Paul Seixas’ junior opener Vincent Lavenue was optimistic about his former protégé on Wednesday. The former Decathlon-CMA CGM team boss regretted not being able to accompany him to the 2026 Tour de France following his tumultuous ousting from the French team.
Brilliant for his first Tour de France at just 19 years of age, Paul Seixas is still in contention for a fantastic podium finish at the 2026 Grand Boucle. Just 20 seconds behind Isaac Del Toro, the Decathlon-CMA CGM team leader has a real chance to play in the final stages of the race. Former France coach Vincent Lavenue was delighted with the debut of a runner he discovered among the youth.
“Today he is fourth, 20 seconds behind Del Toro. In my opinion, these are two approximately equal riders, two boys who will become great champions of the future,” greeted the ex-leader during an interview published on Wednesday by Le Dauphiné Libéré newspaper. “Paul is on the threshold of the podium, everything is still possible.”
Paul Seixas – “the racer that France has been waiting for 40 years”
Incredibly calm and able to compete with the Tour de France favorites, with the exception of alien Tadej Pogacar, Paul Seixas has so far achieved a near-perfect race for his first attempt at a grand tour. A real achievement, according to Vincent Lavenue, who also remembers the enormous pressure that fell on the shoulders of the French phenomenon.
“After this, there is incredible pressure on him because he is the rider that France has been waiting for 40 years,” continued Paul Seixas’ pioneer among the cadets. “There is a craze that we need to control, and I think it’s not easy.”
Lavenue is banned from the Tour along with Seixas due to sudden withdrawal from the game
Without direct contact with Paul Seixas during the 2026 Tour de France, Vincent Lavenue decided to leave him alone due to the numerous requests the 19-year-old ace had already been subjected to. Instead, the former Decathlon-CMA CGM team leader speaks to the prodigy’s parents, but regrets not being able to accompany him on the roads of France. The reason for this is his apparent ousting from the team he founded in 1992.
“I think it would be right to be there. So it is, life decreed differently. People decided to oust me from this team in a violent, incredible and unfair way,” the former leader, who is now 70 years old, further cursed.
“It was very painful”
Before seeing Vincent Lavenue continue: “I still have this wound deep inside, but I remain tender for this team that I created 34 years ago. Decathlon and CMA CGM are investing a lot of money, they have a long-term project, knowing that they have a champion is very good for them.”