Domestique Debate: Paul Seixas should not aim for a podium spot at the 2026 Tour de France
Paul Seixas entered the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné, as the clear fan favorite to win the prestigious stage race. After a weaker TTT and being unable to drop Tadej Pogacar's main lieutenant come July, Isaac del Toro, and a heavy crash causing him to abandon the race, the young Frenchman should no longer aim for a high placement in the Tour de France's general classification.
Seixas's abandon in stage 8 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes was the end of an unfortunate week for the young French superstar. He was the clear favorite among fans, with 58% of Domestique readers assigning him as the man to beat at the former Critérium du Dauphiné. Decathlon CMA CGM disappointed during the TTT with Seixas losing 45 seconds to Matteo Jorgenson's Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
On stage 6, he attacked and dropped everyone but Isaac del Toro. This was a hopeful sign, although the inability to drop Tadej Pogacar's key domestique for the upcoming Tour de France was unexpected for most fans.
The next day, he went down hard during a descent and took a long time to remount. He chased back on valiantly with the help of all the resources his team could supply him with. However, the injuries were too bothersome at the start of the final stage, causing him to abandon the race.
Should the French hope take the upcoming Tour de France as an opportunity to learn and hunt stages or persist in the goal of going toe to toe with the likes of Pogačar and Vingegaard in the general classification? What's your take?
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