French Prodigy Paul Seixas Stuns WorldTour Field with Dominant Stage 1 Win at Itzulia Basque Country

The WorldTour has a new reference point. In a performance that can only be described as a statement of intent, 19-year-old Paul Seixas stormed to victory in the opening stage of the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country, obliterating a field of seasoned veterans in the Bilbao time trial on Monday, April 6.

On a short but punishing course of approximately 13.9 kilometers, Seixas did more than just win; he dismantled the benchmark set by one of the sport’s most decorated riders. While Primoz Roglic appeared to have the stage secured early on, the French phenom tore up the script, stopping the clock 28 seconds faster than the Slovenian.

El prodigio galo, de 19 años, arrasa en la contrarreloj y le mete 23 segundos a Vauquelin, 28 a Roglic, 50 a Del Toro, 55 a Landa y minuto y 16 segundos a Ayuso

The Roglic Benchmark Falls

For much of the afternoon, it looked as though Primoz Roglic would claim the opening leader’s jersey. Roglic, who started his effort at 14:46 local time, surged into the hotseat with a time of 17:37. He dominated the early sectors, showing particular strength on the Alto Santo Domingo climb and maintaining a high tempo across the rolling sections of the Bilbao circuit.

Behind Roglic, the gaps were significant. Tobias Halland Johannessen showed early promise at the first checkpoint but faded in the second half of the race, eventually finishing 29 seconds behind Roglic. Other contenders struggled to maintain pace; Bruno Armirail briefly held provisional second at 22 seconds behind Roglic, while Ben Tulett remained close in third.

Matthew Riccitello provided one of the day’s early surprises, posting the fastest split on the opening climb. However, he lost significant time on the flatter run-in to the finish, ultimately crossing the line half a minute behind the Slovenian.

A Masterclass in Bilbao

The narrative shifted entirely when Paul Seixas took his turn at 15:29. The 2024 junior world champion in the time trial discipline entered the race with momentum following a second-place finish at Strade Bianche, but few expected such a dominant display against WorldTour opposition.

Seixas attacked the Alto Santo Domingo climb—a 2.4km stretch averaging 7.3% with sections hitting 11%—significantly faster than any other rider. By the second intermediate point, he had already extended his lead. He continued to accelerate through the technical descending portions and into the punishing uphill finish, which featured a brutal peak gradient of 19%.

The resulting 28-second margin over Roglic is an enormous gap for a race of this distance, signaling that Seixas is no longer just a prospect, but a primary protagonist in the professional peloton.

Tactical Implications for the General Classification

The opening stage has immediately put several pre-race favorites on the back foot. Along with Roglic, high-profile riders including Isaac Del Toro, Juan Ayuso, and Kévin Vauquelin have conceded significant time to the young Frenchman. While the Basque Country is renowned for its steep climbs and narrow roads—terrain that often allows pure climbers to claw back time—the scale of Seixas’ advantage provides him with a comfortable cushion heading into the remaining five stages.

For riders like Del Toro and Ayuso, who started late in the day (17:17 and 17:15 respectively), the task now shifts to aggressive riding in the mountains to disrupt Seixas’ rhythm. The race, which runs through April 11, is traditionally defined by unstable weather and technical descents, factors that could either solidify Seixas’ lead or create opportunities for those trailing.

What’s Next for Itzulia 2026

The peloton now turns its attention to Stage 2, where the battle to trim Seixas’ lead begins in earnest. Early previews suggest a grueling day where riders like Tobias Johannessen and Kévin Vauquelin will look to make an impact. The central question remains whether the 19-year-old can maintain his composure under the pressure of the yellow jersey as the race enters the heart of the Basque mountains.

Stay tuned to Cycling Up To Date for updated stage profiles and predictions as the race progresses.

Do you think Paul Seixas can hold off the veterans to take the overall win? Let us recognize in the comments below.