"I think he is capable of it, he is a superhuman": French manager tips Paul Seixas to beat Pogacar at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

As the professional peloton prepares for the upcoming Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the international focus is heavily fixed on one teenager who is rapidly becoming the biggest story in the sport. Nineteen-year-old French sensation Paul Seixas has just delivered a jaw-dropping overall victory at the Itzulia Basque Country, elevating the expectations of an entire nation.

Speaking to Cyclism'Actu, Van Rysel-Roubaix general manager Cyril Saugrain shared his thoughts on the current landscape of the peloton. Like many pundits, Saugrain was completely blown away by the recent performances of Paul Seixas.

"He is an emerging pearl, full of talent, an all-terrain rider, close to the qualities of Tadej Pogacar," Saugrain said. "It still remains to be proven in his list of achievements, of course, but what he is demonstrating since his arrival in the professional ranks is simply phenomenal."

When asked directly if the 19-year-old actually has the strength and tactical awareness to win major World Tour one-day races like Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Flèche Wallonne right now, Saugrain was highly confident.

"I think he can win one of the two, I think he is capable of it," he confirmed. "He is an all-terrain rider, he is a superhuman man. But he will still have to beat Tadej Pogacar, who was just beaten at Paris-Roubaix."

Saugrain pondered whether this massive disappointment might cause the world number one to lose a bit of motivation heading into the final spring classics, potentially opening the door for a young challenger like Seixas.

"We could imagine that with his victory at Milan-San Remo and his victory at the Tour of Flanders, he had set off with this goal of winning all five monuments in the same year," Saugrain explained. "Ultimately, this dream stops this weekend at Paris-Roubaix, where he finished second. So he might tell himself, 'ok, maybe it's not this year that I will set this record', and maybe he will switch off a little bit or take his foot off the gas."

However, the team manager quickly noted that Pogacar rarely shows weakness and is incredibly fresh compared to the rest of the peloton.

"I don't think that is his style, because ultimately he only has four days of racing since the beginning of the year, so despite everything, compared to others, he must still have freshness. But Paul Seixas has shown extraordinary things since the beginning of the year. He was far from ridiculous at Strade Bianche, so we are looking at an extraordinary profile."

When asked if Seixas should participate in the Tour de France, Saugrain argued that the decision must come down entirely to the rider himself, rather than media pressure or team demands.

"I think only he has the answer. I have no conviction myself. I think that given his qualities, when you are capable of doing what he does and evolving at his level, going to a Grand Tour is without question," Saugrain noted.

"He is capable of doing it, he has the qualities to do it. Now, does he want to go to the Tour? And if he goes to the Tour and does not win, is it dramatic? Many say that if he goes, it is only to win. I am not convinced. If he goes and does not win, because the objectives he set for himself were different, it is not dramatic."

Putting himself in the shoes of the Decathlon CMA CGM Team management, Saugrain emphasized the importance of long-term planning. Seixas is currently under contract until the end of 2027, meaning there is no immediate rush to force him into the world's biggest race.

"If I were the manager, I would first talk a lot with Paul. What are his desires? That is what will have to guide the choices. And then, what is his short-term choice and what is his long-term choice?" Saugrain detailed. "If Paul says 'I want to go', he must go. If Paul says 'I am not keen, I don't want to, I might want to do the Vuelta first', well let him do the Vuelta and it will not be too late to go."

To conclude the interview, Saugrain was pushed to make a definitive prediction for the upcoming week of racing in the Ardennes. "Based on what I have seen, I will take a risk," Saugrain stated confidently. "I will bet on Paul Seixas as the winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Lenny Martinez as the winner of the Flèche Wallonne."