Cyclist faces injury concerns before Tour de France

Paul Seixas, a 20-year-old cyclist who placed fourth in the 2026 Tour de France, was at risk of being pulled from the race just before it began in Barcelona. He had previously won the Tour of Lombardy, Flèche Wallonne, and the Tour of the Basque Country this season, but a fall during the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes a month earlier raised questions about his ability to compete.

Injury reoccurs before key race

Seixas fell again the day before the team time trial in Barcelona, slipping on tram rails and reopening his wounds. His father, Emmanuel Seixas, told L’Équipe that the incident was kept secret to prevent competitors from knowing about his injuries, though he confirmed it did not impact his son's performance or final standing in the race.

Mental strain during the Tour de France

According to his father, Seixas experienced significant mental pressure during the three weeks of the Tour de France. Emmanuel described how his son felt stress after the second week, fearing being overtaken by others on climbs and falling. This mental challenge grew stronger in the third week, with Seixas feeling exhausted and thinking "things could happen to me" in the final days of the race.

Ambitions and family perspective

Despite the pressure, Seixas remains focused on his goals, including the dream of following in the footsteps of Bernard Hinault and breaking the Tour de France record. His father acknowledged this as Seixas's ambition but cautioned that winning the Tour is a "gigantic" challenge and that Seixas is "not close to achieving it." While unsure if his son is already among the greats, Emmanuel emphasized that cycling is "his passion" and that Seixas is "tied to cycling for life."