Paul Seixas defeat brings Thomas Voeckler tactical blame

Paul Seixas’s failure to challenge for the rainbow jersey has put French team manager Thomas Voeckler’s tactics under scrutiny. Luc Leblanc says the result reflected mistakes in the team’s planning as well as decisions made by the young rider, rather than simply a personal failure by Seixas.

Seixas finished 15th, 2 minutes 47 seconds behind American winner Brandon McNulty, after cramps disrupted his effort in the decisive phase. He had also raced the time trial the previous weekend and placed third. Leblanc believes that extra effort deprived him of freshness and says too much was demanded from a rider still at an early stage of his development.

The former 1994 world champion also questioned France’s strategy. Bruno Armirail worked more than 150 kilometres from the finish, while Valentin Paret-Peintre and Alex Baudin repeatedly attacked. Leblanc argues that those moves drained the French team, leaving Seixas without support with 50 kilometres remaining.

He also criticised Seixas for repeatedly responding to attacks by Isaac Del Toro instead of conserving his remaining energy. The contrast, in his view, was provided by the United States: Quinn Simmons went clear while the rest of the team stayed protected, before McNulty made his decisive move. Leblanc’s assessment is that Seixas is highly talented but was treated as though he already had to carry the race alone.