Paul Seixas grew to become the primary Frenchman to win the junior time trial World Championship title, gorgeous his greater, extra highly effective rivals, who have been anticipating him to win a rainbow jersey Zurich, however in Friday’s hilly highway race not in Monday’s flat 24.9km race towards the clock.
“The very best 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, exhibiting his younger abilities additionally embody understanding the way to 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 surprised 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 lately received the Giro della Lunigiana stage race in Italy that, just like the Tour de L’Avenir for Below 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 skilled described Seixas as France’s subsequent Bernhard Hinault, such are his abilities, character and want to win.
“He can put collectively days of racing whereas nonetheless recovering very properly, he is 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 proper breakaway after which will get a outcome, even on programs the place we do not count on him like within the European Championships.”
Seixas completed third within the European Championships, after happening 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 concentrating on the highway 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 Staff Emirates. Nevertheless, he has opted to stick with the Decathlon-AG2R set-up after growing by way of their junior squad. He’s from Lyon, simply 90 minutes from the group’s base within the French Alps.
Decathlon-AG2R lately confirmed Seixas will step instantly as much as WorldTour degree 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 lately fourth general 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 properly and I do know that they’ll take heed to me, that is what made the distinction.” Seixas defined to L’Equipe.
Seixas is not going to experience a Grand Tour throughout his early years at WorldTour degree however is bold.
“Even in my first 12 months, I need to check myself, see my limits. I’ll take a beating however that is what I need,” 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 will likely be intently marked and faces some sturdy rivals within the 127 km race however might obtain a junior time trial and highway 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.
