'I didn't expect to win by such a margin' – A time trial triumph for Paul Seixas as he carves out first WorldTour stage victory and claims leader's jersey at Itzulia Basque Country

Paul Seixas secured a commanding victory in the opening stage time trial of the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country, marking his first WorldTour stage win and earning him the prestigious leader's jersey. The 19-year-old French rider dominated the 13.8km hilly course in Bilbao, finishing with a significant margin ahead of his rivals. His Decathlon CMA CGM team praised his performance as "flawless," while Seixas himself expressed surprise at the scale of his triumph, having expected to win but not by such a wide gap. Seixas now leads the general classification with a comfortable advantage of 23 seconds over second-placed Kévin Vauquelin of Ineos Grenadiers, and even larger gaps to other contenders, including two-time winner Primož Roglič. The time trial victory builds on Seixas’s growing reputation as a formidable rider against the clock, a discipline in which he has excelled since his junior years. Notably, he previously won the junior time trial world title in Zurich and the Tour de l’Avenir time trial, signalling his potential early on. Vauquelin, who trains alongside Seixas, acknowledged the young rider’s strength and consistency, emphasising that the result was no accident. Seixas set the fastest time from the first checkpoint and maintained his lead over challenging gradients, including steep sections of 11% and a final 500-metre climb at 9.2%. His ability to overtake riders who started ahead highlighted his explosive power and tactical acumen on the course. Despite his commanding position, Seixas remains cautious about the challenges ahead in the week-long race, which includes several demanding stages. He acknowledged the difficulty of defending the leader’s jersey and is focused on maintaining his form throughout the event. This victory not only signals a breakthrough for the young rider but also positions him as a serious contender in the WorldTour circuit moving forward.