“Paul Seixas’s level is close to Tadej Pogacar’s… similar to Jonas Vingegaard” – UAE boss Matxin makes stunning assessment of French teenager

Tadej Pogacar’s Tourmalet demolition and 2:42 advantage over Jonas Vingegaard have left the 2026 Tour de France already looking close to decided, but UAE Team Emirates – XRG sports manager Joxean Matxin Fernandez is refusing to celebrate. The Spaniard has invoked Pogacar’s collapse on the Col du Granon while warning that control can disappear within a single stage.

Matxin was considerably bolder in his assessment of Paul Seixas, placing the 19-year-old Frenchman close to Pogacar’s level and alongside Vingegaard and Isaac del Toro after his first major Tour mountain test.

Pogacar seized control of the Tour with a 43-kilometre solo attack on Stage 6, putting 2:38 into Vingegaard between the Col du Tourmalet and Gavarnie-Gedre. With two stage victories already secured and Del Toro sitting third overall, UAE have dominated the opening phase of the race.

“No, no, no. There is still a very long way to go,” Matxin told Cyclism’Actu when asked about suggestions that Pogacar had already won the Tour. “It is only the first week, and it doesn’t even end today but on Sunday. There are still two days before the end of it, followed by two very long weeks."

“We remember the Granon. We remember the difficult moments," he insisted. "We continue calmly, we continue with honesty and respect, and we stay on that path. But it is true that we currently have a good advantage in the general classification after only six or seven stages.”

The Col du Granon remains one of the few major defeats of Pogacar’s Tour career. In 2022, repeated attacks from Primoz Roglic and Vingegaard stretched the yellow jersey before Vingegaard dropped him on the final climb, taking almost three minutes and the race lead. Pogacar entered that stage with a 39-second advantage over Vingegaard. He left the Granon 2:22 behind the Dane and never regained the yellow jersey.

Pogacar began Stage 6 almost eight minutes behind temporary race leader Torstein Traeen and level on time with Vingegaard. UAE shredded the favourites’ group on the Tourmalet before Del Toro delivered the acceleration that launched Pogacar’s winning attack.

“We made a plan, we have an idea and we are continuing with that idea to try to win the stage and make a difference over our rivals,” Matxin explained. “It doesn’t matter how many seconds or minutes it is. Out of respect for our opponents, we don’t calculate it like that. We have an idea and we continue with it. Every rider takes their time, their space and their moment, and the work has been absolutely perfect. Then Tadej’s execution, hats off to him!”

Pogacar finished 2:38 ahead of Vingegaard, with the difference in stage bonuses extending his overall advantage to 2:42. Del Toro’s third place gave UAE two riders on the provisional podium, 45 seconds behind Vingegaard and three seconds ahead of Evenepoel.

“After the start in Barcelona, it has been perfect for Tadej and incredible for Isaac,” Matxin continued. “Yesterday’s stage on the Tourmalet was a dream. The stage was perfect and, at the moment, we have a significant advantage. But that means nothing for the end of the Tour de France or for these two long weeks that remain.”

Seixas crossed the Tourmalet with Del Toro and Florian Lipowitz after losing contact with Pogacar and Vingegaard. Evenepoel returned on the descent before the group reached Gavarnie-Gedre 2:57 behind the stage winner.

The French teenager remains sixth overall at 3:55 after seven stages, 28 seconds behind Del Toro and 1:13 behind Vingegaard. He had already finished fourth behind Pogacar, Vingegaard and Richard Carapaz at Les Angles on Stage 3.

Seixas also finished second to Pogacar at both Strade Bianche and Liege-Bastogne-Liege earlier in 2026. “No, no. In my opinion, Paul Seixas’s level is close to Tadej Pogacar’s,” Matxin said when asked whether the Frenchman had surprised him. “It is the same level we saw at Liege and Strade Bianche. We know Paul Seixas’s level. It is more or less similar to Jonas Vingegaard, Isaac del Toro and the other main rivals."

“Tadej has an extra level of quality at the moment, but that is only at the moment," concludes Matxin. "Perhaps tomorrow will be another day, the day after tomorrow another day, and next week another day.”

Seixas entered his debut Tour as the youngest rider in the field and the youngest starter in the race since 1937. After the first Pyrenean showdown, he remains sixth overall and five seconds ahead of Lipowitz.