Paul Seixas, a 19-year-old French cyclist from Lyon, has returned to competition ahead of the World Championships after taking a break following the Tour de France in July. He recently participated in the Canadian Grand Prix, a series of races held over three days in Quebec and Montreal in September. These events were particularly important as they served as a training ground for the World Championships in road cycling, which will be held in Montreal on September 27. Seixas’ return to competition drew significant attention, especially after he finished fourth in his debut Tour de France in July, which had already made him a rising star in French cycling. Seixas took a two-week break after the Tour de France, focusing on recovery and training. He then participated in a stage in the Alps during August and September before rejoining the competition as the leader of the French team. At the Quebec race on Friday, Seixas finished 17th, a minute behind the winner, Remco Evenepoel. While this result was below his expectations, he was a key figure in the race, influencing the peloton twice on a steep climb known as the Mountain, a pivotal moment in the event. His sports director, Julien Jurdie, noted that Seixas was physically strong but needed time to reacclimate to the dynamics of urban racing, which is less common in his experience. Two days later, Seixas improved, finishing second in Montreal behind Isaac del Toro of UAE-Emirates, a rider who had previously prevented him from earning a podium in the Tour de France. In Montreal, Seixas engaged in a close sprint with del Toro, but a moment of hesitation cost him the win. “I couldn’t find the 200m sign,” Seixas admitted, explaining that del Toro started early and proved stronger in the final stretch. Despite the loss, Seixas felt he had made progress since the Tour de France and believes there is still room for improvement ahead of the World Championships. Seixas is part of a strong team that includes experienced riders like Bruno Armirail and Pavel Sivakov, as well as Nicolas Prodhomme, who serves as his lieutenant. Jordan Jegat from TotalEnergies recently joined the team to replace Louis Barré. Seixas is aiming to perform well in his second elite World Championship, having narrowly missed the podium last year due to the dominance of Tadej Pogacar in Kigali, Rwanda. This year, the race will take place in Montreal, featuring a challenging climb similar to a mountain stage in the Tour de France, with Mount Royal as the final test. His main competitors include Remco Evenepoel, Isaac del Toro, Tom Pidcock, and Richard Carapaz. With Pogacar absent, Seixas sees this as a great opportunity to win the prestigious rainbow jersey.