"These guys win Tours by 10 minutes" - Greg Lemond believes Paul Seixas 'is the next Hinault'
Cycling
Paul Seixas had previously shown the potential, and in 2026 he delivered on it. The Frenchman, at age 19, has achieved more than virtually any other rider in the sport's history at his age; and Greg Lemond believes he has the potential to be one of the greatest ever.
The American rider has always had a deep connection with France, having won the Tour de France on three occasions and having had rivalries with Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon, the only French winners of the Tour since the 1980's.
"It's strange because for me, it's my best Tour physically. I won against a very good Hinault. We were like brothers. We fought, it's true, but that changes nothing at all today, because Hinault was an exceptional leader," Lemond said in words to Ouest-France "In the end, we fought, but it makes a nice story for cycling".
Lemond has also been one of the few Americans to succeed in the Tour, and is officially the only recognized winner of the Grand Boucle who has raced for the United States of America.
He remains a vocal figure in the world of cycling and a man who brings a different perspective to the current sport, having the point of view of a rider who performed at his best around 40 years ago, at a time where the French were still at the top of the ranks at the Tour - they have not won since Lemond's takeover in 1986.
Paul Seixas has performed at the top throughout the whole 2026 season
Is Paul Seixas the next Hinault?
Lemond has been asked about Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas, two of the riders currently marking the Tour de France, and potentially the two riders who will go on to win this decade's editions.
Lemond goes as far as saying Pogacar 'is Merckx', confirming his opinion on cycling's most debated comparison. But he believes that in terms of quality, Paul Seixas has the potential to reach the same numbers on the bike.
"Pogacar was good at 19, and Paul is as good as him at the same age. I asked myself questions years ago, Armstrong, etc. We always had doubts, motors, etc. But young talents, that's different," he argues.
"These guys win Tours by 10 minutes. Hinault was like that. And Seixas is the next Hinault. If he keeps being right in his head, he has the talent to win the Tour."
After winning Il Lombardia, Seixas has become a monument winner only weeks after turning 20 years old. He previously finished second to Tadej Pogacar at Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liége; and fourth at his maiden Tour de France at age 19 - further boosting the comparisons between Pogacar's performances at his age.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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