“I would not like to be in his place” – Paul Seixas pressure laid bare before brutal Tourmalet test at Tour de France 2026

Paul Seixas reaches the first major mountain examination of the 2026 Tour de France with the spotlight already firmly on him. Still only 19 years old and riding his debut Tour, the Decathlon CMA CGM Team leader heads towards the Tourmalet as one of the most closely watched riders in the race.

Speaking to Cyclism'Actu ahead of Stage 6 to Gavarnie-Gedre, Jean-Rene Bernaudeau made clear just how intense that attention has become. For the long-time TotalEnergies manager, Seixas is already carrying a level of expectation few riders encounter so early in their career.

Seixas has started the race inside the top 10 overall, part of a new generation trying to force its way into the conversation behind Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. The first Pyrenean stage now brings a different kind of test, with the Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and the uphill finish to Gavarnie-Gedre giving the favourites their first true mountain battlefield of this Tour.

Asked about Seixas before the stage, Bernaudeau did not hide the scale of the pressure around the Frenchman. "It is his first rendezvous, and I would not like to be in his place. There is a lot of expectation, a lot of pressure," Bernaudeau told Cyclism'Actu. "Personally, I would have had the same ambitions, but in a slightly more secretive way, just to be able to give people pleasure."

Far from being a quiet apprenticeship for Seixas, the expectation is already on the teenager's shoulders. After his rapid rise through the professional ranks, and with French cycling still searching for a rider capable of carrying genuine Tour de France hopes, his first Tour has already become far more than a learning experience.

Bernaudeau still spoke warmly about the Decathlon CMA CGM Team rider, stressing both his character and what he represents beyond the result sheet. "Paul Seixas is a good person, he gives off a good image and French cycling needs him," he continued. "I wish him a great Tour de France, but there is still a lot of pressure and expectation around him. If he comes through it well, it would mean we have the champion we have been waiting for, for years and years."

Stage 6 is an obvious early marker. The Tourmalet rarely allows a rider to hide, even when it does not come as the final climb, and the road to Gavarnie-Gedre should reveal far more about the hierarchy behind the established superstars.

Bernaudeau even suggested that Seixas could be one of the riders expected to animate the race. "I think we know the two huge favourites," he said. "We are waiting for Paul Seixas to open hostilities, I hope for his sake, because there is a lot of expectation."

That only adds to the intrigue before the race reaches the highest-pressure section of the day. For Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, the Tourmalet is familiar territory in the battle for yellow. For Seixas, it is the first major mountain checkpoint of a Tour debut already surrounded by expectation.

Bernaudeau also pointed to the possibility that the favourites may not take full control of the stage, leaving room for a strong breakaway if the GC teams hesitate. "Now, if the grip loosens, what I see is another nice breakaway with riders at six or seven minutes in the general classification who will be allowed to fight for the stage win," he added.

Whether Seixas attacks, follows or simply limits any damage, Stage 6 will offer the clearest indication yet of how quickly France's latest grand tour hope can carry that weight on the biggest stage.