"They still have a lot to learn" - Ex-pro fears Decathlon won’t be able to properly support Seixas at La Fleche Wallonne
Cycling
La Flèche Wallonne returns with its familiar script: tension bottled up for most of the route and an explosive showdown on the Mur de Huy. In the build-up, though, the analysis revolves not only around the favourites but also around team strategy. In that context, former rider Bobbie Traksel, speaking with fellow Eurosport experts, put Decathlon under the microscope.
Unlike other races in 2026, shaped by long-range attacks and early finales, all signs suggest the Walloon classic will stick to its essence, with Paul Seixas as favourite. Traksel is unequivocal at the Kop Over Kop podcast: "You can take that for granted. In fact, we can expect some elite riders to kick things off early, but… why complicate it when it can be simple?"
Jeroen Vanbelleghem shares that view, with one key caveat: the absence of Remco Evenepoel. "I was really looking forward to Evenepoel opening the race early, and hopefully some of the top riders joining him, to make it a different race," the commentator explained.
This edition’s profile also turns the screw. "But for Wednesday’s favourites, it will be a hard race, with more elevation than in other years," Vanbelleghem notes. Even so, the finale seems pre-written: "Given the level of the field, it’s obvious everyone will target the final ascent of the Mur de Huy."
Seixas at the heart of the debate
When it comes to standout names, the analysis places Paul Seixas as the leading reference. Traksel doesn’t hesitate: "For me, yes. If you look at the rest, but especially at what he’s achieved lately, I’d definitely back him."
Beyond the Frenchman’s individual talent, the real question mark is his team. Not without quality, but certainly lacking to some rivals in terms of experience with fellow youngsters Léo Bisiaux, Antoine L'Hôte and Noa Isidore at Seixas' support.
Decathlon CMA CGM Team
Doubts over Decathlon
This is where Traksel focuses. "How are they going to race? They still have a lot to learn," he says, hinting that tactical management will be key. The Dutchman recognises the potential shown so far, but sees room to grow: "We’ve seen it already; they handled stage races well by staying close to him. But above all, he showed impressive strength."
There are plenty of unknowns: "How will they start the race? Will they try to make it hard from the gun? Will they dare? Or will they give others the freedom to make the difference too?"
In that scenario, Traksel sees openings for rivals: "In fact, they need to make sure Seixas is quickly isolated, so he feels boxed in. I’m curious to see if everyone takes that seriously."
International outlook
Vanbelleghem widens the lens and tips foreign firepower: "This is going to be a French party with Skjelmose. It’s going to be exciting."
Mattias Skjelmose came close to a victory at the 2026 Amstel Gold Race
The Belgian also defends the place of this race type on the calendar: "You don’t always need the action to kick off with 80 kilometres to go. Not 50 or 100 either. I think these kinds of races also have their place in the calendar. That way, on Wednesdays, when people don’t have time, they know: 'Okay, we just need to watch the last fifteen minutes.'"
With all the ingredients on the table, La Flèche Wallonne again promises an explosive finale… and plenty of tactical questions to answer.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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