Paul Seixas turned the primary Frenchman to win the junior time trial World Championship title, gorgeous his greater, extra highly effective rivals, who had been anticipating him to win a rainbow jersey Zurich, however in Friday’s hilly street race not in Monday’s flat 24.9km race in opposition to the clock.
“The most effective efficiency of my life in a time trial, I do not understand how I did that, being World Champion is a fucking dream,” Seixas mentioned, displaying his younger abilities additionally embrace realizing how you can swear profusely in English.
Seixas is taken into account a generational expertise like Remco Evenepoel or Tadej Pogacar and even a future French Tour de France winner. He shocked the time trial specialists like Jasper Schoofs of Belgium and Australia’s Wil Holmes to win the junior males’s world time trial title.
“Paul is a really full rider with nice skills within the mountains and in time trials,” his coach Alexandre Pacot at Decathlon-AG2R defined to L’Equipe, who devoted a web page of Tuesday’s newspaper to his success.
Seixas just lately received the Giro della Lunigiana stage race in Italy that, just like the Tour de L’Avenir for Underneath 23 riders, is at all times a sign of future success. He additionally received the junior Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the French nationwide cyclocross and time trial titles this 12 months.
One French biking knowledgeable described Seixas as France’s subsequent Bernhard Hinault, such are his abilities, character and need to win.
“He can put collectively days of racing whereas nonetheless recovering very nicely, he is a superb all-rounder who’s not afraid to make an effort,” Seixas’ former membership directeur sportif Yann Berny mentioned.
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“He assaults, assaults once more, will get in the fitting breakaway after which will get a end result, even on programs the place we do not count on him like within the European Championships.”
Seixas completed third within the European Championships, after occurring the assault on the flat course in Belgium with Felix Ørn-Kristoff of Norway and Héctor Álvarez of Spain. They beat him within the three-rider dash however he was not afraid to take them on and lead out.
Seixas turned 18 on Tuesday, the day after his time trial world title and two days earlier than focusing on the street race crown in Zurich. He’s nonetheless a youngster however is sensible and gifted past his years.
Not surprisingly Seixas’ outcomes have captured the eye of the most important WorldTour groups within the sport, together with UAE Crew Emirates. Nevertheless, he has opted to stick with the Decathlon-AG2R set-up after creating through their junior squad. He’s from Lyon, simply 90 minutes from the group’s base within the French Alps.
Decathlon-AG2R just lately confirmed Seixas will step straight as much as WorldTour stage in 2025 with a three-year contract. He’s a part of a brand new block of younger abilities that features fellow growth group riders Léo Bisiaux, who was the 2023 world junior cyclo-cross champion 2023 and just lately fourth total on the Tour de l’Avenir, 2023 Junior world time trial champion Oscar Chamberlain of New Zealand, French U23 nationwide champion Noa Isidore and 2024 Danish nationwide Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen.
“Decathlon-AG2R has at all times trusted me and coached me. I do know them nicely and I do know that they may hearken to me, that is what made the distinction.” Seixas defined to L’Equipe.
Seixas won’t experience a Grand Tour throughout his early years at WorldTour stage however is formidable.
“Even in my first 12 months, I wish to check myself, see my limits. I’ll take a beating however that is what I would like,” he mentioned.
Earlier than his WorldTour debut in 2025 comes a last junior race in Zurich and a shot at a second world title.
Seixas might be intently marked and faces some sturdy rivals within the 127 km race however might obtain a junior time trial and street race double that has been achieved solely as soon as earlier than in recent times, by a sure Remco Evenepoel.
Seixas is six years youthful than the Belgian however can be a particular expertise in a rush to affirm his abilities.
