Decathlon delay Tour squad announcement but Seixas remains “all systems go”

The French team have delayed the announcement of their Tour de France squad due to illness and ongoing fitness doubts, though Paul Seixas is not among those whose participation is in any jeopardy.

With Paul Seixas in their ranks and set to become the youngest Tour de France starter in 89 years, there is plenty of attention surrounding Decathlon CMA CGM’s line-up for La Grande Boucle. 

However, the curtain will remain closed for a little longer than expected after the French team cancelled their scheduled press conference on Wednesday in Les Arcs to announce the line-up.

According to reports from L’Equipe, there are some fitness doubts within the Decathlon camp with multiple riders ill, including Daan Hoole who withdrew from the provisional start list of the Dutch time trial Championships, set to take place on Thursday. 

Seixas isn’t among those whose participation is currently in doubt, with Sporza reporting that “all systems are go” for the Frenchman, quashing any doubts following the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Seixas crashed heavily around 30km into the penultimate stageof the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Despite battling his way back to the peloton and finishing the stage in seventh, Seixas abandoned during the early part of the final stage due to the discomfort of his wounds.

Following a period of rest and recovery, Seixas arrived in Les Arcs last Thursday, and L’Equipe have reported that the Frenchman underwent a follow-up MRI scan on Tuesday, confirming that there is nothing that will put his Tour participation in doubt ahead of the start in Barcelona on July 4.