Paul Seixas receives warning ahead of Montreal Worlds

Paul Seixas has a major opportunity at the World Championships in Montreal, but Bernard Hinault has warned that the demanding course could expose the young French rider. The five-time Tour de France winner believes Seixas will need tactical discipline as well as physical strength when the race is held on 27 September.

Seixas arrives with strong credentials for the French team. He won the Flèche Wallonne, finished second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and placed fourth in the Tour de France. Those results have established the Decathlon-CMA CGM rider as a genuine contender for the rainbow jersey, although Hinault does not regard him as the leading favourite.

The race may be more open because defending champion Tadej Pogacar is expected to miss it after suffering a shoulder injury in a heavy crash during the Vuelta. Hinault considers Isaac Del Toro the new favourite, suggesting that Pogacar’s absence could release the Mexican rider. Seixas, however, would gain an additional opportunity in a field with fewer clear certainties.

Hinault also stressed that Seixas will not be able to rely only on his power. The former champion believes the Montreal route may not suit him perfectly, while its difficulty could produce an unpredictable race. Seixas therefore faces a test of judgement as much as endurance, despite already showing that he can compete with the strongest riders in major events.