Paul Seixas wins the Flèche Wallonne.
/ DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM
Paul Seixas, the golden boy of French cycling and the rider from Lyon that the entire nation hopes will end a four-decade Tour de France drought since Bernard Hinault’s last victory, has confirmed he will compete in the Grande Boucle at just 19 years old. Riding with the heart and spirit of the French people on his bike, his decision fulfills a dream shared by everyone from President Emmanuel Macron to the most casual fan who sees the Tour as the ultimate monument. The race begins on July 4 in Barcelona.
The young cyclist made the announcement on Monday in a heartwarming family video, where he tells his grandparents he is preparing for a very important race in July. “Is it the Tour?” they ask, and he confirms the news that has already electrified France, as if it were July 14th, with fireworks lighting up the night as the country pours into the streets in patriotic fervor while Tour riders rest in hotels.
On July 14, 2026, Tour participants, including Seixas, will face the main stage in the Massif Central, finishing at the ski station of Le Lioran, where two years ago Jonas Vingegaard sprinted past Tadej Pogacar—a moment that now seems like a mirage, the last time the Slovenian star was truly beaten by the Danish champion.
Before and after that, the Tour turned into a duel between them, starting with a dominant Vingegaard who gradually was overwhelmed by an unquestionable Pogacar, as expected in July. Now, however, a new figure emerges, driven by French faith: Seixas has proven he can at least withstand the first onslaught of the Slovenian phenomenon, approaching races with youthful fearlessness, devouring climbs without hesitation in attacks or time trials.
A Hurricane in Itzulia
Seixas swept through the Itzulia Basque Country like a hurricane, overcame all rivals in the Flèche Wallonne, and finished second in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, holding firm through Pogacar’s devastating acceleration on La Redoute, the race’s toughest climb. Earlier in March, he reached Piazza del Campo in Siena, the finish of Strade Bianche, in second place behind the world champion.
Seixas with Pogacar on the Redoute climb during Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
/ DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM
The French await Seixas as if he were the new messiah of the pedal. Any adverse news would have been met as a blow and caused widespread disappointment ahead of the Tour, the race that mobilizes the country, with millions of people lining the roads for 21 stages, patiently waiting hours just to see the riders pass by in seconds.
A Genius in the French Grand Tour
Seixas will be there, leading the Decathlon team—a huge hit in France for the sporting goods retailer—with the clear intention of challenging Pogacar. If he succeeds, it will be another story, but French hope has already skyrocketed. Christian Prudhomme wanted him in the race as director and cycling spokesperson, as did Macron, the president, and all his compatriots.
He will face pressure, no doubt, but knowing that if he falters, he still has many Tours ahead. What better time to gain experience against the best cyclist since Eddy Merckx hung up his bike, with respect to Bernard Hinault, who last gave the French a Tour win in 1985, and without forgetting Miguel Induráin, the first five-time Tour winner in cycling history.
