Laurent Jalabert names Paul Seixas France’s Worlds leader

Paul Seixas will carry France’s leadership role in the men’s road race at the World Championships, in Laurent Jalabert’s assessment. The former rider said the rest of the French team would be at the 20-year-old’s service, placing the Lyon-born Decathlon CMA CGM rider at the centre of the country’s ambitions.

Seixas arrives after finishing second behind Isaac Del Toro at the Grand Prix de Montréal on September 13, with Brando McNulty third. That performance has made him a serious contender in the eyes of Jalabert, who said the Frenchman deserved close attention and had a strong opportunity based on what he showed in Montréal.

The rider himself has set a demanding target, considering any result short of victory a major disappointment. Jalabert noted that the ambition was striking for someone of Seixas’s age, while also questioning whether his form would match those expectations on race day.

The task remains difficult despite Tadej Pogacar’s absence after an injury suffered in late August during the Vuelta. Remco Evenepoel and Del Toro are among the leading rivals still in the field. Seixas therefore enters the championships with France’s backing and clear responsibility, but against a strong group of contenders.