The French prodigy Paul Seixas announced this Monday, May 4, his participation in the Tour de France next July. At 19 years old, he will become the youngest cyclist to start the "Grande Boucle" in 89 years.
First modification: 05/04/2026 - 21:02 Last modification: 05/04/2026 - 21:33
Paul Seixas, the French cycling prodigy, announced this Monday that he will participate in the Tour de France this summer to become, at 19 years old, the youngest rider to start the competition in 89 years.
The cyclist confirmed that he will start the Grande Boucle on July 4 in Barcelona, through a video broadcast on social networks by his team, the Decathlon CMA CGM.
Recorded at his grandparents' house in Haute-Savoie, the young cyclist explains that he has gone to "announce something special: in July I will have a race."
"The Tour de France?" asks his grandmother. "Yes," answers the one born in Lyon, determined to make history once again thanks to his precocity.
To display this content from X (Twitter), you must allow audience measurement and advertising cookies.
When the Tour starts in Barcelona, Seixas will be 19 years, nine months and ten days old, which will make him the youngest participant since 1937, when Frenchman Adrien Cento started at 19 years and three months.
Read alsoThe promising French cyclist Paul Seixas announces that he will participate in the Tour de France
Seven wins so far in 2026
The decision was highly anticipated after the exceptional start to the season by the French phenomenon, who already has seven victories in 2026, only in his second year as a professional.
After winning a stage in the Tour of Algarve (where he finished second overall), he made a successful solo ride in the Classic Ardèche and took second place in the Strade Bianche, only behind Tadej Pogačar. His definitive consecration came with the victory in the Tour of the Basque Country - where he achieved three stages -, the Flecha Wallonne and, finally, a second place in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 26, being the only one capable of keeping up with Pogačar for a stretch.
His team had postponed the decision until the end of the spring classics (highly prestigious single-day races), but the young talent's sensational results ended up tipping the balance in favor of his debut this summer.
However, debuting in three-week races directly in the Tour de France - where media pressure is maximum - is an unusual move in a sport where endurance usually improves with age.
The usual thing is to "experience" in other Grand Tours, such as the Giro d'Italia or the Vuelta a España, before facing the highest level of the Tour. For example, Tadej Pogačar first tried his hand at the Vuelta in 2019 (where he won three stages and was third) before winning his first Tour the following year, at the age of 22.
Read alsoPaul Seixas imposes himself with authority in the Walloon Fleche
With AFP
This article was adapted from its original French version
Related keywords
The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.
