Paul Seixas carries the heavy weight of legions of French cycling fans desperate for a true, home-grown star. The 19-year-old has wisely been cautious in addressing his own ambitions and those of his fan base. But, after a dominant performance at Itzulia Basque Country, he seems prepared to admit he has some ambitions.
“Can I rival the best in the world? Certainly, though some had to give up,” Seixas told camera’s after Saturday’s final stage of Basque Country racing, referring to the abandons of Juan Ayuso and Isaac Del Toro. “There were some riders who weren’t here, and some who crashed, so I won’t say I’m the best or in the best three, but I know I can play a bit with them and ride at the front with ambition.”
The 19-year-old is taking confidence away from his first World Tour stage race win. He already has results, of course. Seixas finished runner up to Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche earlier this spring. There he again defeated del Toro.
For the French, Saturday’s win isn’t just confirmation of the young racer from Lyon’s prodigious talent. He is already on the cover of L’Equipe, who ran the headline “Looks good in yellow.” It’s already the end of a French stage race drought that’s lasted nearly two decades.
The last Frenchman to win a WorldTour-level stage race? Cristophe Moreau. That was back in 2007, when he defeated Cadel Evans at the Critérium du Dauphiné. Seixas wasn’t yet a year old.
Ending that drought obviously amplifies French fan’s thirst to end another, longer-running drought. As hinted at in L’Equipe’s cover shot, French hopes are on Seixas’s chances at the Tour de France. That winning drought now spans four decades. Bernard Hinault was the last home-country winner. That was back in 1985.
Even after “ticking a box” with his first stage race win, Seixas still wasn’t willing to soften Decathlon-CMA CGM’s standard response to questions asking when he will start Tour de France.
“We’ll see after Flèche and Liège,” he told Eurosport. “This week was incredible, we’ll see for the rest.”