Paul Seixas Decathlon CMA CGM contract update - “The conviction Paul needs to have, and that we already have, is that he will win with us"
Cycling
Decathlon CMA CGM chief Dominique Serieys has issued a definitive update on how the team stand in the race for the long-term services of Paul Seixas. The 19-year-old sensation's contract is up at the end of the 2027 season, and as several teams circle the rising talent, his future remains uncertain.
However, the future is already now for the Frenchman as he secured a fourth place finish at the Tour de France. Despite being the youngest debutant at the race since 1937, he rode a remarkably mature race and found himself in contention with the best general classification riders in the world.
With his stock rising rapidly over the past twelve months, almost every top team have made no secret of their desire to sign Seixas. Richard Plugge has publicly stated Visma | lEASE A bike's plan to sign him, reports have also surfaced on an eight-figure contract on the table from Pinarello Q36.5 while Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates have also been linked.
For Serieys, he won't get rushed into a negotiation frenzy and knows that the power is in Decathlon's hands to set the terms for renewing his contract. He declared that there's no pressure coming from rider or team's sides and that a rough timetable has been set to discuss the matter.
“Unlike the teams trying to compete with us for his signature, there is no pressure and no fixed timetable between us,” Serieys told Le Parisien
Seixas will recover from Tour de France before negotiations
“First, Paul will take at least two weeks to recharge with his friends and family before returning to training. Then, sometime between mid August and early September, we will open discussions.”
He preaches calm when it comes to the urgency to secure the team's prized asset. Providing insight into Seixas' perspective, he said it was kept out of the conversation during the Tour.
“The pressure around this story is coming from the media and is also being fuelled by those who are trying to attract him,” he said. “I insist that we remain very calm. Paul wanted the subject kept out of the way during the Tour, and we will deal with what comes next later.”
Paul Seixas at the 2026 Tour de France
Decathlon strengthening sporting project
While securing Seixas is the priority, strengthening the team to help support his goals is pivotal. The arrival of Romain Bardet as head of the team’s sporting department and a key mentor for Seixas is viewed as a positive step in the project's direction.
“We have identified the components we need and how the team has to evolve. Today, a team is built with a lot of support riders, and not only for the Tour de France.”
“The conviction Paul needs to have, and that we already have, is that he will win with us. He has already won races. We will continue to strengthen so that we can be better than the others.”
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While a long-term contract offers security for both parties, Serieys stressed that even such a deal would still cover just the early part of his career given his young age.
He added: “People need to remember that Paul is 19. Whatever the length of the renewal, whether it is three years or five, he will only be 23 or 24 at the end of it.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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