Paul Seixas might be Tadej Pogacar's new rival - Report suggests UAE want to prevent that and sign the French prodigy

According to Belgian outlet HLN, UAE Team Emirates - XRG are reportedly interested in bringing in young French rider Paul Seixas to bolster their long-term structure alongside Tadej Pogacar. This could mean a massive shift in the outlook of professional cycling once the 19-year-old comes to the end of his current contract in 2027.

The report suggests the Emirati squad have begun moves to try to land the rider, a prospect that stands out given his profile and the team’s usual policy. In recent years the Emirati team has used its budget both to sign some of the world's current best riders; but also many of the best under-23 figures in the world. In some way, Seixas fits in both.

At Strade Bianche, the Decathlon CMA CGM Team rider has ridden to a superb second place and was the closest rider to Pogacar. After his performance at the European Championships last year, Tour de l'Avenir win, and recent solo win at the Faun-Ardèche Classic, he has proven every bit of potential that was associated with him. At such a young age, he is performing above his peers, such as Pogacar himself and Remco Evenepoel, leading to questions about where his physiological limit may be.

The Belgian story also contrasts with recent comments from Joxean Fernández Matxín, the team’s head of sport, who stated there was no interest in the French rider. It also jars with reporting in France in recent months, where the line has consistently been that Seixas is comfortable at Decathlon CMA CGM Team, in an environment the squad itself considers very familial and ideal for his development.

The UAE already have, in Isaac del Toro, a young rider who seems capable of performing close to, or just as well as, Tadej Pogacar in recent years. But cycling is an ever-moving sport, and if there is the possibility of securing further talent of equal promise, the UAE should be at the forefront of achieving this due to their financial superiority over most teams in the peloton.

His evolution in recent months has been especially rapid, to the point that many within the WorldTour now regard him as one of the most promising talents of his generation. Performances in high-level races and his ability to deliver on demanding courses have reinforced the image of a rider destined to fight for major targets in the future.

Seixas holds a contract until the end of 2027, which secures the French team having two seasons with him, but doesn't secure him from 2028 onwards. It can be given as a certainty that negotiations will not be taking a back seat this year; and that instead this spring and summer, there will be big bids from both sides to try and put on the best proposal.

For French fans, the prospect of Seixas joining UAE is bittersweet; while it would grant him the world's best resources, it would also move the 'Great French Hope' into a foreign structure, potentially complicating his status as a national icon at Decathlon.

Despite the reports from Belgium, the rider’s camp has consistently projected calm. In France, it has been repeatedly stressed that Seixas is happy at Decathlon CMA CGM Team and values the team atmosphere, where they believe he can keep growing without the pressure of a dominant superstructure in the peloton.

A Tour de France debut seems likely this summer, and that could then have an impact on his decisions in the future. As was the case with Remco Evenepoel, there is a high likelihood that Grand Tours will become the prime goal and that, in cycling's current landscape, it is a 'must' to be part of a top-tier climbing team just to stand a chance at competing for a Tour victory. UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Team Visma | Lease a Bike have completely dominated every edition since 2020, whilst Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and Lidl-Trek are looking to enter the fight too after their massive budget increases.

There is no official confirmation yet of any negotiations, but the interest attributed to the UAE shows how the young Frenchman has become one of the most closely watched names in today’s cycling. It comes just as Pogacar keeps extending his dominance and the market starts weighing up who might be his rival — or even his teammate — in the years ahead.