Seixas: “I especially hope not to fall on the climb to Alpe d’Huez”
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Paul Seixas has a calmness and maturity that is not new. Already among young people he sticks out headlong. The one who is above everyone and who leaves only crumbs for others. The Lyonian climbs the ladder, but does not suppress or despise those below him. Against. Already in cadets and juniors, young Paul knows how to take care of everything to satisfy his friends, who are not averse to lying for their friend, who is a foot taller than everyone else. We told you about this during Classic of the Alps 2024, where he went on a long-range raid alone.
“There was no discussion in the committee about the hierarchy. It’s quite easy because we know he’s the strongest, everyone knows he’s the best on the team.”explains Aurélien Kaiser, a runner who worked with him in Villefranche and at the regional qualifiers. “When you know his qualities, we knew he wouldn’t screw it up. So it was definitely easier to give everything for him than for someone else.”confirms Matteo Moncoutier, who also knew him in the youth ranks.
Perceived Leadership
In all team races Paul is the leader. He takes on the burden of the race and the responsibility that comes with it. An XXL track record among juniors where (almost) no challenge stood in his way, a list of successes as long as his arm and the promise of a bright future. In doing so, he manages to rally around him teammates who know the chance to race with such talent as well as a great man. “He’s very calm, he knows what he wants. He’s easy to get along with, he’s not boring at all, Paul.”Aurelien Kaiser tells us.
Pinault: “Seixas is mature and physically ready”
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Despite his obvious superiority over other boys his age, Paul Seixas is not at all shy about playing as a team when necessary. In 2024, Decathlon leader CMA CGM has just won the individual time trial at the French Junior Championships in Altkirch (Alsace). The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes committee arrives with a strong and homogeneous workforce in the online race, and Lyon’s success is as enormous as its talent and its dominance. So obviously they were waiting for him. And it was his teammate Camille Charre who took the opportunity to treat himself to the tri-color jersey, which he proudly displays in a photo in his email.
The job is not automatic for him.
Having taken the lead early in the race, Camille Charre senses the right move to go all the way. “I used his mark to win the title. And he is behind, he played to support me and get the podium. The other favourites, especially Baptiste Gregoire and Aubin Sparfel, patterned their race after Paul and waited for him to retire. Except he had three teammates up front, so he was playing a team game. They didn’t take on their responsibilities and that allowed me to go all the way.”– says the man who has been playing for the Cofidis team since this winter. A few weeks earlier, Paul Seixas surprised Auvergne even more.
The winner of the first online stage of the Tour du Pays de Vaud among juniors, Camille Charre, wears a yellow tunic on his back. The second stage follows a mountainous route ideal for Paul Seixas, but the Lyonnais overtakes his teammate. “He asked me several times: ‘Are you sure you want to do the work for me? Because you have a yellow jersey.” And for me it was clear in my head because he was the best in the race. But this question that arose shows that this is not natural for him. That he doesn’t tell himself that I’m worse than him in the mountains and that working for him is normal.”– says the 20-year-old runner.
Prodomme: “Seixas? He’s huge, but we knew that”
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Eternal recognition and memorable gift
The racing saw Paul Seixas win at the summit of Villars-sur-Ollon (10.2 km with 7.9%), 1’23” behind his closest pursuer and take the general at the end of the week. “He will always say thank you, be it to the staff, the runners, everyone around him. You can still feel it in his interviews, he is still the same person.“, adds Camille Charre. It was not so long ago, but it is proof – if any other proof was needed – of the exceptional maturity and early development of the Frenchman.
Meanwhile, he has also impressed with his maturity, offering the final stage of the Tour of the Alps to Nicolas Prodomme in 2025. His teammate was touched by the gesture, even though he had never won as a professional. Paul Seixas must have told himself that he would win many more. “
He has a lot to do in these two days in the Alps. But thanks to his unifying ability and temperament, there is no doubt that Nicolas Prodomme, Matthew Riccitiello or even Aurélien Paré-Pintre will have no problem getting down to business and achieving their dream of a Tour de France podium, as all those who have worn the same jersey as him have done before them.