'The worst thing is being afraid to go for it' – young French star doubles up at Itzulia Basque Country with stage 2 win

Teenage French rider Paul Seixas delivered a remarkable performance at the Itzulia Basque Country, securing his second consecutive WorldTour victory by winning stage two. Following his triumph in Monday’s opening time trial, the 19-year-old from Decathlon CMA CGM launched a decisive solo attack on the day’s main climb, the 9.4km San Miguel de Aralar, ultimately finishing with a commanding lead of 1 minute 25 seconds over his nearest chasers. This victory not only underscored his rising status in professional cycling but also saw him don the yellow leader’s jersey, holding a near two-minute advantage over notable contenders including Primož Roglič. The stage, covering 164km from Pamplona to Cuevas de Mendukilo, was described by Seixas as the toughest of the week, a challenge he had specifically targeted for a potential win. His strategic approach involved breaking away on the climb, bridging to the early escapees, and then using a skilled descent and final climb to maintain his lead. Seixas credited his team for their crucial support in positioning him perfectly throughout the race, emphasising the importance of teamwork in executing his plan. He also highlighted his fearless racing style, stating that hesitation is the biggest obstacle in pursuing victory. Seixas’s current standing places him in a strong position to defend the overall lead across the remaining stages, which include two hilly days followed by more mountainous terrain. With a 1:59 lead over Roglič and a 2:08 gap to Roglič’s teammate Florian Lipowitz, the young Frenchman has set a challenging benchmark for his rivals. The race’s progression will test his endurance and tactical acumen as he aims to convert his early success into an overall win. The results from the stage saw other prominent riders like Mathias Skjelmose and Primož Roglič finish behind Seixas, while the general classification reflects a competitive field with several riders within striking distance. Seixas’s back-to-back wins at such a young age mark him as one of the sport’s most exciting emerging talents, and his performance at Itzulia Basque Country is likely to attract significant attention as the season unfolds.