Paul Seixas, who is the very young outlier who displaced everyone at the Fleche Wallonne

At only 19 years and 210 days old, Paul Seixas achieved a record-breaking success at the Walloon Arrow. The very young French star, born in Lyon on September 24, 2006, surprised everyone with a sharp attack on the Mur de Huy with 500 meters to go, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the classic, whose very first winner, Philemon De Meersman, was until this morning the youngest to do so, at 21 years and 150 days, in 1936.

Growing up between Lyon Sprint Évolution and Vélo Club Villefranche Beaujolais, Seixas burned stages at a very young age, becoming champion of France in the Cadet category on the road and in cyclocross, before winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the Juniores category, the Tour of Lunigiana, and the World Juniors time trial. In 2024, he turned pro directly with Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale (now Decathlon CMA CGR), without transiting from the development team.

The 2025 consecrated him as a generational talent: fifth on debut at the Marseillaise, starring at the Tour des Alpes, eighth at the Criterium du Dauphiné (becoming the youngest ever to enter the top 10), European bronze and seventh at his first Lombardia, a result not seen since 1917 for a rider his age.

2026 marked the ultimate explosion: victory at the Ardèche Classic after a 40-kilometer breakaway, second at the Strade Bianche, triumphant in the Tour of the Basque Country with three stages won and specialty classifications dominated. The Fleche Wallonne was the final confirmation: Seixas is no longer a promise, but one of the new protagonists of world cycling.

A precocious talent, complete and resilient, capable of winning uphill and time trials. And, above all, able to do so with a naturalness that displaces everyone.