"If Seixas keeps improving, him and Pogacar are going to have some great battles": Adam Blythe predicts thrilling duels
Cycling
The 2026 edition of Strade Bianche had two stars. And it might've been one of the few races where the runner-up's name was praised more than that of race winner. As if it was just another training session, Tadej Pogacar rode to a comfortable fourth victory on white roads. As much was expected of the Slovenian. However his successor Paul Seixas was the one who truly turned heads in Tuscany.
"He's unbelievable," TNT Sports expert Adam Blythe could hardly his excitement with the young Frenchman. "The 19-year-old manages just on the wheel of Tadej... But that is the moment Tadej opened that throttle once again and was able to put distance between him and Seixas. And that was him gone. That was with 78 kilometers to go."
The Frenchman was eventually joined by a larger group of contenders with another UAE racer Jan Christen part of the mix. Despite numerous attacks, the group stuck together until the penultimate gravel sector - Colle Pinzuto.
"And then, with just over 18 kilometers to go, we had Seixas going on the attack with Del Toro, who's been sat [on his wheel] pretty much whole day, following him," Blythe pointed out at UAE's respect for Seixas.
Opponents already fear Seixas
Even in a group of around 10 riders, the main load of work was on Seixas after his demonstration of power earlier into the race. That situation repeated after Seixas' acceleration in the final phases of the race that only Del Toro could respond to. But the Mexican, teammate of Pogacar, would never take a turn. For various reasons.
"In fairness to Seixas, he did so much work on the front, no one really gave him a turn, especially when these two went to the finish line. He even asked for help there, but... I think Del Toro was on his limit."
Paul Seixas and Tadej Pogacar were the protagonists of 2026 Strade Bianche
At the end of the day, the results were honest according to Blythe, with the Slovenian defending his title ahead of the talented Frenchman who managed to get rid of Del Toro on the last kicker to Piaza del Campo in Siena. Of course, the question is whether the Mexican really tried there...
"Pogacar crossed the finish line solo, bowed at the line. Behind, Paul Seixas dropped Del Toro on the final climb after not doing any work the whole day, and he was able to secure a second place with Del Toro completing the podium."
But regardless of this minor "second-place duel controversy", Blythe has thoroughly enjoyed the race. Not even so much because of a thrilling battle for victory - that was decided two hours before riders reached Siena - but for the prospect of potentially dethroning Tadej Pogacar that comes alive thanks to Seixas, after years of the Slovenian's absolute rule in all types of races (except Milano-Sanremo), the Frenchman seems to be by-far the most promising challenger.
"Brilliant ride by Seixas! And I think, if he keeps improving, him and Pogacar are going to have some great battles in the future," Blythe concludes.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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