"The approach towards me is different than it used to be" - Paul Seixas explains how the Tour de France changed his life as a cyclist
CyclingThursday, 10 September 2026 at 11:50
The Tour de France didn't make Paul Seixas the made man, but it certainly changed his life and perspective in cycling after riding his first Grand Tour in July. In a phenomenal fifth place, Seixas was met by attention, pressure and crowds like nothing he ever felt before.
Now six weeks after the dust settled on La Grand Boucle, the teenager leads the French team heading towards the World Championships on September 27th. By the time he pins his race number in Montreal, he will have turned 20 and hopes to continue racing with maturity beyond his years.
However, before all that he has a double-helping of Canadian WorldTour one-day races as many arrive in Canada to set up their Worlds base and test the legs in dress rehearsals on Friday and Sunday in the form of the GP de Québec and GP de Montréal.
Racing with Decathlon CMA CGM, he believes the Tour has given him more confidence in himself as he hopes to shadow-box with his potential rainbow jersey race rivals and scout out the streets for the final battle.
Paul Seixas at the 2026 Tour de France
Seixas feels more confident
“It is certainly true that I have more confidence in myself now,” Seixas told press in Quebec.
“The most important thing for the coming days is that I can measure myself against my main rivals for the World Championships. After that, of course, we want to ride the best possible race at the World Championships. With the French team, we will be ambitious.”
Seixas was up in altitude camp after recovering from the Tour, but isn't sure where exactly his level is after a long break from racing.
“These Grand Prixs will be a good indication with an eye on the World Championships. I hope I can compete with them in the GP de Québec and the GP de Montréal. We did everything we could during an altitude training camp in Les Arcs to be ready for that.
"Now we have to see how that plays out on the road on Friday and Sunday. It is an honor to be able to compete against the big names, and I hope I have the level to actually do so.”
Seixas reflects on impact of Tour de France
Reflecting on the Tour and its potential life-changing impact on the Frenchman, Seixas didn't go as far as saying it changed his life - but noted that the attention, pressure and support did change his perspective and cycling life when it comes to what he can do and his future decisions in the sport.
“By a distance, it was actually quite crazy. There were so many people cheering me on, and of course the other French riders as well. That passion from my compatriots is special. It gives me a boost every day and the strength to keep fighting until the end.
“After the Tour, that naturally plays an even bigger role, and actually after my entire season, which has already been quite incredible so far. The approach towards me is different than it used to be. But it doesn't change my life. I mainly continue doing the things I enjoy myself.”
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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- Boring comment chump.whit2pet10-09-2026
- Soft
Front24210-09-2026 - I feel he will be like Chris Froome after his accident never getting back to his best. I hope EF can get the best from him and Carapaz if he does not go to Ineos takes him under his wing.paultryan200210-09-2026
- No no... don't spin your words around with me. Your last sentence tells me everything: @whit2pet: "All in all I think that most World Tour cyclists ARE PAID FAIRLY." Are these your words? Yes they are. NO, THEY ARE NOT PAID FAIRLY. Shame on you and stop your BS. Capish?PogiSloFans10-09-2026
- I made that exact comment in my response, but as you are clearly unintelligent you failed to pick it up. Rather than justify your position you chose to make borish comment. Slide back under your rock chump.whit2pet10-09-2026
- "All in all I think that most World Tour cyclists are paid fairly." ??? Reading a foolish and stupid statement like that makes me think: Stop watching cycling and start watching dart throwing or American wrestling. You don't even deserve an answer because of your foolishness and probably won't understand it. But I'll give it a try: Everything centers around the fact that the owners of the Grand Tours and Monuments like ASO - Amaury Sport Organisation, and others, are not interested in sharing their big television and sponsorship profits. BIG PROFITS!!! Why? Because they are f**** greedy, wanting more money constantly. They prioritize personal financial gain over ethics, fairness, or the well-being of cyclists... the same cyclists that make money for them.... Do you understand this? If not, go find yourself a corner!!!PogiSloFans10-09-2026
- With cycling being a "free to watch sport", how do you propose to raise the income to pay the cyclists more? The owners of the grand tours and monuments are not interested in sharing profits and with the sport refusing to make alterations to the Euro Centric calendar, the opportunity to increase income for the teams is extremely limited. All in all I think that most World Tour cyclists are paid fairly.whit2pet10-09-2026
- Hey Jumpyjohn... let your words become gold!!!PogiSloFans10-09-2026
- Pogi, being the G.O.A.T. ... should be getting, at least, 20 million euros per year.... Remco 10 million... Jonas 8.5 million ... etc. etc. All cyclists are being payed shit, compared to other sports. Competitive road cycling is undeniably one of the most brutal and physically demanding sports in the world... when evaluating pure endurance, suffering, and environmental risks such as crashes, heat, cold, rain, sleet, road furniture.PogiSloFans10-09-2026
- Yes, I’m tipping on around 1 minute lost in the TT but it’s best to remember anyone can have an off day or an incident and lose minutes if it’s at the wrong moment.Jumpyjohn10-09-2026
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