Decathlon set to strengthen Grand Tour squad in push to retain Seixas

The arrival of the 30-year-old Belgian forms part of a wider recruitment drive by the French WorldTour team, which appears determined to strengthen its Grand Tour squad ahead of the 2027 season.

Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) and Pavel Sivakov (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) have also been linked with moves to Decathlon in recent weeks, with L’Équipe reporting the team’s interest in both riders.

O’Connor’s return would bring the Australian back to the team he represented between 2021 and 2024. During that period, he developed into a Grand Tour leader, finishing fourth at the 2021 Tour de France and second at the 2024 Vuelta a España.

The 29-year-old Sivakov would also bring considerable experience and climbing strength. After a long spell with Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers, the French rider joined UAE Team Emirates XRG in 2024, where he became a valuable member of Tadej Pogačar’s Tour de France winning teams in both 2024 and 2025.

De Plus is equally familiar with the demands of the role. The Belgian has spent much of his time at Ineos supporting the team’s general classification leaders, establishing himself as an experienced and reliable mountain domestique. His ability to set and control a hard pace deep into the climbs would give Decathlon another valuable asset for the decisive stages of Grand Tours.

The reinforcements come as Decathlon prepare for the expected departures of Felix Gall and Gregor Mühlberger. Gall, the number two of the 2026 Giro d’Italia, has been strongly linked with Lidl-Trek, while Mühlberger is also expected to join the German team according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Replacing those riders is only part of Decathlon’s challenge. The team is also working to convince supertalent Paul Seixas that his long term future should remain with the French project.

The 19-year-old is contracted to Decathlon until the end of 2027, but his rapid development has attracted interest from several of the sport’s leading teams. Visma | Lease a Bike made their intentions clear during the opening week of the Tour de France, with general manager Richard Plugge claiming that his squad is “the best team to develop him to win Grand Tours.” Plugge also pointed to the opportunity for Seixas to learn alongside Jonas Vingegaard. 

UAE Team Emirates XRG, Netcompany-Ineos and Q36.5 Pinarello have also been linked with the Frenchman. According to Daniel Benson, Q36.5 Pinarello are prepared to offer Seixas a contract worth more than €13 million.

According to Daniel Benson, Q36.5-Pinarello are prepared to offer Seixas a contract worth more than €13 million per year.

Seixas has played down some of the reports surrounding his future and recently stressed that he is in no hurry to make a decision. He also said that he feels well supported within the team.

Decathlon’s transfer activity could strengthen that argument. O’Connor and Sivakov would add proven Grand Tour quality, while De Plus would provide the kind of climbing support required by a future general classification leader.

Seixas has already shown during the Tour de France that he can compete with some of the strongest climbers in the peloton. His performances have increased expectations in France, with President Emmanuel Macron even publicly encouraging him to remain with a French team.

Judging by the steps the French team is now taking, Decathlon appear determined to leave nothing to chance as they build the strongest possible environment around Seixas. Rival teams may be able to offer larger financial packages, but Decathlon have also made it clear that they are prepared to go a long way to keep him. 

In an interview with Le Parisien, senior figures within the team described Seixas as a strategic priority and indicated that they are willing to compete financially with the biggest offers in the WorldTour.

That commitment could become increasingly important in the coming weeks. 

The young Frenchman is already one of the biggest stories of his debut Tour de France, sitting fourth overall with a podium finish still firmly within reach. The attention surrounding him is unlikely to fade after Le Grand Boucle, when the focus will shift from his performances on the road to a decision that could define both his future and Decathlon’s Grand Tour ambitions.