“If it causes problems, they can pass that on to another team” - Decathlon urged to use Paul Seixas at the Tour de France while they can amid UAE transfer rumours
Cycling
As debate around Paul Seixas’ potential Tour de France debut continues to build, former Giro d’Italia stage winner David McKenzie and compatriot Grace Brown have offered one of the most hard-edged perspectives yet, suggesting Decathlon may need to act now rather than think long-term.
The 51-year-old Australian, who won a stage of the Giro in 2000, and claimed the Australian national title in 1998, framed the situation not just as a sporting decision, but as one shaped by timing and opportunity. “The selfish me says yes,” McKenzie said on the SBS Cycling Podcast. “The right me, the directeur sportif or general manager, says no. He probably shouldn’t, but I’d love to see him there.”
“They might as well use him now”
Whilst McKenzie’s view is reserved, Olympic champion Brown addresses the possibility that Seixas may not remain with Decathlon long-term. “If they’ve only got him for a couple of years, then maybe they should capitalise on what they have,” she explained. “If he moves to another team, they might as well use him now. And if it causes problems, they can pass that on to another team.”
That argument carries extra weight given the growing transfer interest around Seixas, with both UAE Team Emirates - XRG and INEOS Grenadiers already heavily linked with a future move for the Frenchman.
It is that backdrop which gives the comments their edge. This is not a distant, theoretical scenario, but a very real possibility in the modern transfer market. While others have focused on development or pressure, Brown instead points to timing, and the risk that Decathlon’s window to fully exploit their “ace card” may be shorter than they would like.
An “ace card” to build around
Despite that blunt assessment, McKenzie was equally clear on how highly he rates Seixas and his importance to the team. “They’ve got an ace. He’s the ace card,” he said. “Now it’s about building the rest of the team around him. If you don’t have that ace, it’s very hard to build a champion. But they’ve already got him.”
That belief underlines why the decision carries so much weight. Seixas is not simply another young rider showing promise, but a potential cornerstone for the team’s future.
Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas at the 2026 Liêge-Bastogne-Liège
The perfect environment, for now
McKenzie also stressed that Decathlon currently provides the ideal environment for Seixas’ development, particularly given the team’s ongoing evolution. “I’d hate to see him leave. It’s actually the perfect team for him,” he said. “With the rebuild and the direction they’re going in, it suits him really well.”
That creates a tension at the heart of his argument. On one hand, Decathlon represents the best place for Seixas to grow. On the other, that window may not last indefinitely, and opportunities such as the Tour de France do not come around without consequence.
A different voice in a crowded debate
McKenzie and Brown’s comments add another layer to what has become one of the sport’s defining discussions. While figures such as Geraint Thomas have backed a Tour debut without GC expectations, and Decathlon CMA CGM Team themselves continue to emphasise caution and long-term development, McKenzie’s stance is rooted in timing.
Not just whether Seixas should ride the Tour. But whether Decathlon can afford not to use him while they still have him.
Seixas’ performances this season, capped by his ride at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, have ensured that any decision will come under intense scrutiny. And in a sport where opportunity can be fleeting, waiting may prove just as consequential as acting too soon.
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.
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