OFFICIAL | Paul Seixas will make his Tour de France debut in 2026 against Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard

It has been rumoured for months and now it is official. Paul Seixas will race the 2026 Tour de France, his first ever Grand Tour in which he will begin with ambitions that can outweigh those of any previous Grand Tour debutant.

The 19-year old turned pro in 2025 and immediately began delivering big results, including a Top10 at the Tour Auverge - Rhône Alpes and a win at the Tour de l'Avenir in his first year as an under-23. Seixas did skip that category entirely however, jumping from the juniors straight to elite level.

That is because he had the quality, but also because Decathlon CMA CGM Team recognized the talent they had in their development. The timing was perfect, as the entrance of CMA CGM coincided with this development, and the team currently has a budget that makes it competitive on the negotiation table.

Seixas' contract ends only at the end of 2027 but UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and INEOS Grenadiers are all reported to have entered contacts with the Frenchman, often termed the 'new Pogacar' in the international scene.

Seixas rode to third at last year's European Championships, joining Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel. Starting this season, his first pro win and second place in the overall of the Volta ao Algarve impressed; but the Frenchman's level would rise astronomically in the months that would follow.

A dominant display at the Faun-Ardèche Classic was a warning, and his second place at Strade Bianche behind the World Champion was the confirmation that Seixas is the real deal, and a rider that is as versatile as Pogacar.

His three stages and GC win at Itzulia Basque Country were an impressive display of power and were his first World Tour stage-race win; and at La Flèche Wallonne he net his first big classic. Having responded to Tadej Pogacar on the Côte de la Redoute at Liège-Bastogne-Liège (where he then finished second) was further confirmation of a talent that has magnitudes of potential, not seen since Pogacar himself.

There were many questions on whether he should make his Tour de France debut at this point in his career, as a 19-year old, and with the weight of France on his shoulders after a 40-year drought. All eyes will be on the youngster.

Some argued a debut at the Vuelta a España would be more logical, instead of skipping steps. But it will take Decathlon CMA CGM Team to the top in terms of exposure; whilst putting them in the mix for a top result at the Tour. It will be a journey of discovery for Seixas, who will be the biggest wildcard in the race.