"I'd obviously put Paul Seixas at the start of the Tour de France" - Cédric Vasseur on the Frenchman and his battle with Tadej Pogacar

Paul Seixas is in every headline left, right and center in France and for good reason. Many have over the past few months been nicknaming the 19-year old 'the new Pogacar'. Such a comparison may not be far off, as he was the only rider able to give the World Champion a fight at Liège-Bastogne-Liège; and it is reasonable to assume he will have the same ambition at the upcoming Tour de France if he takes to the start in Barcelona.

A top climber, time trialist, classics rider and a cool-headed persona, Seixas has already given every possible sign that he is a top rider in the present, not just the future. "I don't think we could have imagined Paul Seixas competing with Tadej Pogacar on the slopes of La Redoute, at Liège-Bastogne-Liège," Cédric Vasseur said in an interview with Cyclism'Actu. The big question for the former Cofidis team manager is ultimately if Seixas should ride the Tour de France or not, one that will be made in the upcoming days or weeks - as the preparation period for the Tour begins now in May.

"I'm really torn because I think you have to take advantage of good form when you have it, and we see many examples where riders train at altitude, come back, and then Matteo Jorgenson breaks his collarbone at the Amstel Gold Race, and then everything falls apart. When you're lucky enough to be in good shape, I think you have to make the most of it".

What does Vasseur, a vocal figure in the French media circle, lean towards? "Now, is it really wise to embark on a three-week Grand Tour at 19 years old? I think that's the equation Dominique Serieys (Decathlon CMA CGM Team manager, ed.) and the Decathlon CMA CGM Team have to solve. Obviously, the temptation is strong because when you see Seixas putting Pogacar under a bit of pressure, you want to experience the excitement of July".

"Selfishly, we want to see Paul Seixas in the Tour de France, but if you're thinking about a career plan, you have to be careful not to burn yourself out. Two weeks of racing is manageable, but the third is really tough. In the end, it's Paul Seixas and his team who will make the decision, and we'll accept it".

Put into an objective point of view, there are obvious concerns for having a 19-year old race the Tour de France already touted as a podium contender, against a generation of riders such as Pogacar who seems unbeatable in his ground. With the weight of France and a 40-year victory drought, millions will be hoping for the yellow jersey to land on the Decathlon rider's shoulders.

That is ultimately a difficult task, but for several reasons, Vasseur would take the prodigy to the Grand Boucle this summer if he was the team manager: "If I were the manager, I'd obviously put Paul Seixas at the start of the Tour de France. I think that in terms of visibility, having Paul Seixas or not having him isn't the same return on investment for the partners. So, as manager, I'd definitely put him at the start of the Tour in Barcelona".

"Now, if I were someone close to Paul Seixas, I'd hold him back a bit by saying, maybe it would be better to start with the Vuelta a España in 2026. It all depends on your perspective. In any case, he's a phenomenon. I think that at 19, he's already proven he's capable of extraordinary things. So he might also be capable of surprising us over three weeks".

Ultimately, it seems likely that Seixas will be make his debut in the Tour this summer. The bigger question is how he will fare with it. There seems to be no doubt that he's capable of riding with the very best at this moment, but a three-week race provides several challenges that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere.

"Now, we also have to see how Paul Seixas will handle all the effort he's put in since the start of the season. We have to look at the facts. The reality is that a rider like Pogacar has only had five days of racing so far. That means he'll be arriving at the Tour de France much fresher than Paul Seixas. He has the experience of past victories, the experience of past seasons, so obviously if Paul Seixas enters the Tour de France, we're not expecting a victory in Paris, barring exceptional circumstances," Vasseur argues.

Recovery, media pressure, avoiding illnesses and crashes, the mental toll of fighting for positioning every single days for constant stages, the necessity of nailing nutrition on a daily basis... There are countless aspects that separate the Grand Tour specialists from the stage-racers. And the fact is that until Seixas completes a three-week race with the best, he is not one.

"But if the Tour de France unfolds normally, I think it will be more of a Tour of discovery, of enrichment, to aim for a good overall ranking and, above all, to win stages".

His victory at the Tour de l'Avenir last summer is a great indicator as to what he can do, but now he will battle alongside a peloton of a much superior level and a race with twice as much length. The signs are positive, but being cautious and conscious is equally as important.

"Well, he gives the impression of being ready. I think when you see him in interviews, he behaves perfectly; there are no issues there. I think he handles the pressure really well. Now, the pressure of the Tour de France is something else entirely, and I think you're right that all the media pressure would be on his shoulders. And I think that when you're 19, you take it well during the first part of the Tour de France, but it can also become overwhelming".