"I don’t want to fantasise" - Paul Seixas on Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Tour de France dreams

Paul Seixas has Tour de France dreams as he plans to take to the start on July 4th, but he knows dethroning Tadej Pogacar and breaking into the top two with Jonas Vingegaard is a massive ask for his first Tour. However, the 19-year-old is up for the challenge.

The Decathlon CMA CGM rider's evolution has seen him emerge as French cycling's new hope for the future. With commanding wins in both one day and stage races over an impressive spring campaign, Seixas has been at altitude training in Sierra Nevada and comes back down to ground for the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

The traditional warm-up for the Tour de France, Saturday will see the teenager take on his second edition of the race. In 2025, he finished eighth and impressed. This year, both fans and Seixas himself come with higher expectations.

For Seixas, he wants to win the race but remains grounded in his expectations. The teenager reiterated that using the race as a litmus test for what to expect from the pressure and media demands that come with the world's most prestigious cycling race.

“There are some excellent riders on the start list," Seixas looked ahead to the race in a press conference.

"It’s one of the biggest stage races of the year, very prestigious, and even more special for me because it takes place in my home region.”

He added: “I knew the Dauphiné [Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Ed.] would give me a taste of what the Tour de France will be like from a media perspective. Even though I still can’t imagine what it will be like at the Tour, people have already told me I’m going to be blown away. I’m preparing myself mentally, and it doesn’t bother me. It’s part of the game.”

Pogacar and Vingegaard won't be at the start line on Saturday morning, with all the Tour's top contenders opting for different paths to the Grand Depart. Pogacar will be at the Tour de Suisse later this month, Vingegaard won't race until the grand tour after his Giro d'Italia success. Looking over his shoulder, he won't see Florian Lipowitz or Remco Evenepoel either as the Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe leaders also avoid the race.

“I would have liked them to be here,” Seixas admitted when asked about Pogacar and Vingegaard not racing this week.

He added: “I like racing against them, although I haven’t raced Jonas very often. Racing against the best is always a challenge and a chance to grow.”

The ineviitable questions on beating Pogacar and Vingegaard are sure to come his way, but the 19-year-old demonstrates humility and maturity beyond his years as he admitted he has Tou de France desires, but is realistic in rowing in his own expectations.

He continued: “You can always dream. But you have to stay realistic. I have a lot of respect for him and I remain humble. The same goes for Jonas, we must not forget him.

"They have occupied the first two places in the Tour for five years now. I am here to measure myself against them, but as long as I have not reached that level, I don’t want to fantasise too much.”