"He just seems more advanced" - Geraint Thomas declares Seixas as Pogacar's successor; But it comes with major warning about UAE rider
Cycling
Geraint Thomas makes no mistake about it: Paul Seixas is better at 20-years-old than Tadej Pogacar was at the same age. With Pogacar still at the peak of his powers and dominating the sport, the INEOS director warns that the Slovenian could still be around at the top for some time.
All said, Pogacar is going nowhere. However, the Welshman believes that Seixas's development ensures that both Decathlon CMA CGM and France have a bright future ahead as he's tipped to compete with the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider in the coming seasons.
After winning Il Lombardia, Thomas believes that the Frenchman's development makes him one of cycling's biggest names already.
"He's better than Pog when Pog was that age. He's not just the wins, but just how he seems. He just seems more advanced, more developed," Thomas explained on his podcast, Watts Occuring.
"It's going to be an exciting few years for him and for France and for your team."
Although the Decathlon sensation is tipped to rise to the very top, Pogacar is likely to remain at the summit for the foreseeable. At 28, the Slovenian seems to follow each season with even more improvements.
Tadej Pogacar
Thomas sees Pogacar continue to improve
The INEOS director of Racing thinks that the mental side of the sport is what intrigues him most about Pogacar, noting that his mentality and motivation strikes him first.
"Pog's still improving... Mentally, if he can still commit and do everything right, he can keep improving till he's like 35, in my eyes, Pog.
"He's unique, don't get me wrong, Pog. Really, the reason that it's like, 'Whoa,' is because he's done it for so long. That's why it's the mental side for me, 100%."
Although Pogacar's upward trend could continue, Thomas thinks that burnout could impact his motivation and physical development at some point.
He added: "Unless he completely burns himself out, which he would have to start to rein it in with the Classics and the Grand Tours. In my eyes, no reason why he can't keep improving."
Seixas at the cobbled classics?
One such place where Pogacar already shines and could be challenged by Seixas is the cobbled classics. A versatile rider, already proven to thrive off-road with a stellar performance at Strade Bianche earlier this spring, Seixas admits that he is a big fan of the other spring classics. "I really like the cobblestones," the Frenchman revealed in an interview with Marca.
In the Ardennes Seixas is already a natural-born performer. On the cobbles, he could follow in the footsteps of Tadej Pogacar - and most recently Remco Evenepoel; riders who have thrived in Flanders' steep climbs and tricky roads.
"Even back in the under-19 category, I enjoyed those types of races. For now, I’ll stick to my current schedule, but once I’ve gained more experience and achieved other goals, I’d like to try my hand at the cobbled classics," he anticipates.
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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