“Another result would be a big disappointment” - France expects! Nothing less than a Rainbow Jersey will do for Paul Seixas as 92-year cycling record moves within reach

France are making no secret of what they want from Paul Seixas at Sunday’s World Championships road race in Montreal. The 20-year-old will lead Thomas Voeckler’s eight-man team after finishing second at the GP Montreal on essentially the same circuit two weeks ago and then taking bronze in the elite World Championships time trial.

Speaking to RMC ahead of the road race, Seixas set the target himself. “I have obviously set myself the objective of the title,” he said. “In terms of physical ability, I think today I have what it takes to be at the front and fight among the best. And why not aim for the title?"

“I think we have selected a team for that, for this title. So naturally, another result would be a small, or even a big, disappointment,” he added.

Victory on Sunday would also make Seixas the youngest elite men’s road world champion in history, breaking a record that has stood since 1934.

Seixas has already produced two major performances in Canada this month. At the GP Montreal on September 13, he finished second behind Isaac Del Toro after 214.4 kilometres, with Brandon McNulty completing the podium.

Two weeks later, Seixas took bronze in the elite World Championships time trial behind Remco Evenepoel and Filippo Ganna, finishing 1:13 behind the Belgian on his first elite Worlds TT appearance.

“You only have to look at the facts,” Alex Baudin told RMC. “Paul showed it two weeks ago in Montreal. He was one of the strongest. It is the same circuit. It was basically a rehearsal just before the Worlds. Of course, there will be more rivals. But he has the level to win. Pogacar is not at the start, so that obviously removes a small thorn from our side. It will be much more open than if he were here. There is a real chance to bring the title home.”

Sunday’s road race covers 273.7 kilometres and repeatedly returns to the Mount Royal circuit where Seixas finished second earlier this month.

Seixas will be joined by Pavel Sivakov, Bruno Armirail, Jordan Labrosse, Valentin Paret-Peintre, Jordan Jegat, Nicolas Prodhomme and Alex Baudin. Three of them - Seixas, Labrosse and Prodhomme - race together at Decathlon CMA CGM. The others spend most of the season competing across different trade teams. France have spent two weeks together in Canada before the road race, including several days living in apartments near Bromont.

“It is quite rare before a World Championships,” Voeckler told RMC. “We are talking about riders who are rivals throughout the year. It was unthinkable for me to spend 15 days together without creating something that brought them closer than the usual discussions.”

When RMC asked the riders what they wanted most from the week, every member of the team gave the same answer: Seixas returning on Sunday evening with the rainbow jersey. “I never race with him during the year, but I know I will be 100% for him on Sunday, with no ulterior motive at all,” Baudin said. “That is the case for everyone here. It is hugely important.”

“When you have a guy like Paul in the team, it is clear that he is the one with the best chance of winning the race,” Valentin Paret-Peintre added. “So of course we are all going to put ourselves at his service. I also think Thomas has built a team with riders who do not have that ego of saying, ‘I want to go and ride my own race.’ We are all focused on the same objective.”

“Of course, it makes me happy that Thomas trusts me and that we have a group like this around me,” Seixas said. “It is a source of pride too, and it gives me even more energy to give everything at this championship.”

Seixas turns 20 on Thursday, three days before the elite men’s road race. The youngest elite men’s road world champion remains Belgian Karel Kaers, who was 20 years and 76 days old when he won the title in Leipzig in 1934.

Jean-Pierre Monseré was 21 years and 342 days old when he became world champion in 1970, while no rider younger than Kaers has taken the elite men’s rainbow jersey in the 92 years since. “We are going to do something for him, at least a little cake,” Baudin said of Seixas’ birthday.

Sunday brings the road race itself, with France’s eight-man team already committed to putting Seixas in position to chase the jersey they have spent the past fortnight talking about.