Cycling’s French Revolution: How 19-Year-Old Paul Seixas Became a National Obsession

LYON, France — The last time France celebrated a Tour de France champion, Ronald Reagan was in his first term, Bernard Hinault was king of the peloton, and a 19-year-old named Paul Seixas had not yet been born. Now, with the weight of 39 years of national cycling drought pressing down, that same teenager has become the most talked-about rider in the sport — and the subject of a reported personal intervention by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Seixas, a lanky Lyonnais with Portuguese roots and a racing style that blends explosive climbing with tactical maturity, has accomplished what no French rider has done in nearly two decades: win a WorldTour stage race. His dominant performance at the Itzulia Basque Country in early April — three stage wins and the overall title — ended a 19-year wait for a French champion in a WorldTour stage race. It also ignited a national conversation about whether France has finally found its next great hope for Tour de France glory.

The Macron Factor: When Cycling Becomes State Business

According to reports from Eurosport Spain and La Dépêche du Midi, Macron personally reached out to Seixas in an effort to persuade him to remain with his current team, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, beyond his contract’s expiration in 2027. The intervention, though unconfirmed by the Élysée Palace, mirrors Macron’s 2022 appeal to soccer star Kylian Mbappé to stay in France rather than join Real Madrid — a plea that delayed, but did not prevent, Mbappé’s eventual move.

“As a Frenchman, you’re best off with the biggest team in the country,” Macron reportedly told Seixas, according to sources close to the rider’s entourage. The message was clear: France needs its cycling prodigy to stay home, develop in a French structure, and fulfill what many now see as a national mission — ending the country’s Tour de France title drought, which stretches back to Hinault’s fifth and final victory in 1985.

A Resume Built on Second Places — and One Historic Win

At just 19 years and 11 months, Seixas is already rewriting the record books. His victory at the Itzulia Basque Country made him the youngest rider in history to win a WorldTour stage race, surpassing a mark previously held by Remco Evenepoel. But it’s not just the wins that have captivated France — it’s the way he loses.

In March, Seixas finished second at Strade Bianche, the grueling Tuscan classic known for its white gravel roads. He was the only rider to stay with Tadej Pogačar, the two-time Tour de France champion, until the final kilometers. Three weeks later, at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Seixas again matched Pogačar pedal stroke for pedal stroke, dropping all other contenders before being distanced only in the final ascent of the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Pogačar, a rider often compared to Eddy Merckx for his all-around dominance, called Seixas “a monster in the making” after the race.

“He’s the only rider I’ve seen who can go with me on every terrain,” Pogačar said in a post-race interview with Sporza. “And he’s eight years younger. That’s not normal.”

Even Hinault, the five-time Tour champion known for his blunt assessments of younger riders, has been effusive in his praise. “It can’t be a coincidence that he’s riding at this level so consistently,” Hinault told L’Équipe. “Hats off. Really, hats off.”

The Transfer Battle: Eight Million Reasons to Leave

Seixas’s contract with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale runs through the end of 2027, but that hasn’t stopped the sport’s wealthiest teams from making overtures. UAE Team Emirates, home to Pogačar, is reportedly leading the chase, with team manager Mauro Gianetti confirming in a recent interview with Cyclingnews that he has held preliminary discussions with Seixas’s camp.

“To pair Pogačar and Seixas? That would be more than a dream,” Gianetti said. “We have the structure, the budget, and the ambition to build something historic.”

The reported asking price for Seixas’s services? Eight million euros per year — a figure that would make him the second-highest-paid rider in the peloton, behind only Pogačar himself. For context, the average salary for a WorldTour rider is approximately €300,000 annually.

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, while not as flush as UAE, is far from a financial lightweight. The team, backed by French retail giant Decathlon and shipping conglomerate CMA CGM, has made no secret of its desire to preserve Seixas. Team manager Vincent Lavenu told VeloNews that the squad is prepared to “build a Tour-winning team around him” if he commits long-term.

Macron’s reported involvement adds a political dimension to the saga. According to La Dépêche, the French president has pledged “full support” to Decathlon AG2R in their efforts to retain Seixas, framing his potential departure as a matter of national prestige.

Tour de France or Giro d’Italia? The Next Big Decision

Seixas’s immediate future is now the subject of intense speculation. The biggest question: Will he ride the Tour de France this July?

In a recent press conference, Seixas called winning the Tour “my big dream,” but stopped short of confirming his participation. “I’ll announce my plans in the coming days,” he said. “It’s a big decision, and I want to make sure I’m ready.”

Not everyone is convinced. Hinault, ever the skeptic, has publicly advised against it. “I wouldn’t do it,” he told L’Équipe. “At his age, I’d ride the Giro d’Italia first. You need to learn what it means to race for three weeks. Seixas isn’t ready for a Tour duel with Pogačar — not yet, and certainly not this year, when Tadej is chasing a record fifth title.”

Pogačar, for his part, has downplayed the idea of a rivalry, but his actions suggest otherwise. The Slovenian champion has already targeted the Tour as his primary goal for 2026, and his team’s reported pursuit of Seixas indicates they see the Frenchman as a potential threat — or a future teammate.

Why France Is Obsessed

Seixas’s rise has coincided with a broader resurgence in French cycling. The country has produced a wave of young talent in recent years, including David Gaudu, Valentin Madouas, and Romain Bardet, but none have come close to challenging for the Tour de France. Seixas, with his ability to excel in both stage races and one-day classics, represents something different — a rider who could compete with Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard on every terrain.

“He’s the pioneer of the French Revolution in cycling,” said Alexandre Roos, cycling editor at L’Équipe. “Paul Seixas is the most advanced model in the sport — a more complete version of Tadej Pogačar. Pogačar wasn’t even a professional at 19. He was still eating pizza.”

Seixas’s background adds to the narrative. Born in Lyon to a Portuguese father and French mother, he grew up watching the Tour de France on television, dreaming of one day standing on the Champs-Élysées. His father, a former amateur cyclist, introduced him to the sport, and by age 16, Seixas was already turning heads in the junior ranks. His unusual surname — a nod to his Portuguese heritage — has become a symbol of France’s multicultural identity, further endearing him to the public.

What’s Next for Seixas?

Seixas is expected to announce his 2026 race schedule in the coming days, with the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia both on the table. His decision will be closely watched, not just in France, but across the cycling world.

For now, one thing is certain: France has found its cycling messiah. Whether he can deliver on the nation’s Tour de France dreams remains to be seen — but for the first time in decades, the possibility feels real.

Key Takeaways

• Historic Win: Seixas became the youngest rider to win a WorldTour stage race with his victory at the Itzulia Basque Country.
• Macron’s Involvement: French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly intervened to persuade Seixas to stay with his current team, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.
• Transfer Battle: UAE Team Emirates and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe are among the teams reportedly pursuing Seixas, with a potential salary of €8 million per year.
• Tour de France Decision: Seixas has not confirmed whether he will ride the Tour this year, with Bernard Hinault advising against it.
• National Hope: Seixas is seen as France’s best chance to win the Tour de France since Bernard Hinault in 1985.

What do you consider — should Seixas ride the Tour de France this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below.