Paul Seixas, a 20-year-old cyclist, had a successful season with 8 wins, but narrowly missed out in key sprints, prompting his team to focus on improving his sprinting skills.
Young cyclist's impressive season
Paul Seixas, a 20-year-old cyclist for the Decathlon CMA CGM team, has had a successful season with eight victories in 49 days of competition. His wins include the Tour de Lombardie this Saturday, a prestigious race in Italy known for its challenging mountain stages.Close calls in major races
Seixas also finished second in three major races: Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Grand Prix de Montréal. In Montreal, he was narrowly beaten in a two-man sprint by Isaac del Toro, a fellow cyclist who launched his final push after Seixas looked for the 200m sign.Team director discusses Seixas's performance
Julien Jurdie, the sports director of Decathlon CMA CGM, discussed Seixas's performance on Bistrot Vélo, a cycling-themed show on Eurosport. Jurdie noted that the team is now entering a period of analysis and debriefing with the riders, focusing on Seixas's recent results and areas for improvement.Focus on sprinting skills
Jurdie emphasized that Seixas is not a "ironing board," a term used to describe a clumsy or uncoordinated rider. He explained that Seixas had been advised to close the door on the left during the Montreal race due to wind conditions, but he looked for the 200m sign, which is something he had already passed 15 times during the race.Future improvements expected
Jurdie acknowledged that Seixas is not the most aggressive in sprints but noted that his top speed should not be overlooked. He stated that the team will analyze the situation with the staff and that Seixas is very relevant, having not forgotten what did not go well for him. Jurdie suggested that Seixas may return with improvements in his sprinting abilities.Seixas's strengths and potential
Seixas is already recognized as a strong climber, a good rouler (a rider who can maintain a steady pace over long distances), a solid classic rider, and a capable general classification rider. If he can improve further in sprints in small groups, he will become even more difficult to beat in future races.
