Paul Seixas sees UAE transfer hopes lose momentum

Paul Seixas appears less likely to join UAE Team Emirates, with the Emirati squad securing the two riders it has identified as its future leaders. That leaves the French prospect facing a different career choice: challenging Tadej Pogacar and Isaac Del Toro from elsewhere rather than eventually serving as a teammate or successor within UAE.

Seixas is under contract with Decathlon-CMA CGM until the end of 2027. His current team is preparing a move of its administrative base from France to Switzerland, a change intended to reduce its tax burden and strengthen its ability to compete internationally. The restructuring also points to an effort to make a major future offer to Seixas.

The 19-year-old has returned to racing in the Canadian classics and is now preparing for the world championships in Montreal, where he is viewed as one of the leading candidates to follow Pogacar. His recent results have nevertheless placed him behind Del Toro in the immediate hierarchy. The Mexican won the Dauphine, finished third on the Tour ahead of Seixas in fourth, and beat him again at the finish of the Grand Prix de Quebec on Sunday.

That advantage may not last, with Seixas two years younger than Del Toro. For now, however, UAE's contract decisions and the latest race results have reduced the likelihood of a move there, while strengthening the case for Decathlon-CMA CGM to retain its leading French talent.