'That is extraordinary' –Paul Seixas added 20 watts per month to his power over the winter, according to fellow French pro

Paul Seixas, the 19-year-old French cyclist from Lyon, has demonstrated remarkable progress over the winter, reportedly increasing his power output by 20 watts per month. This extraordinary improvement, revealed by fellow French pro Alex Baudin of EF Education-EasyPost and relayed by team director sportif Matti Breschel, sheds light on Seixas’s recent surge in performance. His impressive winter training gains help explain his strong start to the season, including stage wins and overall victory at last year’s Tour de l’Avenir, as well as his recent podium finish at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The context of Seixas’s rise was highlighted during the recent Monument race, where he finished second behind four-time winner Tadej Pogačar. Breschel observed a tense dynamic between the young Frenchman and the Slovenian world champion, suggesting Pogačar was keen to assert his dominance and perhaps felt challenged by the attention Seixas was receiving. The Dane noted that the media focus on Seixas seemed to irritate Pogačar, who appeared determined to remind everyone of his status during their battle on the iconic La Redoute climb. Breschel’s comments underline the significance of Seixas’s power gains, describing them as “extraordinary” and raising questions about the French rider’s future trajectory. With such rapid development, speculation is mounting over whether Seixas will make his Tour de France debut this season, a milestone that would mark a major step in his burgeoning career. The key question remains how much further Seixas can push his power output, especially after already securing victories at Itzulia Basque Country and La Flèche Wallonne. Seixas’s progress not only signals a promising future for the young rider but also adds intrigue to the ongoing rivalry with Pogačar, who has dominated the sport in recent years. As Seixas continues to build on his winter gains and translate them into race results, the cycling world will be watching closely to see if he can challenge the established elite. His development could herald a new chapter in French cycling, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape in the seasons ahead.