“The media might be overdoing it” – Aurelien Paret Peintre urges patience around Paul Seixas hype
Cycling
As French cycling searches for its next defining star, few names are generating more noise than Paul Seixas. But inside the peloton, the tone is calmer.
Speaking to Cyclism'Actu, Aurelien Paret Peintre offered a measured perspective on the growing hype surrounding his young team mate, praising his talent while stressing the importance of time and patience.
“The media are overdoing it… I don’t know,” Paret Peintre said. “He’s still a guy with exceptional talent.”
It is a striking assessment from a rider who has seen multiple generations pass through the French system, and who now finds himself one of the last remaining links to an earlier era within his team.
Exceptional talent, but time still needed
Seixas burst into the spotlight last season with performances that immediately placed him among the most discussed young riders in the WorldTour. Paret Peintre does not downplay that impact, pointing instead to how unusual Seixas’ early maturity already is.
“To do what he did at 19 last year, there’s not much you can criticise about his physical maturity,” he said. “He’s already at the very top after just one year as a professional, so you have to give him time.”
Rather than framing Seixas as a finished product, Paret Peintre repeatedly returned to the idea of long term development. The talent is clear, but the career path remains open ended.
“He already has enormous qualities to do great things,” he added. “After that, we’ll see, his career is still long, but for now it definitely points towards very good things.”
A changing team and a changing role
Paret Peintre’s comments come as his team continues to evolve, both in structure and ambition. Having raced for years alongside riders such as Benoit Cosnefroy and Dorian Godon, he now finds himself part of a project that looks markedly different to the one that emerged from the Chambéry development system.
“That’s part of how a team evolves,” he said. “Everyone goes their own way. I’m still very happy with the direction the team is taking, very happy to be part of the project. There are a lot of good things coming.”
He acknowledged that becoming a fully international team is no longer optional in modern cycling.
“We are obliged to become an international team, like all teams are now,” Paret Peintre said. “New riders, new ambitions, a diversification of profiles.”
Balancing personal goals and support duties
Looking ahead to 2026, Paret Peintre expects a familiar but flexible programme, one that could see him balancing his own objectives with a support role for Seixas at key points in the season.
“We don’t really know yet,” he said. “Probably a fairly traditional start to the season in France, with a first objective likely around Paris Nice.”
Support duties may follow later in the spring.“After that, maybe a role alongside Paul Seixas in the Ardennes Classics and the Tour of the Basque Country, in terms of being a team mate,” he explained. “But we will juggle between a calendar where I have personal objectives and others where my objectives are to support the team.”
A voice of calm amid the noise
At a time when French cycling is eager to label its next star, Paret Peintre’s words stand out for their restraint. His message is not one of doubt, but of balance. Seixas has already shown enough to justify excitement, but the path ahead remains long.
For now, the advice from inside the team is simple. Let the talent breathe, let the results come, and let the career unfold in its own time.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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