Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM) won La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday in his first participation, finishing three seconds ahead of Mauro Schmid (Jayco-AlUla) with Ben Tulett (Visma | Lease a Bike) rounding out the top three. Speaking at the finish to Cycling Pro Net, the 19-year-old described a race shaped by his team's sustained control and his own energy management rather than a single explosive moment on the Mur de Huy.
"It was an intense day with a lot of positioning over 100 kilometres. It was really rough," Seixas said. "The team managed the race masterfully, even if there were moments where we had to ease off to hold position and save ammunition."
Seixas became the youngest winner in the race's history, surpassing Philemon De Meersman, who won in 1936 at 21 years and 150 days. De Meersman was the first ever winner of the race. He dismissed the record without hesitation. "I only remember that I won," he said. "My age doesn't really interest me."
It wasn't an easy route to the win in Huy, though. Seixas and his Decathlon-CMA CGM team had planned to have at least two riders with him for the final kilometre with Léo Bisiaux taking him through the final kilometre and Jordan Labrosse to set up his attack with maybe one more to add some extra backup. But, the peloton and the frantic nature of the final Huy approach left Seixas alone.
Flèche Wallonne Results
Herstal – Huy (Mur de Huy) • Apr 22 • 208.8km
| Pos | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Paul Seixas | Decathlon CMA CGM TeamDecathlon CMA CGM Team | 4h 35' 29" |
| 🥈 | Mauro Schmid | Team Jayco AlUlaTeam Jayco AlUla | +0:03 |
| 🥉 | Ben Tulett | Team Visma | Lease a BikeTeam Visma | Lease a Bike | +0:03 |
| 4 | Benoit Cosnefroy | UAE Team Emirates-XRGUAE Team Emirates-XRG | +0:03 |
| 5 | Mattias Skjelmose | Lidl-TrekLidl-Trek | +0:08 |
| 6 | Alex Baudin | EF Education-EasyPostEF Education-EasyPost | +0:08 |
| 7 | Ion Izagirre | CofidisCofidis | +0:10 |
| 8 | Lenny Martinez | Bahrain VictoriousBahrain Victorious | +0:10 |
| 9 | Romain Grégoire | Groupama-FDJ UnitedGroupama-FDJ United | +0:10 |
| 10 | Andreas Lorentz Kron | Uno-X MobilityUno-X Mobility | +0:10 |
| 11 | Christian Scaroni | XDS Astana TeamXDS Astana Team | +0:10 |
| 12 | Filippo Zana | Soudal Quick-StepSoudal Quick-Step | +0:10 |
| 13 | Kévin Vauquelin | Ineos GrenadiersIneos Grenadiers | +0:19 |
| 14 | Alex Aranburu | CofidisCofidis | +0:21 |
| 15 | Léo Bisiaux | Decathlon CMA CGM TeamDecathlon CMA CGM Team | +0:21 |
| 16 | Clément Champoussin | XDS Astana TeamXDS Astana Team | +0:21 |
| 17 | Adrien Maire | Unibet Rose RocketsUnibet Rose Rockets | +0:21 |
| 18 | Pello Bilbao | Bahrain VictoriousBahrain Victorious | +0:24 |
| 19 | Fernando Barcelo | Caja Rural-Seguros RGACaja Rural-Seguros RGA | +0:26 |
| 20 | Steff Cras | Soudal Quick-StepSoudal Quick-Step | +0:26 |
"I found myself isolated quite quickly because there was an enormous fight for position at the foot of the climb," Seixas said. "It was really rough. Jordan still managed to do his job despite everything, and the others had worked all day. They'd had to do extra work on the side, so it wasn't easy for them to still be there in the finale."
With that plan dashed, Seixas focused on what he needed to do to be well placed when it mattered. He made sure to set his own tempo on the climb to not allow any stop-start tactics from his rivals. "I managed to impose my rhythm," he said. "That's what I wanted to do, not let anyone impose dead moments, to avoid a finish that was too punchy. In the end I made the difference by force."
The French wonder did his first kick to split the race up with just under 300 metres to go on the climb after riding side by side with Tulett, Benoit Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Schmid. The pace change immediately dropped several riders, leaving a select few in his wheel. He then kicked again with under 200 metres to go and that is when he finally gapped the rest and solo to victory. But, if it wasn't for his team he wouldn't be in that position. "It's a real joy to win for the team," he said. "Winning a race is never easy. Of this calibre, it's exceptional."
Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Pogačar question
Seixas has been one of the most dominant riders of the spring so far with only two riders beating him. The injured Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) and the man that waits for him on Sunday in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) not to mention Amstel Gold Race winner, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).
Both chose to opt out of racing Flèche Wallonne, leaving Seixas as the stand out favourite on Wednesday. Sunday's Monument, however, is a different kettle of fish with almost another 60km more on Flèche Wallonne's 200km. The challenge of the extra distance and two of the sport's biggest names will ask new questions on the biggest stage.
"I think Sunday is going to be very different," Seixas said. "The finale is nothing like it (Flèche Wallonne), the race is nothing like it, longer, and maybe with efforts that are a touch longer. We'll see how it goes. It's good to have won today, but you have to move on now."
But is the teenager confident going into Sunday? Measured is probably the better word. "I'm really looking forward to racing against those guys," he said of Pogačar and Evenepoel. "They're greats of the sport and they are extremely strong. It's going to be a different race. We'll fight to the end."
The last time Seixas faced Pogačar was at Strade Bianche where the Frenchman put on a phenomenal display to finish second behind the all conquering world champion in Siena. Beating Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in the process as well. Seixas finished exactly a minute behind Pogačar that day. He will be hoping to be much closer on Sunday.
"Last year I was watching this race on television," said Seixas. "To win it on my first participation is a real pleasure. But now it's time to move on."
Cover image credit: Jennifer Lindini
