video released by his team<\/a>.<\/p>\nSeixas, who rides for the CMA CGM Decathlon team has been in an impressive form this season, finishing runner-up to Tadej Poga\u010dar at the Strade Bianche and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He also became the youngest winner of the Fl\u00e8che Wallonne.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a childhood dream of mine, something I\u2019ve often imagined, and now it\u2019s very close to becoming reality,\u201d said Seixas, a versatile rider with excellent climbing and time trialing skills. \u201cI\u2019m only 19, but as I\u2019ve already said, age is neither a barrier nor an excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n
It has been nearly 41 years since a French rider last won the Tour de France, when Bernard Hinault claimed the last of his five titles back in 1985.<\/p>\n
Over the past four decades, France has produced talented riders such as Thibaut Pinot, Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil or Julian Alaphilippe. All raised hopes but ultimately fell short, often facing rivals backed by stronger and better-funded teams.<\/p>\n
That could change following Seixas’ announcement, who has a strong team. Decathlon, a global sporting goods company, has joined forces with CMA CGM, one of the world\u2019s largest shipping firms, to invest in a French team with Tour-winning ambitions. The team said last year it aims to win the Tour de France within the next five years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe needed to take the time to carefully analyze all the data and also talk with Paul and those around him,\u201d said Dominique Serieys, the team’s CEO. \u201cHe has had a remarkable start to the season and is already among the best riders in the world. And the best are meant to line up at the biggest race on the calendar: the Tour de France. With great humility and in a learning mindset, Paul will start in Barcelona with genuine ambitions to achieve the best possible result in the general classification.\u201d<\/p>\n
This season, Seixas also became the youngest winner of a WorldTour stage race at the Tour of the Basque Country.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy results since the start of the season have given me a lot of confidence; I feel ready and I will have ambitious goals,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not my mindset or my view of cycling to line up at the Tour de France with the sole aim of discovering it. I will aim for the best possible overall classification.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of his preparations for the Tour, Seixas will also compete at the Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes in June. Following the Tour, Seixas plans to ride in Canada before the world championships and the Tour of Lombardy.<\/p>\n
The Tour de France starts on July 4 from Barcelona, Spain.<\/p>\n