French teenager Paul Seixas captured the white jersey as the best young rider of the Tour de France and cemented his status among the peloton’s elite climbers during a grueling opening week of the grand tour, according to race records and reports. Competing for Decathlon CMA CGM, the 19-year-old rider sits fourth in the general classification following a relentless stretch of mountain stages that reshaped the race standings.
Seixas arrived at his debut Tour de France carrying immense expectations as the youngest competitor in the race since 1937, according to cycling data. Rather than fading in the high mountains, the French prodigy seized the white jersey from Juan Ayuso after a brilliant tactical display on the 14th stage from Mulhouse to Le Markstein, covering 155.3 kilometers. “This result gives me even more confidence, but the Tour is far from over,” Seixas told reporters.
Climbing into Contention on Col du Haag
The pivotal moment for Seixas arrived on the slopes of the Col du Haag, where the Decathlon CMA CGM squad executed a precise tactical plan. Teammates Tiesj Benoot and Nicolas Prodhomme drove the pace at the front of the favorites’ group before launching their young leader on the final climb. “Today was a day when Paul felt good—he’s really strong on these medium-mountain stages,” Benoot explained to reporters. “He said he felt good, so we tried to launch him on the final climb, and it paid off.”
As race leader Tadej Pogačar launched an attack 1.5 kilometers from the summit of the Col du Haag, Seixas maintained his composure. He managed his cadence to shed Ayuso and Florian Lipowitz, ultimately finishing the stage in third place behind Isaac del Toro and ahead of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard. That effort yielded four critical bonus seconds, vaulting Seixas into fourth overall and putting him within 15 seconds of third-placed Remco Evenepoel. Pogačar and Vingegaard continue to hold the top two spots in the general classification.
Managing the Weight of a Nation and the White Jersey
Holding the white jersey has brought both prestige and heavy physical demands for the teenage sensation. Seixas claimed the classification lead by a three-second margin over Ayuso. “It’s truly a joy to have this white jersey and still fight for the podium,” Seixas said. “It’s incredible and also beautifully hard. Today was another tough day—we’re starting to get used to that on the Tour.”
Following a punishing stage that preserved his fourth-place standing, Seixas crossed the finish line exhausted and was met by his mother, Emmanuelle, who embraced him. Amid the television cameras and roaring spectators, the young leader allowed a quiet moment of vulnerability before refocusing on the road ahead.
Looking Ahead to Plateau de Solaison
The grueling test continues with the 15th stage, featuring a punishing ascent up the Plateau de Solaison—a climb Seixas knows intimately from his training days. “It’s not far from my grandparents’ house, and I trained there often,” Seixas noted. “It’s one of the hardest climbs I know. If tomorrow goes as well as today, it would be perfect.”
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