"It can consume you" - Jurdie insists Decathlon will pull the brakes after Paul Seixas' stellar Tour de France performance
CyclingMonday, 27 July 2026 at 17:15
As the dust settles on the 2026 Tour de France, Decathlon CMA CGM can look back on a successful three weeks that included a general classification bid and a stage win in the first bunch sprint of the edition.
A French team, Decathlon carried the hopes of French cycling in the form of Paul Seixas. The 19-year-old teenager arrived at the Tour unproven over three weeks and with lofty ambitions, delivering on his potential with a fourth place finish overall.
With three weeks of general classification riding under their belts, Julien Jurden is proud of his team's performances. This included a victory on stage 5 as Olav Kooij won the first bunch sprint, instantly paying off the team's decision to bring him to La Grand Boucle.
The team also worked for Kooij in the finale as Mathieu vban der Poel's Paris bid paid off, beating the Dutch sprinter and the remaining fast men in a photo finish. First and foremost, Jurdie was in awe of van der Poel and the Montmartre circuit finale.
"We believed in it. This circuit was crazy. I was discovering it: it was impressive. I was blown away on the climb up Montmartre," Julien Jurdie said after the stage.
"A big congratulations to Mathieu. We gave it our all because we had complete confidence in Olav today to try and win a second stage victory. Unfortunately, it's a top 5. But it was a beautiful afternoon, an extraordinary spectacle."
Decathlon enjoy successful Tour de France
Decathlon's true Tour memories come from Seixas' strong representation at the front end of the general classification, sealing fourth place and challenging for the podium.
"There is a lot of pride and joy. We experienced an unforgettable three-week adventure. Cycling is an individual sport that is practiced as a team. We gave a great demonstration of that for three weeks.
"Let's not forget that Paul is a young rider, only 19 years old. He arrived with a lot of courage and determination. The top 5 is exceptional, there is a lot of pride."
Paul Seixas at the 2026 Tour de France
The team attempted to salvage a spot on the podium, challenging Isaac del Toro's grip on third place. However, a slight over-extension on the penultimate stage saw his challenge falter. Jurdie has no regrets as he dealt with the pressure and intensity of the race.
"As for the general classification, we tried to seize every opportunity we could. We saw that again yesterday on the climb to Alpe d'Huez. We tried to put pressure on Del Toro. It didn't work, but we didn't want to have any regrets after the finish line. Both objectives have been achieved: a stage win and the overall classification."
He added: "We rediscovered the team's values over the three weeks. There was solidarity. I discovered an exceptional group. The preparation was very long; we've been here since May. There's a lot of joy because there's inevitably a certain amount of pressure. Finishing 4th with Paul is fantastic."
Read also
Jurdie insists rest is key for Seixas
What's next for Seixas? Rest is the word for Jurdie and Decathlon before the Canadian one-day races come into focus. Noting the all-consuming nature of the Tour, Jurdie emphasised the rider's growing maturity and mental strength.
He confirmed: "Canada in September. For Paul, it's important to recover well after the excitement of the Tour. We know the Tour's amplification system. It's impressive. It can consume you.
"So, Paul needs to take a break. He's had a very fast-paced learning experience during these three weeks, especially yesterday.
"We know his talent, his maturity, his mental strength, his exceptional physique. Experiencing the Tour at 19 can only do him good, and I think he'll be much stronger in 2027."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
claps 2visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Jury & Fines Tour de France 2026 Update Stage 21
Jul 27, 03:11
15
Latest comments
- Rain was forecastMistermaumau27-07-2026
- Pity jv can’t defend his red jersey this year - but, winning the Giro is still a decent season?Crashjames27-07-2026
- Armstrong may be right about one thing: the real debate isn't whether Pogačar is the most dominant athlete in the world—it’s whether anyone in cycling has a realistic path to beating him anymore. After this Tour, I don’t see Jonas Vingegaard closing the gap unless something fundamentally changes, and I don’t see anyone consistently challenging Pogačar for years if he stays healthy. The next rider who beats him may not simply be the next great talent; it may be the rider willing to think differently about the entire game. Imagine Paul Seixas choosing legacy over the biggest contract and joining a team like EF that is willing to build a completely creative project around one mission: finding a way to defeat Pogačar. Sometimes history is not made by the rider with the biggest salary—it is made by the rider who is willing to sacrifice comfort, challenge the impossible, and become the one who ended the greatest era of dominance cycling has ever seen.wambo27-07-2026
- While there is no doubt that Pogi is one of the best riders ever and currently the best second to none, i do not think it makes sense to compare him to to previous stars where bikes had weight of 2-3 fold modern bike weight and technology and food was inferior.Jakob27-07-2026
- After this Tour, I don't see Jonas Vingegaard closing the gap unless something fundamentally changes, and I honestly don't see anyone consistently challenging Pogačar for the next several years if he stays healthy. The only wildcard I can imagine is a generational talent like Paul Seixas deciding that legacy matters more than chasing the biggest contract—joining a team willing to build an entire, creative project around one mission: beating Pogačar. Imagine a team like EF creating unconventional tactics, giving him complete freedom, and making everything about ending this era of dominance. Sometimes the greatest legacy isn't earning the most money—it's being remembered as the rider who dared to take a different path and became the one who finally dethroned the sport's seemingly unbeatable champion.wambo27-07-2026
- No he did not his so called victories has been stripped due to doping. He became stinking rictch by cheating. He is a felon like Trump and a disgrace to the US and cycling . Fortunately other US riders do well without cheating also in this tour - feel sorry for Sep Kuss, if the henge had been 2 meter shorter he most likely would be dead.Jakob27-07-2026
- I would take quality over quantity any day. Tadej's winning percentage would be more than Eddy's. Tadej does not need to race more as he's paid handsomely unlike Eddy who had to keep racing to make a living.
PogiFan2Day27-07-2026 - Julian Alaphilippe is past his prime. I don't think anyone was expecting much from him and therefore omitted from the list.PogiFan2Day27-07-2026
- To even it out for France, why not include Julian Alaphillipe in the disappointment list? Everytime he tried a move, it never went through... sad to see, he was such a crowd favourite but this year he never managed to show it!Lobz7727-07-2026
- Anybody?Cyclingsbestfan27-07-2026
Loading
Write a comment