Paul Seixas: “I Gave It Everything and I’m Happy With Second” After Stunning Liège Debut

LIÈGE, Belgium — Nineteen-year-old Paul Seixas stood on the podium of Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday, his face flushed from the effort of a race that had just redefined his career. “I gave it everything and I’m happy with second,” he told reporters with a smile, his voice still steady despite the exhaustion of his Monument debut. The words, delivered in the aftermath of a brutal 259-kilometer battle through the Ardennes, carried the weight of a rider who had just announced himself to the cycling world.

Seixas didn’t just finish second—he went toe-to-toe with Tadej Pogačar, the reigning Tour de France champion and the most dominant Classics rider of his generation, on the final climb of Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. For 14 kilometers, the teenager matched the Slovenian pedal stroke for pedal stroke, before Pogačar’s signature acceleration on the 11% gradients finally broke him. The gap at the finish? Just 12 seconds, a margin that feels almost insignificant when measured against the gulf in experience between the two riders.

The Moment That Shocked the Peloton

The decisive attack came with 14 kilometers remaining, as the race entered the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons—a climb that has decided Liège-Bastogne-Liège more times than riders care to remember. Pogačar, who had already won the race in 2020, 2021, and 2025, launched his move with the precision of a rider who had studied the terrain like a chessboard. Seixas, riding his first-ever Monument at an age when most professionals are still racing juniors, clung to his wheel like a rider possessed.

“I knew the Roche-aux-Faucons would be the key,” Seixas later said. “I tried to stay with him as long as I could. When he went, I gave it everything I had. I couldn’t match him but I’m proud of what I did today.”

The effort was enough to secure second place ahead of a chasing group that included Remco Evenepoel, the 2022 and 2023 winner of the race, and Mattias Skjelmose. Evenepoel, who had been considered the favorite alongside Pogačar, finished third, nearly a minute behind the winner. For Seixas, the result was a statement: the future of cycling has arrived, and it’s wearing a French national champion’s jersey.

A Teenager’s Remarkable Rise

Seixas’s performance in Liège was the culmination of a breakthrough season that has seen him rewrite the record books. Just four days earlier, he became the youngest winner in the history of La Flèche Wallonne, another Ardennes Classic, by conquering the Mur de Huy—a brutal climb that has humbled far more experienced riders. At 19 years and 11 months, he shattered the previous record held by Philippe Gilbert, who won the race at 22.

His victory in the Valonský šíp (as La Flèche Wallonne is known in Czech) was no fluke. Seixas attacked with 500 meters to go, leaving behind a field that included Pogačar, Evenepoel, and Tom Pidcock. The image of the teenager standing atop the podium, arms raised in triumph, became one of the defining moments of the 2026 cycling season. It was a performance that prompted comparisons to a young Eddy Merckx, the Belgian legend who dominated the sport in the 1960s and 1970s.

But Seixas is quick to downplay the hype. “I’m just trying to enjoy my first year as a professional,” he said after Liège. “I know I have a lot to learn. Today was a big step, but it’s just one race. I seek to keep improving.”

Pogačar’s Relentless Dominance

For Pogačar, the victory in Liège was his fourth in the race and his 13th Monument overall—a tally that places him just six behind Merckx’s all-time record of 19. The Slovenian, who has now won three Monuments in 2026 (Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège), is on pace to surpass Merckx’s record by the end of the decade if he maintains his current trajectory.

His performance on Sunday was vintage Pogačar: a mix of tactical intelligence and raw power. After Seixas matched his initial acceleration on the Roche-aux-Faucons, Pogačar dug deeper, knowing that the teenager’s legs would eventually give out. “I could see he was suffering,” Pogačar said afterward. “I knew if I kept the pressure on, he would crack. He’s incredibly strong for his age, but experience matters in these races.”

The win was Pogačar’s fourth in five races this season. The only blemish on his 2026 campaign? A second-place finish to Wout van Aert in Paris-Roubaix, where the Belgian’s superior sprinting ability proved decisive. With the Ardennes Classics now behind him, Pogačar will turn his attention to the Giro d’Italia, where he will attempt to add another Grand Tour victory to his palmares.

What This Means for the Future of Cycling

Seixas’s performance in Liège has sent shockwaves through the cycling world. At 19, he is already being hailed as the next great French hope—a rider capable of filling the void left by the retirements of Thibaut Pinot and Julian Alaphilippe. His ability to compete with Pogačar and Evenepoel, two of the sport’s biggest stars, suggests that he could be a force in the Classics for years to come.

But with great promise comes great pressure. Some veterans of the peloton have expressed concern about the psychological toll of such early success. “It’s incredible what he’s done, but I hope he can handle the expectations,” said one unnamed rider in the aftermath of Liège. “The media and fans will want more and more from him. It’s a lot for a 19-year-old to process.”

Seixas, for his part, seems unfazed. “I’m just trying to enjoy the moment,” he said. “I know I have a lot of work to do, but I’m ready for it.”

The Road Ahead

For Seixas, the immediate future includes a well-earned rest before turning his attention to the Tour de France, where he will make his debut in July. His team, Groupama-FDJ, has yet to announce whether he will ride in support of David Gaudu or be given the freedom to chase stage wins of his own. Either way, his presence in the race is sure to generate excitement.

Pogačar, meanwhile, will head to Italy for the Giro d’Italia, which begins on May 10. The Slovenian has never won the race, and a victory in 2026 would make him the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to complete the Giro-Tour double. With his form at an all-time high, few would bet against him.

Key Takeaways

• Historic Debut: Paul Seixas became the youngest rider in history to finish on the podium of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, finishing second in his Monument debut at age 19.
• Record-Breaking Season: Seixas as well became the youngest winner of La Flèche Wallonne earlier in the week, shattering a record that had stood for decades.
• Pogačar’s Dominance: Tadej Pogačar won Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the fourth time, extending his lead as the most successful active rider in the Monuments.
• Experience vs. Youth: Seixas matched Pogačar for 14 kilometers on the final climb before the Slovenian’s experience proved decisive.
• Next Steps: Seixas will make his Tour de France debut in July, while Pogačar will target the Giro d’Italia in May.

For now, the cycling world will watch with bated breath as these two riders—one at the peak of his powers, the other just beginning his ascent—continue to redefine what’s possible in the sport.

What do you think of Seixas’s performance in Liège? Will he grow the next great French Classics rider? Share your thoughts in the comments below.