"I tried to be stronger than usual, and in the end I exploded": Paul Seixas falls short of podium but completes remarkable Tour de France debut in fourth
Cycling
Paul Seixas saw his dream of a Tour de France podium slip away on the final mountain stage, but the 19-year-old still completed one of the most impressive debut Grand Tours in recent memory. After an aggressive bid to overhaul Isaac del Toro for third overall, the Decathlon CMA CGM Team leader eventually had to settle for fourth place.
Seixas gives everything in podium fight
Seixas started stage 20 looking capable of overturning the deficit to Del Toro. The French youngster appeared stronger on the slopes of the Col du Galibier, while the Mexican briefly looked vulnerable. However, the momentum shifted on the Col de Sarenne, where Del Toro regained control and eventually distanced Seixas for good.
Despite the disappointment, Seixas accepted that he had reached his limit after three demanding weeks. “I felt really good at the start and on the Galibier. Then, in the end, I cracked. That's cycling,” Seixas said in a post-race interview.
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The 19-year-old admitted missing out on the podium was painful but insisted he had no regrets about the team's aggressive approach.
“Obviously, I'm disappointed that I couldn't fight more for the podium. But fourth place... we'll have to be satisfied with that. There came a moment when I reached my limits and cracked. I tried to be stronger than usual, and in the end I exploded.”
Decathlon CMA CGM threw everything at Del Toro throughout the final mountain stage, knowing they had nothing to lose. “We had nothing to lose. We tried everything to make Del Toro crack. He was simply stronger today.”
Although the podium slipped away, Seixas knows he has to be proud of what he has accomplished. “In a few days, when I look back, it will definitely be something to be proud of. Missing the podium is disappointing, of course. My legs weren't good enough, and mentally I wasn't either. That's why I cracked afterwards. I'm proud of this Tour.”
Paul Seixas ahead of stage 2 of the 2026 Tour de France
A satisfied Decathlon manager
Team manager Dominique Serieys was full of praise for his young leader after what he described as a historic Tour for Decathlon CMA CGM. “We're very happy. It's extraordinary to finish fourth, along with all the stage results we've achieved. Paul didn't have any physical problems or any real collapse.”
Serieys also acknowledged the level of competition his team faced throughout the race. “We were up against incredibly strong teams and exceptional rivals. Congratulations to Pogacar, congratulations to Del Toro, and also to Nico Prodhomme, who has ridden a superb Tour de France. And above all, a huge thank you to the whole team.”
According to Serieys, the French squad's primary objective had never been the podium. Instead, it was just ensuring Seixas reached Paris and gained valuable Grand Tour experience. “The first priority was to bring Paul to Paris. He'll arrive there tonight by TGV and tomorrow he'll be on the Champs-Élysées. Mission accomplished.”
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Serieys believes the experience Seixas has accumulated at such a young age will prove invaluable for the future. “We're convinced that at 19 years old, he'll have gained experience that very few riders ever have at that age.”
While Jonas Vingegaard's withdrawal changed the dynamics of the general classification battle, Serieys insisted the team's original target had still been achieved.
“We set ourselves the goal of finishing in the top five. We shouldn't forget that some major rivals, including Jonas Vingegaard, abandoned the race. There was also Lipowitz, who was a very strong opponent. It wasn't easy to secure a top-five finish, but we've done it.”
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- That 3000 extra that the Tour de France is built up in the flat stages
Rafionain-Glas04-11-2026 - maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
- Orts was a super smart signing with the new rules regarding cross and UCI pointsmij04-11-2026
- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
- He will be lol, but he can still win on the climbs hahaawp04-11-2026
- I would love to have his inconsistency. How many wins this year? 2 TdF stages, a WC, a Euro championship, San Sebastian, multiple wins early year. Monument podiums. I'd take it. I don't think he has a chance in the TdF, but he is still amazing.mij04-11-2026
- He's not going to win the TdF. Maybe if they make every single stage a TT he could win. But I still believe Tadej would just sharpen his TT skills and win.mij04-11-2026
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