"On the podium with Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel... it's the stuff of childhood dreams!" - Paul Seixas (19) proves the future is now with 3rd at European Championship

Paul Seixas didn’t just survive the chaos of the men's elite 2025 European Championship road race — he thrived in it. At just 19 years of age, the French sensation stepped onto the podium alongside two of cycling’s modern titans, Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, and delivered a performance that announced his arrival on the sport’s biggest stage.

“I still don’t think it’s sunk in,” Seixas said through a wide smile after the race in conversation with Cycling Pro Net. “To be up there with guys like that… it’s the stuff of childhood dreams. And today, that dream came true.”

With home crowds roaring him on through the brutal circuits of the Côte de Saint-Romain-de-Lerps and the explosive Côte de Val d’Enfer, Seixas did more than just cling to the wheels. He launched, he chased, and ultimately, he fought his way to a stunning bronze medal, leaving more experienced riders in his wake.

Seixas played his cards smartly. Early on, when his teammate Romain Grégoire was part of France’s main plan, Seixas held back in the chase group behind Pogacar’s attack, refusing to collaborate too soon. Some in the group didn’t like it, but the 19-year-old knew his job. “I didn’t pull at first because we still had a shot coming from behind,” he explained. “I got a bit of stick for it, but that’s just how racing works.”

When it became clear the peloton was out of the picture, Seixas was unleashed — and he didn’t waste the opportunity. “Once I was told to work, I gave it everything. Remco was up the road, and if I didn’t ride, we’d have been caught. From that moment, I knew I had to fight for this medal with everything I had.”

As Evenepoel surged clear in pursuit of Pogacar, Seixas found himself locked in a tense duel with Christian Scaroni (Italy) for the final spot on the podium. It was a battle of attrition, of heart, of who wanted it more — and it was Seixas who cracked it open. “I must have attacked ten times,” he laughed. “I was completely on the limit and just kept trying. I didn’t even know how many times I went — I just left everything out there.”

With just a few kilometres to go, one last explosive effort finally broke Scaroni’s resistance. “When I saw a 20-metre gap open, I was super motivated… but I was still scared he might come back, especially in a sprint. So I just tore myself to pieces to hold it.”

It worked. Seixas crossed the line in third, fists clenched, crowd in raptures, his name now permanently etched alongside some of the sport’s very best.

While Pogacar and Evenepoel extended their legacies with yet another duel for gold and silver, Seixas’ bronze could well be the most significant result of the day — a sign that the next generation is not just coming, but already here.

“The crowd pushed me to my absolute limits,” he said. “They carried me through this race — every metre. I’ll never forget today.”

Up next for Seixas is Il Lombardia, where he’ll once again test himself against the elite. But after his performance in Saint-Romain-de-Lerps, it’s clear that this 19-year-old is not just a name for the future — he’s a force in the present.