Paul Seixas shines as French cycling star with WorldTour victories

Nineteen‑year‑old Lyon‑born Paul Seixas, a former junior world champion on the road and in cyclo‑cross, has rapidly risen to prominence on the professional circuit. After turning pro with Decathlon‑AG2R (now Decathlon CMA CGM), he posted a series of strong results early in the 2025 season, including a second‑place overall at the Tour de l'Algarve in Portugal and his first WorldTour win at the Faun‑Ardèche Classic.

Seixas then took second place at the prestigious Strade Bianche behind Tadej Pogačar, added three stage victories and the overall title at the Tour du Pays Basque, and became the first French rider to win a WorldTour stage‑race overall since 2007. He continued his breakthrough by winning the Flèche Wallonne and finishing runner‑up at Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège. In a press conference for the Tour Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes, Seixas described the race as a vital rehearsal for the Tour de France, emphasizing its role in testing his form and recovery ahead of July's Grand Tour.

His rapid ascent follows a decorated junior career that included French national titles on the road and cyclo‑cross, a world junior time‑trial title, and a historic win at the Tour de l’Avenir, marking him as a leading figure in French cycling's new generation.