19-Year-Old Phenom Seixas Was Pogačar's Closest Challenger at Strade Bianche

For once the hype may be spot on. It’s a measure of Paul Seixas’ talent that the 19-year -old—who is a full eight years younger than Tadej Pogačar—finished just one minute behind the world champion in what is his first Strade Bianche.

It’s also a measure of the Frenchman that he dropped the rider seen by many as Pogačar’s potential successor, Isaac del Toro, even after the Mexican sat on him for kilometer after kilometer in the race. Del Toro was marking Seixas due to being Pogačar’s teammate but notwithstanding that, Seixas floored it on the final climb towards the line, shelled his rival, and raced in nine seconds ahead.

A good day out for the Decathlon CMA CGM rider? You can say that again.

“It’s a great result,” Seixas told media at the finish line, including Cycling Pro Net. “I didn’t say it in the [pre-race] interview, but we still aimed for the podium today. It’s definitely a very ambitious goal. I never did this race before, I barely knew the sectors. So, I knew I had to rely a bit on my cyclocross skills.

“They were not enough, you know, since I stopped [that sport] two years ago. So, I managed to ride a bit, and then I fought all day to get this result. But it’s mainly the team’s work that was very impressive.”

‘I had stomach cramps all day’

Seixas’ Decathlon CMA CGM team did indeed perform well, but it is clear that he is something really special.

Winner of the junior world championship time trial in 2024, he was handed a WorldTour contract by the Decathlon squad and went on to win the Tour de l’Avenir. He was also third in the European road race championship behind Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, then placed seventh in Il Lombardia.

Seixas has hit the ground running this year, his second season as a pro. He took his first pro win in mid-February when he won a stage of the Volta ao Algarve, beating no less than Tour de France stars Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), João Almeida (UAE Emirates XRG) and Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers) to do so.

He then followed that up with victory in the Faun-Ardèche Classic, finishing almost two minutes clear of the next riders after a 42km solo breakaway.

Going up against Pogačar was another big test, and he did more than well.

The world champion made his move 80km from the line and Seixas was the only one able to bridge across once the gap had opened. He did crack after that, sliding backwards and being caught by Del Toro, and revealed that he was further delayed by the Mexican’s tactics.

“My legs felt good. I had some minor stomach issues. I had a bit of stomach cramps all day,” he said. “I don’t really know why, but it didn’t bother me. I was so focused on my race that, well, it just went out the window.

“I tried to keep up at the beginning, he [Pogačar] attacked just before the descent. After that, they played as a team. Del Toro blocked me. He really didn’t want me to pass. I’d overtake him and he’d overtake me again. He was holding me up in front.”

‘He was pacing himself better than me’

Pogačar’s initial attack with 80km to go gapped all bar Tom Pidcock, but the Briton—who won in 2023 and was second last year—had issues with his bike. His chain dropped off and he had to ease back to fix it, with the gap consequently opening between himself and Pogačar.

It’s a measure of Seixas’s strength that he was able to get across to the Slovenian. However once he was gapped again it was more or less game over, in terms of the race win.

“I gave it my all to try and keep up with him. I knew I had a lot to lose because if I’d pushed myself too hard at that point, 80 kilometers from the finish, it was going to be tough later on,” he said.

“I think he was pacing himself better than me because I was going all out, and he kept looking back and seeing me coming back, so he’d accelerate again. I think he was definitely pacing himself better than me.

“Anyway, I’m 500 meters short [a slightly underestimation of the gap at the end – ed.]. It’s all the strong stuff I did in the wind. He was also in the wind, so that’s how it is. He was just stronger, you know. And he’s still the best rider in the world. So, no regrets.”

It’s that small gap which will give him most encouragement for the future. As stated already, Pogačar is a full eight years older than the Frenchman. Seixas has plenty of time to grow and improve and, providing he continues on the right track, could well go on to dominate the sport in the same way Pogačar is doing now.

“It’s already one minute too many, let’s say,” he said, making clear he wants more. “That’s the minute that made him win, and especially since he attacked 80km from the finish. So, well, at a certain point, it’s just phenomenal. And one minute, well, it’s not far off.

“It’s true, it’s definitely not very far, but it’s still a minute.”

‘I want to continue this upward journey’

Seixas may rue that time gap but he still goes away from the race with further encouragement. His confidence was already growing after his recent strong performances and this will only add to it. He’s clearly a rider with a very strong future and riding as he did on Saturday will gladden his team Decathlon CMA CGM while also giving UAE Emirates XRG a tinge of regret.

That squad tried to sign him in 2024 but he turned them down, and also others such as Soudal Quick-Step, Lidl-Trek, EF Education EasyPost and Groupama-FDJ.

As he told Cyclist at the time, he settled for less money out of a sense of loyalty to the Decathlon setup which had supported him as a younger rider.

“I realized that staying with a familiar team and environment was better than getting a bigger pay cheque elsewhere,” he stated. “I had a great experience with them as a junior and they’ve helped develop me to this point. I want to continue this upward journey.”

He has certainly done just that.

Next up is Itzulia Basque Country and then the Ardennes Classics, with another clash with Pogačar on the cards in the latter events.

Strade Bianche will help him believe a very big result is possible in those races.

“It definitely gives you a lot of confidence, especially in a race like this where I didn’t really know the roads,” he said on Saturday. “I knew I had the technical skills but, well, it was a race I was discovering.

“To finish second and beat all the other solid riders that were at the start except Pogačar, it really gives me confidence for the future. It shows that the work paid off this winter and that I can play among the best this year.”