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"
CyclingWednesday, 29 July 2026 at 09:42
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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leedorney29-07-2026 - Just because cycling news and many of the others charge, doesn't mean you have to also Ruben, CN for example, was bought by a magazine organisation and introduced a voluntary pay wall - they've decimated their impact. as they where the best.. Do you actually feel getting money in, won't be much will allow you to spend on more content ?leedorney29-07-2026
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