Paul Seixas set for surprising next race less than 24 hours after Il Lombardia glory

On Saturday afternoon, Paul Seixas was celebrating the biggest victory of his young career on the shores of Lake Como. By Sunday morning, the 20-year-old is expected to be back on the start line, this time among thousands of mountain bikers in the south of France.

The Decathlon CMA CGM rider claimed his first Monument victory at Il Lombardia on Saturday, attacking on the Civiglio climb before riding solo to the finish in Como. The victory made him the youngest winner in the race's history and the first Frenchman to win the Italian classic since Thibaut Pinot in 2018.

Following a four hour drive from Como to the French Riviera on Saturday evening, he is set to take on the 55 kilometre Roc d’Azur CIC, featuring 1,275 metres of climbing through the rugged terrain of the Massif des Maures.

Speaking to French journalists after his victory in Lombardy, Seixas explained why he had decided to extend his season by one more race.

“We have an administrative training camp in about a week, and if I go straight on holiday without riding my bike, it would split my break in two. So I’d rather spend next week riding for fun and then take a proper break after the camp,” he told L'Equipe.

The decision was hardly the result of months of careful planning. In fact, the idea only came to him on Friday afternoon, shortly before the biggest victory of his career.

“It was a spur of the moment decision yesterday afternoon, on my way back from the team presentation. I just thought to myself, ‘Come on, let’s do it!’ Bruno Armirail and I are going to have a bit of fun.”

Seixas is no stranger to racing off road. Growing up near Lyon, he competed in several disciplines and became French cadet cyclocross champion in 2022, having finished runner-up the previous year. That experience could serve him well on the technical sections of the Roc d’Azur.