"My goal was the podium": Young superstar Paul Seixas disappointed by his 7th place at Lombardia

Paul Seixas' talent is getting more and more serious. For now it seems that he is going to be the best cyclist of a generation of 2006 that is coming on strong. At just 19 years old, the Frenchman is competing against the best riders on the planet and in the most important competitions on the calendar. At Il Lombardia 2025, the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale rider finished 7th.

The result is already remarkable for any rider not named Tadej Pogacar or Remco Evenepoel. But even more so for a Paul Seixas who never ceases to surprise despite his young age. However, speaking after the end of Il Lombardia, the French rider admitted he was disappointed at not being able to achieve more after his third place at the European Championships last week:

"To be honest, I'm a little disappointed. Going alone on the descent didn't suit me at all, and then I was chased by a small chasing group. I saved a bit of energy for the final sprint where I fought hard to get the best possible result. The truth is that being 7th is a great position," Paul Seixas began by telling the media.

"I felt my legs were maybe a little worse than they were a week ago. Maybe the distance of the race and the great pace from the start took their toll on me. On the descent of the Passo di Ganda (where he dropped out of the chasing group) I had a positioning problem. Then I struggled to get back into the battle, and that ended up taking its toll on me," added the French rider.

But Paul Seixas can only think that what he has done this 2025 is only the beginning of something much bigger. Winner of the Tour de l'Avenir, bronze medal at the European Championships (behind only Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel), 13th at the World Championships, 8th overall at the Dauphiné and now 7th at Il Lombardia. These results are far from normal for a 19-year-old rider who has just turned 19.

"It's true that being 7th in a monument is a lot. But I had it close when I was in the group of favorites to fight for the podium, which was my goal. But it's still a great way to finish the season," he concluded.