matticus
Guru
After Le French Wonder's dreams were shattered by a rider with actual class yesterday, does anyone think he has a future?
"Is Sexy-Ass Finished?" thread
- Thread starter matticus
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wakemalcolm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ratho
Yup, needs to move to Italy for the sake of his wealth.
Also needs to swallow his pride before it gets too big.
Also needs to swallow his pride before it gets too big.
OP
OP
matticus
Guru
@wakemalcolm have you heard the TCP coverage of Paul's win in the Basque country yet? I think you'll enjoy it! Its free for a limited period. https://substack.com/redirect/f6326...0.Lvf18pFFiKRgo39nGTMcKJ_TaKXTbRuQz1FxliuTPNM
Note they recorrded it just before the horrors of L-B-L.
Note they recorrded it just before the horrors of L-B-L.
Tolstoy for the TikTok generation
How can the sport's new French sensation help Seix Up cycling's long-form storylines?
Lionel Birnie
Apr 24
Seixy Basque – new episode of KM0 online now
Daniel Friebe was in the Basque Country to witness the week that changed pro cycling – the confirmation that 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas is the real deal. Seixy Basque is an unmissable listen if you want to find out more about the latest sensation to arrive on the scene. This episode of KM0 is available on our free feed for a limited time, before it moves across to our Friends of the Podcast feed shortly. More on that decision below…
We saw the future on the Mur de Huy on Wednesday afternoon as Paul Seixas won Flèche Wallonne at the first attempt, something not even Tadej Pogačar was able to do. Pogačar had three unsuccessful tries before he finally conquered one of the toughest climbs in cycling and secured victory in the first of the Ardennes Classics.
Seixas is still only 19, making him the youngest ever winner of Flèche Wallonne – the previous youngest was Philémon De Meersman, who was 21 when he won the first ever edition of the race 90 years ago.
Of course, the Seixas Hype Train published its timetable a long while ago. There’s been a rumble on the tracks for the past couple of seasons and that rumble told us that a phenomenon was approaching sooner rather than later. So far, his arrival at every major station on the route to greatness has been bang on schedule. He impressed on the world stage at the Tour of the Alps this time last year, ‘gifting’ victory to his more senior Decathlon teammate Nicolas Prodhomme after an 85-kilometre two-up break on the final day. Then he looked more than comfortable at the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, and was expected to win the Tour de l’Avenir later in the summer, which he did with a flourish after a tricky week of racing against his peers.
He ended the season with a very fine 13th place in a tough World Championship road race in Rwanda, third behind Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in the European Championships on another hilly course, and seventh at Il Lombardia.
So far this season, his development has continued apace, demonstrating Pog-esque consistency, durability, resilience and no shortage of panache. Victory at Itzulia was the first WorldTour level stage win by a Frenchman since Christophe Moreau at the Dauphiné in 2007 – almost a lifetime ago for Seixas.
We’ve been speculating since he took second place behind Pogačar at Strade Bianche whether Decathlon-CMA CGM will select him for the Tour de France and the team has said it will make a decision after Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
With the rumour mill already suggesting a move away from Decathlon may be on the cards when his contract expires at the end of next season – with UAE Team Emirates among the keenest suitors – it seems unlikely the French team will turn down what may be one of only two opportunities to go into the Tour de France with Seixas in their line-up.
The pressure will be immense, but when will that not be the case? France has been waiting for a winner of the men’s Tour de France since Bernard Hinault’s fifth and final title in 1985. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s victory in the Tour de France Femmes last summer captured the imagination and proved that, despite all those years of hurt, the country remains the spiritual and emotional heartbeat of the sport.
First, though, is La Doyenne – arguably the toughest one-day race on the calendar, the equivalent of a mountain stage with the all-or-nothing edge of a Classic. After his performance on the Mur de Huy on Wednesday, there are no doubts about Seixas’ ability to ride fast on steep climbs. There may still be a question mark or two over whether he can stay the distance right to the very end of a 268-kilometre race, but he showed at the Worlds and Il Lombardia that he was almost there and he’s developed further since then.
How can the sport's new French sensation help Seix Up cycling's long-form storylines?
Lionel Birnie
Apr 24
Seixy Basque – new episode of KM0 online now
Daniel Friebe was in the Basque Country to witness the week that changed pro cycling – the confirmation that 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas is the real deal. Seixy Basque is an unmissable listen if you want to find out more about the latest sensation to arrive on the scene. This episode of KM0 is available on our free feed for a limited time, before it moves across to our Friends of the Podcast feed shortly. More on that decision below…
We saw the future on the Mur de Huy on Wednesday afternoon as Paul Seixas won Flèche Wallonne at the first attempt, something not even Tadej Pogačar was able to do. Pogačar had three unsuccessful tries before he finally conquered one of the toughest climbs in cycling and secured victory in the first of the Ardennes Classics.
Seixas is still only 19, making him the youngest ever winner of Flèche Wallonne – the previous youngest was Philémon De Meersman, who was 21 when he won the first ever edition of the race 90 years ago.
Of course, the Seixas Hype Train published its timetable a long while ago. There’s been a rumble on the tracks for the past couple of seasons and that rumble told us that a phenomenon was approaching sooner rather than later. So far, his arrival at every major station on the route to greatness has been bang on schedule. He impressed on the world stage at the Tour of the Alps this time last year, ‘gifting’ victory to his more senior Decathlon teammate Nicolas Prodhomme after an 85-kilometre two-up break on the final day. Then he looked more than comfortable at the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, and was expected to win the Tour de l’Avenir later in the summer, which he did with a flourish after a tricky week of racing against his peers.
He ended the season with a very fine 13th place in a tough World Championship road race in Rwanda, third behind Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in the European Championships on another hilly course, and seventh at Il Lombardia.
So far this season, his development has continued apace, demonstrating Pog-esque consistency, durability, resilience and no shortage of panache. Victory at Itzulia was the first WorldTour level stage win by a Frenchman since Christophe Moreau at the Dauphiné in 2007 – almost a lifetime ago for Seixas.
We’ve been speculating since he took second place behind Pogačar at Strade Bianche whether Decathlon-CMA CGM will select him for the Tour de France and the team has said it will make a decision after Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
With the rumour mill already suggesting a move away from Decathlon may be on the cards when his contract expires at the end of next season – with UAE Team Emirates among the keenest suitors – it seems unlikely the French team will turn down what may be one of only two opportunities to go into the Tour de France with Seixas in their line-up.
The pressure will be immense, but when will that not be the case? France has been waiting for a winner of the men’s Tour de France since Bernard Hinault’s fifth and final title in 1985. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s victory in the Tour de France Femmes last summer captured the imagination and proved that, despite all those years of hurt, the country remains the spiritual and emotional heartbeat of the sport.
First, though, is La Doyenne – arguably the toughest one-day race on the calendar, the equivalent of a mountain stage with the all-or-nothing edge of a Classic. After his performance on the Mur de Huy on Wednesday, there are no doubts about Seixas’ ability to ride fast on steep climbs. There may still be a question mark or two over whether he can stay the distance right to the very end of a 268-kilometre race, but he showed at the Worlds and Il Lombardia that he was almost there and he’s developed further since then.
wakemalcolm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Ratho
Thanks for that, @matticus
I'd heard the Pod but don't subscribe to the mail. Can't believe they openly admit to indulging in speculation: what have they become?
I'll be gutted if he takes the petrol dollar. You see a lot of African footballers succumbing whilst explaining that they can feed their whole village by genuflecting at the Jack Pump but I doubt think this applies to the Seixas family.
I'd heard the Pod but don't subscribe to the mail. Can't believe they openly admit to indulging in speculation: what have they become?
I'll be gutted if he takes the petrol dollar. You see a lot of African footballers succumbing whilst explaining that they can feed their whole village by genuflecting at the Jack Pump but I doubt think this applies to the Seixas family.
