Could Romain Bardet guide Paul Seixas? - Retired star reportedly set for Decathlon CMA CGM return in new role
Cycling
Paul Seixas could soon have the perfect mentor in Romain Bardet as it has emerged that retired ex-pro could be on his way to Decathlon CMA CGM in a management role and to help develop the 19-year-old sensation.
Riding for the French team for nine years during their spell as AG2R La Mondiale, Bardet carved out many of the most successful years of his career at the team, but would return to a new challenge and structure centred around the new star of French cycling.
Seixas' incredible rise has saw him become the team's leader while still a teenager and in his second year as a professional. He leads the team in the Tour de France next month as he arrives at his first grand tour.
Bardet set to return to his former team
L'Équipe reports that Bardet is set to rejoin his former team, but in a new role of management with a specific focus on mentoring and guiding young star Seixas. His exact role within the sporting structure is not yet clear, the team have not officially confirmed Bardet's return.
Seixas himself endured a turbulent week at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, with a stage 7 crash seeing him admirably recover to return to the front of affairs before his injuries and effort made cause him to lose some time.
He abandoned the race the following day during the eighth stage due to his injuries. The team later confirmed that all is well, and his Tour preparations have not been majorly disrupted.
Paul Seixas mentorship
Bardet knows a thing or two about carrying the burden of hope and expectations from the French public. A talented climber, Bardet finished second overall at the Tour de France in 2016 and third in 2017 and has amassed three victories in the grand tour.
He retired after last year's Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes - then called the Criterium du Dauphine - as he chased a final victory on home roads. His attacking style and fearless resilience made him a fan favourite in France, and a mentorship with Seixas could prove to be a strong addition to the team.
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Since his retirement, Bardet has worked as a commentator and analyst. Bardet has also been active and successful in gravel races. The 35-year-old took victory four rounds of the UCI Gravel World Series across 2025 and 2026. L'Équipe also reports that he still has gravel commitments, making it unclear when he will officially begin the new role.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- What kind of sauce is on that rice? Ketchup?Kbd05-11-2026
- 18 broken bones. 78 crashes, among 30 rider per year is a lot. so for a rider over 15 seasons, they will break their bones 7-8 times and crash 38 times.abstractengineer04-11-2026
- i dont think he is ready ot win against the top 2 or the 2nd rung of evenepoel, del toro , Almeida. In the third week in the TDF he was very very defensive, no attacks. i think he was exhausted. right now he needs time not the brutal Giro or the intense TDF.abstractengineer04-11-2026
- Rota is an excellent rider to get in a break with because he always does his turnchapmanesque04-11-2026
- That 3000 extra that the Tour de France is built up in the flat stages
Rafionain-Glas04-11-2026 - maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
- Orts was a super smart signing with the new rules regarding cross and UCI pointsmij04-11-2026
- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
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