“It’s the first time I’m in a team that wins a Monument”: Tiesj Benoot celebrates career milestone as Paul Seixas makes history at Il Lombardia
Cycling
Tiesj Benoot had spent 12 seasons racing at the highest level, supporting some of the sport’s biggest names, but Il Lombardia 2026 brought him a new milestone. For the first time in his professional career, he was part of a team that won a Monument, as Paul Seixas delivered a landmark victory for Decathlon CMA CGM in Como.
“I have to say, from there Paul did a great job himself,” Benoot said after the race. “I was lucky enough to watch the race a bit on Civiglio with the second car next to me, so I saw he set the pace and dropped everybody one by one. It was really, really impressive.”
Seixas attacked on the Civiglio, the climb that proved decisive in the final phase of the race. The 20-year-old Frenchman first distanced Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro, then gradually dropped Tom Pidcock and Giulio Ciccone, turning a group of leading contenders into a solo pursuit.
Seixas reached the summit with a significant advantage and maintained control through the descent and the final ascent of San Fermo della Battaglia. Enric Mas emerged as his closest challenger and took second place, with Ciccone completing the podium.
The victory made Seixas the youngest winner in Il Lombardia history and gave Decathlon CMA CGM its first Monument triumph. It also ended Tadej Pogacar’s run of five consecutive victories in the race, with the Slovenian absent from this year’s edition.
Paul Seixas won Il Lombardia 2026
The Civiglio attack was part of the plan
Benoot explained that the decisive move was no surprise to the team. The riders had identified the Civiglio as the point where their leader should attack if he had the legs to make a difference.
“Of course. We said in the meeting that's the moment - if you have the legs there, you make the difference,” Benoot said. “With a course like this, you know up front that's the moment to do it.”
The plan depended on more than Seixas’s final acceleration. Decathlon CMA CGM had worked to keep him well positioned throughout the day, while Benoot contributed before the race reached its decisive climbs.
“I think I did my maximum. I was better than I expected myself,” he explained. “I went over Ghisallo with—I think there was a group of 30 or 35 riders maybe, I don't know—so I could do the positioning for San Fermo the first time, and that was it.”
Benoot was able to complete his own work before watching the decisive action unfold from the team car. Seixas did not need a teammate to launch him directly into the winning move: once the attack began, he had the strength to keep raising the pace until every rival had been dropped.
“But I have to say, the whole team did a great job,” Benoot added. “We were in a good position all day, and we were pulling as well. So, yeah, super nice day.”
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A first Monument victory after 12 professional seasons
The result carried particular significance for Benoot, whose career has included years of racing for teams built around Grand Tour contenders. He joined Decathlon CMA CGM for the 2026 season after four years with Visma-Lease a Bike.
Benoot was clear about what the victory meant to him personally. “Yeah, it's my 12th season as a professional rider, and it's the first time I'm in a team that wins a Monument,” he said. “So, yeah, really nice to finish the season like this.”
The team’s pre-race assessment had also included a brief check on Seixas’s condition. Asked whether the young Frenchman had indicated that he was feeling particularly strong, Benoot confirmed that he had.
“Yeah, at a certain moment before Ghisallo, everybody said a bit about how they felt, and he said he was feeling good.”
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- Dont start Del Toro if he will not be a full domestique. Its just useless o watch Pogi slave for a weak Del toro and not take the stage win.abstractengineer11-10-2026
- What is funny is the Redbull's Insta post is celebrating 4th PLACE and Remco did not win. After the work that the team put in. This is what I said, when you put your team to work , at least make sure you have the legs and not make your team hurt yourself.abstractengineer11-10-2026
- Safety is everybody's responsibility. Riders too need to take responsibility for risky racing. Most incidents happen at the back of the race, no cameras, downhills. Once out of the peloton, slow down on the downhills and start obeying traffic rules to minimize risk.abstractengineer11-10-2026
- Won? He almost lost the Euro to Ciccone because he has no tacticsabstractengineer11-10-2026
- Can't win if you don't line up at the start! You really haven't comprehended that yet have you ! How'd that work out in the Vuelta!frieders311-10-2026
- Fluke...competition was weaker than Lombardia and Worlds! Course wasn't as hard as those two as well.frieders311-10-2026
- Same excuse he had at the worlds! He's probably lucky he won the Euro's due to a weaker field, easier course and not as long of race!frieders311-10-2026
- Get out of your parents basement ! They are bored by you as well!frieders311-10-2026
- This PogiSlo guy has been booted from this site multiple times and has had many alias's over the year. Now you know why !frieders311-10-2026
- Tadej can't win races he doesn't show up for ! LOL!frieders311-10-2026
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