"Take as few risks as possible” - Paul Seixas outlines Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes strategy ahead of stage 4

Paul Seixas tackles the second half of the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes 2026 convinced the general classification remains wide open. The Decathlon CMA CGM rider lost time to several key rivals after the team time trial, but he stayed calm and confident ahead of the remaining mountain stages.

The third stage was anything but straightforward for the French squad. The early loss of Stefan Bissegger shaped a demanding time trial and forced the team to adapt on the fly. Even so, Seixas rated the collective effort highly.

“It wasn’t an easy time trial. The route was quite hard, we lost Stefan early, we finished fifth,” explained the young Frenchman. Rather than dwell on the setbacks, he highlighted his teammates’ response throughout the day. “We fought, we did a good job to place fifth. I think the team was very solid,” he told Cycling Pro Net.

Among the standout performers, Seixas underlined the ride by Daan Hoole, one of the key contributors to the team’s pace during the TTT. “Daan, especially on the descent, made the difference,” said the Decathlon CMA CGM leader.

The Frenchman also acknowledged the high level shown by the day’s top squads. “There were great rides from Visma, INEOS and other teams. They were very solid, you have to give them credit,” he noted.

Accustomed to shining in individual efforts, Seixas was asked about tackling a discipline so dependent on teamwork as the team time trial. The Frenchman played down any frustration from having to match the group’s rhythm.

“That’s how it is. We don’t have another option,” he said. For the Decathlon CMA CGM rider, the final outcome hinges on multiple factors. “It depends a lot on the team and on each rider’s form,” he added.

On a personal level, the sensations were positive. “I felt good, that’s what I take away,” he said.

Despite the gaps opened by the time trial, Seixas believes the general classification is far from settled. “It’s not decided yet. I think anything is possible in the mountain stages,” he stated.

With several demanding days ahead, the Frenchman remains confident he can claw back time on his direct rivals. Before stage four, however, he prefers to approach the day with caution.

“It will be a very hard day to escape. The finale is relatively flat,” he analysed. The immediate goal, then, is to get through the stage without drama and save energy for the decisive days. “The objective is to take as few risks as possible and finish the stage as comfortably as we can,” he concluded.