Paul Seixas Wins Il Lombardia for First Monument Victory
French cycling prodigy Paul Seixas won the Tour de Lombardie in Como on Saturday, October 10, 2026, launching a solo attack on the Civiglio climb to claim the first Monument victory of his professional career. At just 20 years and 16 days old, the Decathlon CMA CGM rider became the youngest winner in the 120-year history of the “Race of the Falling Leaves,” according to race records cited in international reports.
Early Breakthroughs and Historical Precedent
Seixas surged away from the peloton 19 kilometers from the finish line on the steep slopes of the Civiglio, shedding contenders including Remco Evenepoel and world champion Brandon McNulty before crossing the finish line alone. The victory makes him the fourth-youngest rider in cycling history to win any of the five Monuments, trailing only pre-World War II Belgian cyclists Victor Fastre, Georges Ronsse, and Rik Van Steenbergen, as documented by sports statistics. Reporting from rts.ch noted that Seixas reached the milestone younger than Tadej Pogacar, who won his first Monument at 23 in 2021.
Tactical Execution on the Como Slopes
Speaking after the race, Seixas described his race-winning move as an instinctive acceleration when the pace at the base of the climb failed to match his ambitions. “I had incredible legs. I attacked a bit earlier than planned because the pace wasn’t high enough to my liking at the start of the climb. Afterward, it was a time trial against myself,” Seixas told reporters. He maintained his gap through the final ascent of San Fermo della Battaglia to complete the 239-kilometer course in northern Italy.
Podium Finishers and Final Standings
Spain’s Enric Mas finished 48 seconds behind Seixas to take second place, while Italy’s Giulio Ciccone crossed 1 minute and 5 seconds back in third, according to official race classifications. Remco Evenepoel placed fourth after being distanced on the penultimate climb. The result marks the first French victory in a Monument since Julian Alaphilippe won Milan-San Remo in 2019.
A Breakthrough Second Professional Season
The victory caps a standout sophomore professional campaign for Seixas, who claimed eight total wins in 2026, including the Flèche Wallonne and the Tour of the Basque Country. He also finished fourth at the Tour de France as the youngest participant since 1937, and took second place at both Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Strade Bianche behind Tadej Pogacar. With his triumph in Como, Seixas inherits the Il Lombardia crown from Pogacar, the five-time defending champion who missed the race due to a crash at the Vuelta a España in August.
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