not yet known, but it is said to be a bid at least as strong as of rival teams.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- Chill sweetie darling, no one hates Pog just some people cannot support the team and country he represents.
Andrew07-07-2026 - Doesn’t make it right and many professional sports have budget and salary caps and so should cycling.Andrew06-07-2026
- While you encourage dancing for money, people with an intact moral compass do not.Jakob06-07-2026
- Dancing for money is sick. Trump, Musk, Becos,Jakob06-07-2026
- Interesting interpretation... so it goes
Rafionain-Glas06-07-2026 - I do not see a team with USA emblazoned across their chest , do you? To compare the two is quite silly, Trump is a box but the US is nowhere close to the anhorrent regime in uae. As to Your other comment, the USA, unlike the uae, is a democracy they just chose to elect Trump. Let’s be real, if the USA did sponsor a team and Pogi rode for them, you would burn your uae top and buy a USA one the next day.Andrew06-07-2026
- No, they should not be allowed in sport at all but agree that budget and salary caps are also needed in cycling.Andrew06-07-2026
- OMG!!! Are you really serious? I don't understand why you don't like the best rider in the world so much. I mean, you don't have to love him, you don't have to like him, but why you do hate him so much?MajorPayne06-07-2026
- In Cycling since i started watching 30 years ago ( i am 45), the richests team always had the upper hand, like in all Professional Sports team Sky, Team Postal, Festina.. Big Budgets = Best riders= Best Perfomances like in footbal, see the budgets of the winning teams, and compare to the others... And ist all Petrodollar money (except Real Madrid, Barcelona)Alexcavalera06-07-2026
- UAE, Bahrain and Jayco Alula (and in the future China)should not be allowed to infinite budgets, but thats the WORLd we live in! Sportwashing its all over the world, its everywear! Footbal, golf, MMA, Pool, Formula 1,...etc... Cycling is no different from the others Sports! So wake up to the new world of sports!! But i believe there should be Budget Limits in UCI (like UEFA does and Primier league also..) to make the sport more competitive.. Thats a different story..Alexcavalera06-07-2026
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