‘I couldn’t spot the 200-metre sign’: Seixas reveals what went wrong in Montréal sprint

Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) admitted to a lapse in concentration after Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) caught him off guard in the closing sprint to win the GP Montréal.

The duo proved to be the strongest in Montréal as they distanced the competition, before Del Toro got the jump on Seixas in the uphill rise to the finish. 

“I had a moment of inattention when I was trying to see how close we were,” Seixas said post-race. “I couldn’t spot the 200-metre sign, and just like that, he [Del Toro] took off.”

"He caught me by surprise and played it really well. In the end, he was simply stronger, so that's how it goes."

The 19-year-old had ignited the winning move after powering clear on the Côte Camillien-Houde from a selective group with 12km. 

The likes of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) were unable to match the stinging acceleration of Seixas, who quickly caught and passed the race leader Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost).

It was an illustration of both confidence and strength from Seixas, but Del Toro was able to impressively bridge across to the Frenchman over the crest. The duo cooperated well to fend off the chasers and ensure that they would contest the victory amongst themselves. 

Then with 4km to go, Seixas tried one final effort to try and distance Del Toro, but the Mexican champion was up to the task, before denying him victory at the finish. 

Despite the disappointment of the sprint, Seixas was encouraged by his performance, particularly as he hadn’t felt at his best for large spells during the race. 

“I hadn’t felt particularly good all day. I think I was a bit too fresh. I didn’t ride enough yesterday,” Seixas explained. 

In terms of his decision to attack, Seixas felt that with three UAE riders in the front group and with Evenepoel just bridging across before the Côte Camillien-Houde began, it was the right time to make the difference. 

“I was maybe missing a teammate to really make the difference. So I had to put in a bit of an attack, which isn’t necessarily my strong suit,” he said. 

“Isaac [del Toro] came along at the right moment because I really needed someone to help me get to the finish. Doing it alone would have been tough."

Ultimately, Seixas has come away from the GP Montréal with confidence ahead of the Worlds, taking place in two weeks' time in Montréal, believing he has made progress in recent months, but also that there is still more in the tank. 

“I felt I had gained power since the Tour [de France],” he said. “I think there’s still room for improvement.”