Months ago, Vingegaard warned Seixas about making his Tour de France debut.
The news of Paul Seixas joining the Tour de France has sent shockwaves through the cycling world. The rising star of Decathlon CMA CGM will make his debut in the “Grande Boucle” at just 19 years old, instantly becoming part of the elite group aiming to challenge Tadej Pogacar for victory.
The joint announcement by Seixas and Decathlon has had a particular impact on French fans, who have been longing for a homegrown hero for decades. Over 40 years have passed since a French cyclist won the Tour de France, and the desire for a national champion has become a matter of national pride.
In this context, the phenomenon of Paul Seixas has ignited the hopes of the French public, who already see in their young rider a potential successor to the legendary Bernard Hinault. The comparison is daunting, but the sporting achievements and ambition shown by the Decathlon rider suggest his ceiling will be very high.
Paul Seixas will ride the 2026 Tour de France.
The advice from the two-time Tour winner on when to make a debut
The “Seixas phenomenon” has not been a flash in the pan, and while his recent performances have amplified the excitement, the possibility of Seixas racing the Tour had been on the table for many months. Back in October, Jonas Vingegaard took advantage of his participation in the Andorra Cycling Masters to urge calm regarding the expectations placed on Paul Seixas and his presumed Tour debut.
“To be honest, if I were him, I would wait,” Vingegaard declared into RMC’s microphone. To support his words, the Dane pointed to the enormous pressure the French fans will place on the rider once he makes his first appearance in the “Grande Boucle.”
Jonas Vingegaard warned Seixas about the Tour de France.
“As a Frenchman, probably the biggest talent in France, he will be under a lot of pressure if he races. Maybe it’s better for him to wait a few years until he is truly ready,” concluded the Dane, a highly authoritative voice when it comes to the Tour de France.
Vingegaard knows better than anyone the pressure that comes with participating in the Tour de France. Winner of the 2022 and 2023 editions and runner-up in the last two years, the Team Visma leader has experienced firsthand everything the sport’s premier event entails, and he understands that a premature step could end up jeopardizing Paul Seixas’ promising career.
