"You can see how much experience Julian has, that helped me a lot" – Paul Seixas credits Alaphilippe with helping his breakthrough ride at Kigali World Championships

Paul Seixas’ debut at the elite men’s World Championship road race in Kigali may have ended with a 13th-place finish, but the French teenager’s performance has marked him out as one of the most promising young riders in the peloton.

Ahead of the European Championships in Drôme-Ardèche, Seixas reflected on the lessons learned in Rwanda and the influence of veteran leader Julian Alaphilippe in shaping his first World Championship experience.

“The mindset you need for a Championship is crucial,” Seixas said in a recent interview with L'Equipe. “Julian is really a unifier, and you can see how much experience he has. That helped me a lot to tackle this Championship with real motivation.”

Seixas’ comments underline how the presence of a seasoned leader can accelerate the development of young talent. In Kigali, the 19-year-old Frenchman finished 40 seconds ahead of compatriot Pavel Sivakov and was the best-placed French rider, despite missing out on a top-10 placing. “I think that cohesion gives everyone confidence,” Seixas explained. “Julian’s attitude really helps the group take shape and stay tight-knit.”

The Kigali World Championships were relentless. Seixas faced punishing climbs, cobbled sections, and an unyielding elite peloton. He even attempted to join an early breakaway 240 kilometres from the finish, a bold move in line with the French team’s offensive strategy. “It was the plan to be aggressive from the start,” Seixas said. “Maybe I could have done a bit better, but with ‘ifs’, you can rewrite the whole world. The most important thing is that I learned a lot and did my share of the work.”

Finishing one of the hardest World Championships in history left a lasting impression. “At a certain point, it’s all in your head — you stop thinking in terms of kilometres and just hang on to the end,” he said. “When Pavel and I found ourselves together, we knew we were the last two French riders left and had to fight to reward the work that the others had done. That gives you a boost of energy and makes you feel you can’t give up.”

Looking ahead, Seixas wants to combine stage racing and one-day races. “I feel I can handle both formats quite well, and I’d like to keep that balance,” he said. “Of course, there will be times when I’ll need to focus more on stage racing. I’m aware of that.”

The experience gained in Kigali — handling extreme physical demands, tactical decisions, and the mental strain of a World Championship — has clearly left its mark. Seixas’ ability to endure and support his team while performing at a high level suggests a rider whose career is set for rapid development, with Alaphilippe’s guidance proving an invaluable part of that early journey.