French climbing gem dreams of reaching the level of Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel: "For now they're still in another world but things can change each year"

Paul Seixas certainly didn't disappoint to deliver on his professional debut with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. He already scored nice results of honour at French Cup races and even finished top-10 on Jebel Jais, just 4 seconds behind superstar Tadej Pogacar.

"2nd in Paris-Camembert, 5th in La Marseillaise, those are definitely good results, it shows that I'm also a bit in the game from the start," Seixas tells Cyclism'Actu about his first months as a professional. "So it's still a great satisfaction and I'm happy, I wouldn't say it was unexpected, but it was still a big goal. It's not necessarily easy to be there from the start with the pros and I'm happy to be able to play my card from the start, to race up front and to have fun."

Seixas is often referred to as a supertalent, perhaps the man who can end France's endless wait for a Tour de France champion that lasts since the days of reign of Bernard Hinault. That last triumph will celebrate 40th anniversary this summer and it's almost certain to not end this year.

However it is inspiring for a young rider like Seixas to follow the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel race on TV. "It's definitely a dream, I would of course like one day for it to happen like that for me. Now, we have to make it come true and work, but cycling isn't easy and we don't always get what we want. So now I'm going to work and I'll do everything to get there, but for now it's a dream and we're having fun in front of the TV too."

One day, Seixas dreams of rising up to challenge them, and that time will come, one day. "For now, they're still in another world, after each year things can change, we know there are always generations, it comes and goes. For now, they're above and we can only admire them. Now we have to work to one day be able to compete with them."