“I wasn’t expecting him to pull…” – Paul Seixas reads Florian Lipowitz and Primoz Roglic perfectly to turn tables on Red Bull again at Itzulia Basque Country

Paul Seixas’ third stage win at the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country was not just another show of strength, but a reflection of the composure and race intelligence that has defined his week.

On a day where Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe once again tried to force the race open, Seixas remained calm, measured and ultimately decisive, first matching the aggression on the climbs before finishing the job in a two-man sprint against Florian Lipowitz.

Speaking after the stage in conversation with Cycling Pro Net, Seixas offered a clear insight into how he read the decisive moments of the race as it unfolded. “I wasn’t expecting him to pull, which is normal. There was Primoz Roglic behind, so it made sense,” Seixas explained, referencing the tactical dynamic in the final kilometres as the threat from behind shaped how the leaders approached their collaboration.

That awareness proved key. Rather than forcing the situation, Seixas allowed it to develop, recognising both the danger posed by Roglic and the limitations of the chase.

As the race settled into its final phase, the situation simplified and that played directly into Seixas’ hands. “Then I saw he started to take turns, which really helped me and allowed me to recover a bit,” he said. “We worked well together overall. He was very strong today.”

With Roglic unable to bridge across, the balance shifted. “At one point he stopped pulling because Roglic was coming back, which is normal, but he quickly understood he wouldn’t make it. After that, it became a one-on-one for the win.”

Even then, the race was far from decided. Lipowitz launched a late move in the closing kilometres, forcing Seixas onto the limit once more. “He stayed strong until the end and launched a good attack in the final. I managed to hold on, and then I was able to win the sprint.”

It was a sequence that summed up the stage as a whole. Pressure applied, pressure absorbed, and the decisive response delivered at exactly the right moment.

While Seixas once again stood alone at the finish, he was quick to underline the role of the Decathlon CMA CGM Team in shaping the outcome. “First of all, chapeau to my teammates. They did an incredible job today,” he said. “They protected me really well, they were always there, no matter what happened. Without them, I don’t know what I would do.”

That collective strength has been a constant throughout the race, with Seixas repeatedly surrounded at key moments while rivals have been forced to react. “All week, they’ve been unbelievable. There’s a huge motivation in the team. Everyone is super happy, and the guys are giving 200% for me.”

Beyond the racing, Seixas also pointed to the atmosphere within the team as a key factor behind their performances. “We’re also a group of friends, and that’s what’s beautiful about cycling. I’m really happy to live this incredible experience with them. They deserve this victory as much as I do. Today’s win is for them.”

With one stage remaining, attention now turns to securing overall victory, and Seixas made clear that the approach will not change. “It will be a different stage, shorter and more intense, especially with the rain,” he said. “I think we’ll try to stay towards the front and make it a hard race to avoid problems in the technical sections.”

Confident in his handling, whatever the conditions, Seixas pointed to his background as a key advantage. “I know I handle my bike well, whether it’s wet or dry. That also comes from cyclocross, which helps me a lot with bike handling.”

For now, though, the message is simple. “We’ll just stay focused until the end.”

Seixas’ comments underline the pattern that has defined this race. While rivals continue to try to force decisive moments, he is reading those situations earlier and responding with greater clarity. With one stage remaining, that combination of control and composure leaves him firmly on course to turn this run of stage wins into overall victory.