"I didn’t make the top 10, but I reached a level of suffering – The hardest race of my life": Paul Seixas (19!) puts in breakout performance during Kigali Worlds road race

Paul Seixas’ debut at the elite men’s World Championship road race in Kigali ended with a 13th-place finish, 9 minutes and 7 seconds behind winner Tadej Pogacar. While the French teenager missed out on a top-10 placing, his performance stood out as a breakout ride, finishing 40 seconds ahead of compatriot Pavel Sivakov and cementing his position as the best-placed French rider.

“I’m really happy to have finished,” Seixas told Eurosport after the race, visibly and understandably exhausted. “I wanted to help the team as much as possible, especially Pavel, who was our leader. In the end, maybe he didn’t have the day he hoped for, and it was decided on the pedals. We didn’t manage a top-10 or better, but we gained a lot of experience. It was so tough at the finish — when you have nothing left, it’s all in the head. I’m very pleased to have finished, and it will serve as a learning experience for the future.”

Seixas’ race was defined by relentless climbs, punishing cobbled sections, and the attritional pace of the elite peloton. Despite being one of the youngest riders in the field, he managed to stay with some of the best in the world, including Tom Pidcock and Primoz Roglic, even as the race fragmented on the circuits around Kigali.

“It still feels strange riding with guys like Pidcock or Roglic, especially while trying to finish in the top 10 of an elite World Championship,” Seixas continued. “It’s impressive, and I gave everything I had just to hang on and finish. I didn’t make the top 10, but I’m not racing against unknown riders, so no regrets. I reached a level of suffering I’ve rarely experienced — probably the hardest race of my life. I think it will help me take the next step forward.”

Despite missing out on a podium or top-10 finish, Seixas’ performance marks him as a talent to watch for the future. His ability to endure the extreme demands of the Kigali parcours, support his team leader, and maintain position ahead of other established riders highlights both physical resilience and tactical maturity well beyond his years.

For the 19-year-old, the race provided more than just results — it was an invaluable lesson in perseverance, strategy, and handling the mental and physical toll of a World Championship-level race. The experience gained in Rwanda is likely to form the foundation for an exciting next chapter in Seixas’ rapidly emerging career.