Paul Seixas to ride the 2027 Giro d'Italia? - Decathlon sports director hints that French sensation could ride Grand Tour
Cycling
Paul Seixas has yet to decide which Grand Tours he will ride in the 2027 season. After ending a remarkable year with victory at Il Lombardia and fourth place at the Tour de France, the young Frenchman will take a few weeks off before planning his next season with Decathlon CMA CGM.
One option is to swap the French race for the Giro d’Italia or the Vuelta a España, although his participation in the Tour has not yet been confirmed.
The decision will be particularly important for the 20-year-old, who has established himself as one of the biggest talents in the international peloton. His performances in 2026 have raised expectations for the future, but the team wants to carefully assess which programme will give him the best conditions to keep progressing and target a podium finish at a Grand Tour.
Decathlon CMA CGM sports director Julien Jurdie told RMC Sport that the team still needs to finalise Seixas’s plans for 2027. The aim is to compete for the honours at one of the three Grand Tours, although the choice of race remains open.
“Paul loves Strade Bianche,” Jurdie said, before confirming that the Frenchman would return to two of the biggest one-day races on the calendar. “Next year he’ll race Liège and Lombardy again. The idea, of course, is to fight for a Grand Tour podium; we’ll see which one he rides.”
Paul Seixas, winner of Il Lombardia
The Giro d’Italia could serve as preparation for the World Championships
Those comments leave all three options on the table. The Tour de France seems a natural choice after Seixas finished fourth on his debut in 2026, but the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España could also feature in his plans. For now, the team has not confirmed which race he will target as his main stage-race objective.
One factor that could influence the decision is the 2027 World Championships schedule. The next edition of the so-called Super World Championships will take place in France in late August, on a course that, according to the information available, should suit Seixas particularly well.
In that scenario, riding the Giro d’Italia could give the Frenchman an alternative way to structure his season around the World Championships. The Italian race would allow him to build a specific preparation for the Worlds, although Decathlon CMA CGM has yet to confirm that this will be its strategy.
The Giro would also offer an alternative to the Tour, where Seixas showed in 2026 that he can compete near the top of the general classification. The choice will depend on how the team wants to structure his programme and which goals it sets for next season.
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The Tour remains a major option
Despite the opportunities offered by the other two Grand Tours, the Tour de France remains a strong option. Seixas is French and rides for a team from his home country, making his presence in the biggest race on the French cycling calendar especially significant.
His fourth place at the 2026 Tour, achieved at just 19, also provides an important reference point for next season. The rider already knows the demands of the French race and has shown he can finish among the best in the general classification, although his participation in 2027 is not yet certain.
For now, Seixas will take a break after a season in which he also won Il Lombardia and confirmed his ability to shine in the biggest one-day races. Then it will be time to decide on the next steps in his development.
Decathlon CMA CGM wants its young star to fight for a Grand Tour podium again in 2027, but must still decide where he will make that attempt. The Giro d’Italia is an intriguing option because it fits with the World Championships in France, while the Tour retains the appeal of a race in which Seixas has already shown his potential. A final decision is expected in the coming weeks.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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- My thinking is that Pog's experience and strength would have outweighed any fatigue in Il Lombardia. But the sad thing is, we'll never see peak Pog (call it Pog 2) go head to head with Seixas. However well he recovers from his crash, he'll return as Pog 3, with the shadow of severe concussion always there.Hills3313-10-2026
- Some speculation and opinion. Had Tadej not crashed out of the Vuelta he would have been less fresh and I'm not sure he would have beaten Seixas in this race. Maybe he would have been able to contest the race in a sprint and maybe not. Believe me when I say I keep up with many of Tadej's climbing feats and records and I understand how great he is but the Paul we just saw at Il Lombardia was not that far behind Tadej.awp13-10-2026
- Firstly, someone who says parenting is babysitting is delusional and shouldn't be taken seriously. Secondly, with pro athletes it is not the same as a normal worker. They are being rewarded for doing something for which they have a talent which doesn't actually help people (besides inspiration). It's quite a different dynamic
Rafionain-Glas12-10-2026 - only way for him to effectively learn to microdose is to go to uae. other than that there is no reason for him to go to uae.whkman12-10-2026
- that was a great win, and quite a surprise at the time. That was a loaded field, and he held of Valverde for the win. Still shocking that Valverde never won Lombardia. He seemed perfect for it. Mollema just went to work every day.mij12-10-2026
- I hope he races Volta a Majorca. We'll really be able to see if he can do one-day-races (but do they count?)Rafionain-Glas12-10-2026
- See, you can write a sensible comment without just slagging off everyone else! Well done!👏😆 🫣Lozza12-10-2026
- Seixas best chance is obviously UAE. They are the best team in history of the sport and they developed pogacar into the goat. They also developed Del Toro to be nr 2 in world. Seixas would become unstoppable at UAE. Lets see if Seixas stays at decathlon but if UAE comes knocking its impossible to say no. Barcelone and real madrid combined into one team, thats UAE in cycling it feels like..miguel12-10-2026
- I think he does or goes to whichever team gives him the scope to become the rider everyone thinks he'll be when Tadej stops.. that simpleslappers6612-10-2026
- I remember at one time he was mentioned in the same breath as Seixas. no more. Onley has a lot of work to do to be deserving of that.mij12-10-2026
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