"I wanted to put pressure on them mentally and show them it’s not going to be that easy" - Paul Seixas hits back at Red Bull with late attack to extend Itzulia lead
Cycling
Paul Seixas turned a day of sustained pressure into another statement ride at Itzulia Basque Country 2026, responding to repeated attacks by Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe duo Florian Lipowitz and Primoz Roglic, with a late move of his own to gain time on his general classification rivals.
After being tested throughout the stage, the race leader remained composed before striking on the descent, a move that not only distanced his rivals but also reinforced his control over the race heading into the decisive final days.
“I didn’t panic… I wanted to keep something for the final”
Seixas admitted he had expected attacks, but not from as far out as they came. “I knew they would probably try to attack me today. Honestly, I didn’t expect it from that far out, but I stayed in control and didn’t panic. I wanted to keep something for the final,” he told Cycling Pro Net.
Rather than reacting impulsively, the Frenchman chose to absorb the pressure, trusting both his form and his preparation. “We had reconned the course with the team, so I knew the descent. I’d ridden it before and thought I could try something there, especially as not everyone is at the same level downhill.”
That knowledge proved decisive, with Seixas launching his move at precisely the moment the race began to hesitate.
“I didn’t care about the stage win”
The intent behind the attack was clear, and notably, it had little to do with the stage result itself. “I managed to open a gap and bring a few riders with me. I didn’t care about the stage win today. I just wanted to take time back, put a bit of pressure on them mentally and show them it’s not going to be that easy.”
That approach underlines the maturity of his ride, with Seixas focused not on short-term reward, but on strengthening his position in the overall standings.
Behind the move was a team performance that allowed him to remain in control throughout the stage. “The team were really strong today. They positioned me perfectly all day. I never had a moment where I felt out of place in the peloton. It was really a flawless team performance,” he said with pride.
Crucially, that support allowed Seixas to conserve energy for the decisive moment. “In the climbs, they stayed with me and supported me the whole time. I was never alone, and that allowed me to save energy for the final and then try that move.”
Paul Seixas in the yellow jersey at Itzulia Basque Country 2026
“It wasn’t taking risks, it was calculated”
Seixas’ move came on a technical descent, but he was quick to stress it was a calculated decision rather than a gamble. “I didn’t take unnecessary risks. I knew the descent, so I trusted myself. Descending is quite psychological; there are periods in the season where you feel better than others, and right now I feel really comfortable.”
With the race now entering its most decisive phase, Seixas believes he has answered the key questions posed by his rivals. “So far, they haven’t really managed to put me in difficulty. I feel strong, I’m recovering well, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
While attention around him continues to grow, his focus remains firmly on the race itself. “It’s nice, of course. But I don’t focus on that. I’m in the race, I stay focused on what I have to do.”
After another composed and assertive performance, Seixas has not only extended his advantage, but also delivered a clear message to his rivals: breaking him will take more than early aggression.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
- Why should he 'let it go' ! Because you said so? Anytime LA Doper is called out is a win win !frieders302-11-2026
- Geez LeMond...let it go. You're a has been, albeit a former great one. But this is all water under the bridge and just undermines your legacy further.Mshark01-11-2026
- 'The Slovenian has collected four Tour de France titles' ... '[Kieran Wood's] ... reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis'. i would say that is pretty inaccurate accurate coverage, kieran wood ... too bad that AI's knowledge often lags several months behind ... but proof reading is certainly part of accurate coverage, isn't it? but fortunately does Kieran Wood place 'strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.' i would say the fifth tdf title is pretty new (and even verified) information, so feel free to update this article.Ketterechts01-11-2026
- You are wrong, they are already working on his new tt position. And yes, Trump does love you 😂👍🏼awp01-11-2026
- The Erola Jons incident was not isolated. She felt she could do that because that's how everyone treats Tadej. Remember when he said "If I say wait 2 mins do you show the middle finger and walk off angry?" about the supposed fan who did exactly that? There's nothing wrong with the nurses and doctors asking him to give autographs... but do the surgery first
Rafionain-Glas01-11-2026 - Perhaps he has what Mark Cavendish had, the Epstein-Barr Virus. It caused him severe and unexplained chronic fatigue. I hope he gets better.
parisbound0001-11-2026
Loading
1 Comments