Thomas Voeckler, a former French cyclist, has announced the seven riders who will support Paul Seixas in the road race at the world championships. The French selections for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships have been revealed on Friday, September 11. From September 24 to 27, the world's top cyclists will gather in Montreal to compete for the prestigious rainbow jersey, which signifies the world champion. The French teams will be represented across all categories, from Juniors to Elites. Among the key French contenders are Paul Seixas, who will compete in both the time trial and road race in the Men's Elite category, and Célia Géry, the French national champion and expected leader of the women's team. The 2026 World Championships will take place on a challenging course. The Elite road races will start in the Brossard area and move through parts of the Montérégie region before reaching Montreal and the final circuit around Mount Royal, including the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge. The final circuit is 13.4 kilometers long with 269 meters of elevation gain, and it will be covered eight times by the Women's Elite and twelve times by the Men's Elite. The main challenges include the Camillien-Houde road on Mount Royal, the Polytechnique path with steep sections, and the uphill false flat of Avenue du Parc, where the finish line is located. Men will race 273.7 kilometers with 3,803 meters of elevation gain, while women will cover 180.4 kilometers with 2,570 meters of elevation gain. France also has ambitions in the mixed relay time trial, a discipline in which the French team has shown strong performance in recent years. The relay consists of three women—Juliette Berthet, Marion Borras, and Cédrine Kerbaol—and three men—Bruno Armirail, Rémi Cavagna, and Jordan Labrosse. This team combines experience and youth, with several time trial specialists and riders capable of maintaining high speeds throughout the race. Paul Brousse, a silver medalist at the 2023 World Championships, notes that the French team is aiming for victory, having narrowly missed it in previous events by just a few seconds. Among the Men's Elite, Paul Seixas stands out as a key French contender. At 19, the Decathlon-CMA CGM rider has already gained experience at the highest level, finishing fourth in the 2026 Tour de France and second in the junior classification. The Montreal course, with its climbing and punchy sections, seems well-suited to his abilities. Seixas will compete in both the time trial and the road race, supported by a strong team including Pavel Sivakov and Jordan Labrosse. Among the Women's Elite, Célia Géry, a 20-year-old FDJ United-Suez rider, is expected to lead the French team. Her strong performances in the Tour de France Femmes and national championships have positioned her as a key figure. Géry will be supported by a group of talented riders, including Juliette Berthet and Cédrine Kerbaol, who will also compete in the time trial. France will also field strong teams in the U23 and Junior categories. In the Women's U23, riders such as Amandine Muller and Marion Bunel will compete, with the latter having recent experience in major races. In the Men's U23, Aubin Sparfel, who has shown promise in the Giro Next Gen and the U23 Tour of Italy, will be a key figure. The Juniors will also be represented, with Lancelot Gayant competing in both the time trial and road race for the Men's Juniors. Overall, the French team is looking to make a strong showing across all categories at the world championships in Montreal.