"I am going for the win" - Paul Seixas sets the record straight for the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Paul Seixas will arrive at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Sunday with the bar set high as he declared exactly what his goal for the race is: to win it. The 19-year-old's lofty ambitions come as he's set to make his debut at July's Tour de France.

Emerging in the 2025 season as France's great general classification hope for the future, the Decathlon CMA CGM starlet has been a sensation since stepping up from junior level - taking podiums in the European Championships, Liege-Bastogne-Liege as well as now winning WorldTour stage wins after his Itzulia Basque Country win in spring.

Seixas has already racked up seven professional victories and blew the Tour de France wide open by announcing his participation and emerging as a legitimate rival to Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard's stronghold on the grand tour.

But first, he arrives at the WorldTour race - formerly the Criterium du Dauphine - for the second time in his career. He came in 8th at last year's race but this time arrives at a higher level and thus higher ambitions. Following a training camp in Sierra Nevada and a recon of the legendary Col du Tourmalet, he's been focusing on long climbs.

"I am looking forward to the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and am starting with high ambitions," Seixas said.

He added: "After a three-week altitude training camp in the Sierra Nevada, I have a solid training period behind me, with a particular focus on long climbs."

Although focusing on his recovery and the differences in his level from 2025, Seixas makes no mistake about his intentions for the race - he wants victory.

"This week will be important for me, because I can compare my feeling, especially regarding recovery, with that of last year, when I finished eighth. On roads I know very well, those of my home region, I am going for the win."

Seixas continued: "At the same time, I want to build on the progress and reference points that we have built up with the entire team since the beginning of the year with an eye on the Tour de France."

He'll face stiff competition at the stage race, however, as rivals such as Isaac Del Toro and Juan Ayuso spearhead a strong general classification field. However, a gruelling parcours that includes multiple mountain stages is sure to push riders to the limit.