Paul Seixas will 'destroy everybody' says Tadej Pogačar, after being pushed all the way at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

French cycling prodigy Paul Seixas has once again demonstrated his burgeoning talent by pushing Tadej Pogačar to the limit at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, one of the sport’s most prestigious one-day races. Although the Slovenian superstar ultimately prevailed on the final climb, Seixas’s performance has drawn widespread attention, with Pogačar himself predicting that the 19-year-old will soon "destroy everybody" in the peloton. This endorsement from one of cycling’s current greats underscores the growing belief that Seixas is on the cusp of a remarkable career. Seixas’s rise has been closely watched throughout the season, with his ability to match Pogačar’s pace in hilly classics marking him out as a serious contender for future victories. At Liège, he stayed with Pogačar after the Slovenian launched an attack on La Redoute, only succumbing on the Roche aux Faucons climb. This was not their first encounter; earlier in the year at Strade Bianche, Seixas was the last rider dropped before Pogačar’s decisive solo break, and he also out-sprinted Pogačar’s team-mate Isaac Del Toro in the final kilometres of that race. Both riders have expressed mutual respect following their duel. Pogačar highlighted Seixas’s youth and potential, noting that the Frenchman’s physical peak is still years away, which makes his current level all the more impressive. Meanwhile, Seixas acknowledged Pogačar as "the greatest rider of all time," recognising the challenge ahead if he is to surpass the Slovenian’s dominance. He emphasised the need for continued hard work and development, accepting that progress in professional cycling requires patience and persistence. The implications of Seixas’s emergence are significant for the sport, signalling a potential shift in the balance of power among the new generation of riders. His ability to compete with an established multiple Grand Tour winner at such a young age suggests that the landscape of elite cycling could be evolving rapidly. Fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how Seixas builds on this foundation in the coming seasons, as he seeks to convert promise into consistent victories on the world stage.