"I finished alongside riders I used to watch on TV" - The youngest rider of this year's Dauphiné continues to impress

Tadej Pogacar was again in the spotlight on the seventh stage of Criterium du Dauphiné, but his successor may have finished not too far behind the Slovenian. Through impressive consistency across the whole week, the 18-year-old Paul Seixas has already moved up to 6th overall after yet another great performance in the queen stage of this year's edition.

"I managed my stage well today," he begins in team press communication. "It was extremely tough, both mentally and physically. From the very first climb, everyone was going full gas."

Seixas wasn't always with the best, but never completely fell through either, allowing him to always come back in descents. "I didn't feel great at the start of the race, but I eventually found my legs. I was able to save energy thanks to good positioning."

As the reduced peloton arrived to the foot of Valmeinier, the young Frenchman felt that his legs finally started to kick in and on the final ascent, he held his own against the best to arrive in a group with the likes of Enric Mas and Carlos Rodríguez. "I handled the final climb well, with Bruno's help to keep my own pace. I'm gaining confidence - I finished alongside riders I used to watch on TV, and who are in great shape. I'm proud of that."