‘Maybe one day I can aim for first’ - Paul Seixas stuns with Worlds time trial bronze

The 19-year-old Frenchman finished 1:13 behind Evenepoel and just 16 seconds behind Filippo Ganna, producing one of the standout rides of the day on a flat 39.2 kilometre course that appeared far better suited to the established time trial specialists.

Seixas has already shown this season that he can perform against the clock, but much of that success has come on more demanding terrain. His third place in Montréal therefore represented another significant step, particularly with riders such as Ganna, Stefan Küng and Brandon McNulty among the favourites to challenge for the medals.

"I am obviously very happy with this podium," Seixas told CyclingProNet after the finish.

"It was quite close, and in terms of pacing I think I rode an almost perfect time trial for me. The sensations were there. I felt good, I was physically strong and we managed the time trial really well with the team."

Seixas was never in contention for victory, but neither was anyone else. Evenepoel was fastest from the opening checkpoint and steadily extended his advantage, with Seixas already 39 seconds down after 21.9 kilometres.

The Belgian eventually beat Ganna by 57 seconds to claim a fourth consecutive world time trial title, equalling Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin on four victories.

For the young Frenchman, standing alongside Evenepoel and Ganna on the podium was as much a reminder of the gap that remains as it was confirmation of his own rapid progress.

"Maybe in the long term, one day I can aim for first place," he said. "But right now it is still a long way away.

"We saw that with Remco. He is really above the rest. He is a great champion and he is now four times world champion. That deserves respect. Filippo is also a great champion, so I am happy to be alongside those two guys."

There was one caveat to Seixas' delight. Jakob Söderqvist, who started after the Frenchman, was on course to challenge for the podium before crashing in the closing kilometres. The Swede remounted quickly but eventually had to settle for fifth.

Seixas was candid about the part the crash played in his own result.

"I don't like saying I was lucky, but Söderqvist was very strong today and he crashed," he said. "Obviously that is not something you enjoy, even if in the end it worked in my favour.

"There is still that little bit of bitterness because I finished third after another rider crashed and we don't know what would have happened. I don't know exactly how much time he lost, but it is not nice for him."

Seixas had taken a slightly different approach to the corners during his own ride, choosing to leave himself a little more margin rather than chasing every possible second.

"I think today I took perhaps a little less risk in the corners, which allowed me to secure this result," he said. "In the end I did what I had to do and I am happy with my medal."

There will be little time to savour it. Next Sunday's road race offers Seixas another shot at a medal, albeit in an event bearing little resemblance to the measured effort that carried him onto the podium in Montréal.

"I obviously hope to do better than today and to be on another step of the podium," he said.

"I think we have the team to do it. You cannot compare a time trial with a road race. There is durability, there is tactics and the effort is completely different.

"But physically I am strong and I feel good, which is very good news. I felt strong again today."

That condition gives France another card to play, but Seixas knows the road race will demand more than strong legs.

"Now we have to race well and race intelligently," he said. "There are some very big riders against me and I hope it goes well.

"But we have cards to play. Now we just have to play them."