Paul Seixas Named Leader of French Cycling Team for 2026 World Championships in Montreal

Paul Seixas has been promoted to lead the French cycling team at the upcoming 2026 World Championships in Montreal, with the event commencing on September 20. This decision comes in light of the absence of key rivals like Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, positioning Seixas as France's top contender.

Thomas Voeckler, the French team manager, praised Seixas for his exceptional form this season. Voeckler highlighted Seixas as the only rider capable of keeping pace with Pogacar at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and expressed confidence in his performance despite the young cyclist not being at full health. Paul Seixas has had a stellar season, winning seven races and finishing fourth in the Tour de France, signaling his readiness for a leadership role.

At just about to turn 20 years old on September 24, Seixas is seen as a potential successor to Julian Alaphilippe, the last Frenchman to win the world title in 2020 and 2021. He aims to improve on his 16th-place finish in the individual time trial at the previous World Championships in Kigali. The French team will support Seixas closely during the championship, opting not to use earpieces for in-race communication to allow for more strategic flexibility.

The national coach François Trarieux noted the rise of Seixas as a standout talent from the 2006 generation after an impressive call following the Tour de l’Avenir. Seixas will face strong competitors like Remco Evenepoel and Isaac Del Toro but benefits from a reshaped competitive landscape due to injuries to other frontrunners.

This elevation of Seixas as team leader marks a significant moment for French cycling ahead of the Montreal championships, with hopes high for a strong performance from the young talent.