"Fate has actually done him the greatest possible favour" - Paul Seixas can turn crash nightmare into Tour de France dream

Paul Seixas saw his weaknesses exposed at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes as he suffered a crash, lost time in a team time trial and was forced to abandon the race. However, according to one former pro and analyst, it's exactly what the French teenager needed.

The Decathlon CMA CGM rider had been riding a wave of momentum but the rising tide of expectations from the passionate French public has been somewhat held back by his abandon and interrupted preparation for his first Tour de France. However, out of the limelight, Seixas was spotted back training on Thursday and his Grand Boucle debut is a go.

Eursport Analyst Jens Voight was impressed with Seixas' handling of setbacks, and believes it's fate that brought his first major professional career setbacks to temper expectations and pressure amid his sensational rise to prominence.

"Paul Seixas had a very strong spring. At Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he was the last rider who could still follow Pogacar. That deserves a lot of credit," Voigt said.

"He also won the Tour of the Basque Country impressively, even though he made a tactical error there at one point. He attacked in the rain behind the leading group, but couldn't get to the front and couldn't break away. That shows maturity – and I don't think he'll make a mistake like that again."

In regards to earlier this month, Voigt has an unorthodox outlook at disappointment. Above all, it diminishes the presumption that everything will be plain sailing to the Tour.

He added: "With regard to the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, fate has actually done him the greatest possible favour. That sounds a bit strange at first, but the enormous pressure of expectations has been significantly reduced as a result.

"People realized that he's only human. He doesn't necessarily have to win in his first Tour de France year. Up until then, he had won almost everywhere he started. This quickly created the impression that everything came easily to him."

The German analyst highlighted Seixas' own criticism will help him learn from the mistakes. Voigt continued: "He admitted, with self-criticism, that he took too many risks and tried to make up some positions on the downhill section. However, he entered the corner too fast. He will learn from this as well."

"The tour exposed all his weaknesses – in the team time trial, in tactics, in risk management, and in patience. At the same time, he showed character. After his crash, he was back at the start the next day, even though he had obviously hurt himself quite badly."

A blow to the chin won't be a knockout, Voigt predicts. He stressed patience is the word as Seixas tries to bounce back from a lesson learned.

"He was on his way to becoming an absolute superstar and the darling of an entire nation. Then came this little blow to the chin. Suddenly, he was made to realize: I too have to work, fight, be patient, and make the right decisions. In my view, the painful lesson came at exactly the right time."