French cycling manager Thomas Voeckler addressed Paul Seixas finishing 15th at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Montreal, Canada, expressing disappointment over tactical isolation while defending the young rider’s high ambitions after Brandon McNulty claimed the world title on September 27.
How Brandon McNulty Secured the World Title in Montreal
The UCI Cycling World Championships in Canada delivered unexpected results on September 27, culminating in a dominant solo victory by American rider Brandon McNulty in Montreal. While McNulty rode clear of the field to secure the rainbow jersey, the race unfolded as a tactical battle across the Canadian circuit. Numerous contenders animated the early and middle phases of the race, but the demanding course and aggressive racing eventually splintered the leading groups in the final kilometers.
Paul Seixas Falters in the Final Kilometers After Early Promise
French prospect Paul Seixas featured prominently among the race favorites and raced near the front for much of the day. However, the physical demands of the closing kilometers caught up with him, leaving him unable to sustain the pace set by the decisive attackers. Seixas crossed the finish line in 15th place, immediately expressing severe disappointment over the result after entering the event with gold-medal aspirations.
Thomas Voeckler Evaluates France’s Tactics and Isolation Issues
Speaking after the race, French national team manager Thomas Voeckler sought to put the performance into perspective while acknowledging tactical shortcomings during the event. Voeckler noted that Seixas found himself isolated from his French teammates earlier than planned, complicating the team’s strategy during a critical phase of the race.
“He was in very good shape. From what I saw in the race, it was okay. It’s not his fault,” Voeckler stated, defending the rider’s preparation and effort. Addressing Seixas’s lofty goals, Voeckler added: “He aims so high. He had announced that any result other than gold would be a failure. It pisses me off too, but if it were easy to win a world championship, everybody would know it. There are many of us because we believed in it, he first and foremost. Today, it’s not for us.”
Voeckler also shouldered responsibility for the tactical outcome, reflecting on the challenges of supporting a protected rider on a chaotic world championship course. “He was isolated from his teammates a bit early, that can happen. We managed to harden the race when we wanted to and it was in our interest. It’s a huge disappointment, but my job is also to mitigate it by accepting it. There is only one winner on each world championship, which makes it its beauty. It’s a champion, not undeserved, but unexpected today. We did what we had to do. I would have liked Paul to be better surrounded, but those are my decisions.”
Moving Forward After Montreal World Championships
Despite the frustration of falling short of the podium, Voeckler emphasized that the team executed its general plan and maintained the right mindset throughout the preparation. The French delegation will now turn its attention toward analyzing the tactical lessons learned from the Canadian world championships as riders transition back to their respective trade teams for the remainder of the calendar.
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