"We'll see what happens": Decathlon DS doesn't close the door on the possibility of Paul Seixas at 2026 Tour
Cycling
Paul Seixas seems to be the biggest hope since the days of Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet of French cycling at one day winning the Tour de France. Yet despite his undeniable talent, his directors at Decathlon CMA CGM Team are cautious about taking this next step in his career too soon. But after the roadmap of the 2026 objectives for their leaders was revealed, it seems as though the possibility could be really on the table.
If there is one equation that needs solving then, it's that of Paul Seixas' potential Tour de France participation. Although he will be only 19-year-old by the time of next July, the Frenchman has clearly demonstarted qualities that would, at the very least, qualify him into the role of a stage hunter and a white jersey contender. But if his growth continues at the rapid pace we have seen so far, nobody can tell what his limit will truly be.
There are hints... The most important one is that the team's other GC leader Felix Gall will attempt a Giro-Vuelta double in 2026, seemingly leaving the Tour leadership open to another rider. And Seixas seems to fit right into the spot.
"No decision has been made yet," sports director Julien Jurdie remains mysterious during an interview with Cyclism'Actu about the plans of their closest-followed rider. "We've communicated about his early season program, and then we'll all get together to choose the best solution for the team and for him."
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It fits into the puzzle
The Tour could be possibly fit on top of the program that seems to culminate at the Ardennes, more than two months before Grande Boucle...
"The goal with Paul is really to focus on the start of the season," the sports director insists. "He has a great program with the Volta ao Algarve, Strade Bianche, Itzulia Basque Country, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Our objective is to put Paul in the best possible position. He has the potential to shine right from the start of the season, so it's important to concentrate on these races, and then we'll see what happens after that."
In his first professional season, Seixas already stood on the podium of European Championships
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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