Paul Seixas, the immense promise of French cycling, may well have to wait another year before lining up for the legendary Tour de France. Despite his meteoric rise, his participation in the 2026 Tour de France is far from guaranteed.

The young prodigy from Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, just 19 years old, stunned the professional peloton in his very first season. His results speak for themselves: 8th in the Critérium du Dauphiné, 3rd in the European Championships, and even 7th in the Tour of Lombardy. A record that fuels public enthusiasm and hopes for a future French winner.

The Question of Early Exposure

However, within the French team, caution is the watchword. Sporting director Luke Rowe emphasized to Eurosport that no decision has been made.

“That remains to be decided… We have a training camp very soon, and this is one of the questions we’ll have to consider,” he confided. The official schedule for the Lyon-based rider will be published “when [the team] is ready.”

Seixas's extreme youth and the unique media pressure of the Tour de France are at the heart of the hesitations. The management is aware that the psychological dimension of the event is as crucial as the sporting challenge.

Swim or Sink: The New Cycling

Rowe emphasized the weight of national expectations, despite his conviction that Seixas would be able to meet them. He particularly warned against the brutality of the current elite level.

"It's not the same sport as it was ten years ago... Today, you're thrown in at the deep end and told: 'swim or sink'. "

The risk of exposing the young phenomenon to this intensity too early could have a significant impact on its trajectory.

An alternative: The Giro?

All options are on the table, including giving Paul Seixas another Grand Tour experience. A detour via the Giro d'Italia remains a possibility, especially since its route will be unveiled in early December.

The final answer is expected on December 11 , the date of the official presentation of the Decathlon CMA-CGM team. By then, Paul Seixas and his managers will have to decide: is the time right for the prodigy to take on the world's greatest cycling event?