"Of course he should have come" - Chris Froome believes Paul Seixas will 'really compete' for Tour de France win from 2028 onwards
CyclingTuesday, 14 July 2026 at 16:30
Paul Seixas' first Tour de France is underway and thus far, without any major issues. The Frenchman is deep in the fight for the overall classification and the final podium; and his participation has been a topic of discussion with none other than four-time winner of the Tour Chris Froome.
Paul Seixas did the right choice, says Chris Froome
Froome is present at the ongoing Tour de France as part of the Skoda sponsorship staff, and has been talking to the media in a larger amount than at any other point since his unanounced retirement last winter. The Briton has shared his thoughts on Paul Seixas specifically, a rider of insurmountable talent who is racing the Tour for the first time.
"He's an incredibly strong, fantastic rider. But now's not the time to put too much pressure on him and have unrealistic expectations," Chris Froome said in words to Cyclism'Actu. "He needs to wait two or three years before coming back to the Tour to really compete for the yellow jersey".
Paul Seixas waves to the crowd at the 2026 Tour de France
Froome doesn't deny the talent of the Decathlon CMA CGM Team rider, but simultaneously argues that experience is key when tackling a three-week race, specially one of the dimensions of the Tour. But his participation was the right choice, according to the winner of the 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions.
"Of course he should have come this year. He needs to be here to gain experience, to understand how it works to race flat out for three weeks with the best in the world. Whether he finishes 3rd, 5th, 15th, or 50th, it doesn't matter".
"Can he get on the podium in Paris? Yes, of course he can, but maybe it's not the right time, we'll see. In my opinion, he needs to think two or three years ahead".
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A Tour de France to enjoy, not to stress over
Froome argues several times that although Seixas may have the talent for more, it is a Tour of learning. It is Seixas', 19, first ever Grand Tour, and the experience is valuable for his career as he is racing under circumstances he hasn't ever before.
"Take the time he needs, learn as much as possible from the team, learn his style, find his rhythm, and learn how to communicate with others to do the best for him," Froome argues.
"This is the best time to really enjoy the Tour, to build up the passion. It's not the time to stress, to feel the pressure that comes with his position, being the Frenchman with a chance at a result".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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