"We'll see in the coming years whether debuting so early in the Tour ends up being positive" - Cancellara ponder Paul Seixas Tour de France question
Cycling
Fabian Cancellara isn't sold on whether the 2026 Tour de France will be good for Paul Seixas, and thinks only time will tell just what effect the race will have on the Decathlon CMA CGM teenager.
The 19-year-old has publicly stated his intention to compete for the general classification despite Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard looking better than ever and set to dominate once again. Seixas' nature is something Cancellara believes comes from his youth.
However, it's a Barcelona team trial that captures Cancellara's imagination. The Tudor Pro Cycling boss has opened up about the new rule - with each rider's GC times counting - and how teams are going to manage the effort.
“This is a very different format; it’s strange for us, and I think it’s going to be interesting because many teams have one or two riders who can do well," Cancellara told Spanish media.
"And you have to know how to manage them. Red Bull, for example, has leaders like Lipowitz and Remco, and we’ll see what happens… UAE, with Tadej, has a clear eventual winner… For people who love cycling, it’s going to be interesting."
Cancellara on the team time trial
The Swiss legend is synonymous with the discipline, carving out 58 victories throughout his stellar career against the clock. He likes the look of stage 1 despite knowing a climb to the finish isn't his strong suit.
He said: "The completely packed and twisty start through the city, I think, would have suited me well, but with the climb coming up, perhaps I would have had other teammates who would have performed better."
He wants his Tudor team to compete for a victory, but sees breakaways getting little wiggle room, sprint stages controlled and high mountains being a playground for the GC men.
He said: "The problem is that, with the best in the world here, there are very few options left for the rest of the teams; the control of the sprinters is going to make it very difficult for breakaways to succeed.
"But I prefer to be optimistic: in cycling, anything is possible. If you go out there thinking you can't win, it's better to stay home. This is the Tour de France, and we're going to give it our all to take a victory."
Cancellara on Paul Seixas at the Tour
On Seixas, the question for Cancellara is whether participating in the Tour de France is the right one for his long-term future.
"I'm not on his team, but well, I've already ridden a few races. From the outside, it's very difficult to judge whether the decision is right or wrong without knowing the internal situation," Cancellara said.
Debuting at La Grand Boucle is a baptism of fire, being the most intense of the cycling's three grand tours, is a difficult proposition for Seixas. Cancellara worries the weight of pressure and expectations of the French public. Nonetheless, Cancellara is on the edge of his seat.
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"Personally, I think that to debut in a Grand Tour, it's much better to start with the Giro or the Vuelta; the Tour is the queen of all races, the absolute pinnacle of cycling, and therefore the most complicated to manage. It all depends on the route, too. We'll have to see how the situation evolves.
"Right now, being so young, he races purely for pleasure and doesn't feel that pressure, but we'll see in the coming years whether debuting so early in the Tour ends up being positive or not. These are internal details that those of us on the outside don't control, but it will certainly be very interesting to see how he responds"
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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- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026
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