'Age is neither a hindrance nor an excuse' – Paul Seixas to ride Tour to France and become youngest rider in almost 90 years

Paul Seixas will make history as the youngest rider to start the Tour de France in nearly nine decades, confirmed by his team Decathlon CMA CGM. At just 19 years old, Seixas is set to become only the second teenager to compete in the race this century. His debut comes after a string of impressive performances this season, signalling his readiness to challenge the established hierarchy in the world’s most prestigious cycling event. Seixas’s rise has been meteoric, highlighted by victories at the Volta ao Algarve, Faun-Ardèche Classic, and La Flèche Wallonne, as well as multiple stage wins and overall triumph at the Itzulia Basque Country. He also finished runner-up to Tadej Pogačar in both Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, underscoring his status as one of the sport’s brightest young talents. His team manager, Dominique Serieys, praised his remarkable start to the season and emphasised the careful deliberation behind the decision to include him in the Tour squad. In his own words, Seixas expressed a determined mindset, rejecting the notion that his youth is a limitation or an excuse. He aims not merely to gain experience but to compete ambitiously for a strong general classification result. Ahead of the Tour, he will contest the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, a race that serves as an ideal preparation on familiar terrain, further demonstrating his commitment to performing at the highest level. Seixas’s participation also carries broader significance for French cycling, which has not seen a male winner in the Tour de France since 1985. While the women’s race has recently seen French success with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s victory in the Tour de France Femmes, Seixas’s emergence offers renewed hope for a homegrown contender on the men’s side. His debut will be closely watched as a potential sign of a new generation ready to challenge the sport’s elite.