'I've been watching this race since I was 12' - Seixas ready to take on Pogacar at Strade Bianche
French talent Paul Seixas is set to make his Strade Bianche debut this Saturday. The 19-year-old rider from Decathlon CMA CGM has enjoyed an excellent start to the season so far and now faces his next big test: going head to head with Tadej Pogacar on the white roads of Tuscany.
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2026 has gone smoothly for Seixas to this point. At the Volta ao Algarve he claimed his first professional victory on stage 2 en route to placing second overall behind Juan Ayuso. He backed that up with an even more eye catching display at the Faun Ardèche Classic, where he went solo and put almost two minutes into Jan Christen, Matteo Jorgenson and Lenny Martinez.
The performance sparked a wave of excitement in France. Former pro Jérôme Pineau said the ride felt “exceptional and historic,” adding that Seixas had “humiliated” a strong start list. Marc Madiot was just as emphatic, already placing Seixas “among the top five or six riders in the world.” The former Groupama-FDJ United manager went one step further with his verdict: “I think he is the chosen one,” referring to France's next Tour de France winner.
Now Seixas stands on the brink of another major test: Strade Bianche and a showdown with the sport’s most dominant rider, Tadej Pogačar, a prospect he is eagerly anticipating.
“Taking part in Strade Bianche is something I’m really looking forward to. It’s one of my favourite races. I’ve been watching it on TV since I was twelve or thirteen and I can’t wait to experience it for myself.” Seixas said in a statement by the team, as Decathlon CMA CGM confirmed its seven rider line-up for Saturday, with fellow French talent Paul Lapeira also set to start.
Seixas also pointed to his own history on the Tuscan gravel as a reason for optimism. “When I was in the U19 category, I competed twice in the Eroica Nations Cup,” he explained. “It’s reserved for young riders and includes several sections of white roads. I really enjoyed it because it felt a bit like cyclocross.”
Still, he is keeping expectations in check as he prepares to measure himself against the very best. “I think it’s a race that could suit my profile,” Seixas continued, “but the start list is impressive. The goal, with the help of my team mates, is to see where I stand compared to them.”
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