Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) is set to aim for a Grand Tour podium in 2027 but it is currently unclear as to whether it will be a return to the Tour de France. While a home World Championships road race is set out as a key focus for the French star.
Julien Jurdie, Seixas's directeur sportif when he won Il Lombardia on Saturday, sketched the 20-year-old's next season without naming the stage race at its centre.
"Paul likes Strade Bianche; he should once again tackle Monuments such as Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Lombardia, and of course the idea will be to go and get a podium on a Grand Tour," Jurdie told Ouest-France. "We'll see which Grand Tour he does."
On his Tour debut in July, Seixas finished in fourth overall, albeit almost 12 minutes down on Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) while narrowly missing out on the final podium place and white jersey to Pogačar’s teammate Isaac del Toro after trying to break clear on the final mountain stage before cracking on the Col de la Sarenne.
Seixas was the closest rival to Pogačar in Strade Bianche as well as Liège, finishing second on both occasions behind the great rider. But when Pogačar crashed out of La Vuelta and ended his season, the final Monument of the year was left wide open and Seixas grabbed it with both hands with a dominant display that saw him ride clear of the rest on the penultimate climb of Civiglio before riding alone into Como to win his and his team’s first Monument, and he became the race's youngest winner, just over two weeks after turning 20.
His other 2026 wins included the overall title and three stages at Itzulia Basque Country, La Flèche Wallonne, the Faun-Ardèche Classic and a stage of the Volta ao Algarve.
A calendar built around Sallanches
The 2027 men's Worlds road race takes place on August 29 at Sallanches-Domancy-Pays du Mont-Blanc in Haute-Savoie, close to Seixas's home. The course covers 265km with 5,700m of climbing, including 20 laps over the Côte de Domancy, a 2.5km climb averaging 9.4%.
The Worlds road race normally comes after the Vuelta a España. In 2027 it sits between the two late-season Grand Tours. The Tour runs from July 2 to 25, finishing five weeks before the Worlds, and the Vuelta runs from September 4 to 26, starting six days after it. A Tour podium bid followed by a peak for Sallanches is possible on the calendar, but the turnaround is short. A Vuelta campaign would begin less than a week after one of the biggest one-day races of his season.
The Giro d'Italia, which runs from May 8 to 30, is probably the most likely Grand Tour for Seixas in 2027 with a chance for him to have a real shot at a podium and maybe even a win. But with riders such as Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Del Toro potentially riding as well, it will be a huge challenge.
Choosing the Giro would mean skipping the race Seixas has made his long-term priority. "My dream is to win it before the end of my career," he told Le Monde in December 2025, speaking about the Tour. "I'm optimistic, even though there are many steps still to take."
The Worlds also carry unfinished business from this year. In Montréal, Seixas took bronze in the time trial, then started the road race aiming for the rainbow jersey.
He suffered cramps late in the race and finished 15th. "It's a huge disappointment," he said in the mixed zone. He went on to call the result a failure and blame himself. France team director Thomas Voeckler said Seixas had spoken in the heat of the moment and was being too hard on himself.
In the Classics Jurdie mentioned, Tadej Pogačar is the measure: "I think everyone now wants to see this battle between Paul and Pogačar," Jurdie said.
Seixas will line up for Decathlon CMA CGM again next season, the final year of his current deal. "Next year I'll simply ride for Decathlon CMA CGM. For me that is certain, because I still have a contract until the end of 2027," he told Wielerflits in August. No extension has been announced, but the team is working to persuade him to stay beyond 2027.
