Paul Seixas arrived in Paris as the new face of French cycling. He may now leave the Tour de France at the centre of a transfer battle involving enormous salaries, the sport’s strongest teams and the president of France.
The 19-year-old finished fourth overall in his first Tour, confirming that the excitement surrounding him was not based solely on potential. Seixas stayed with many of the world’s best climbers across three demanding weeks and finished immediately outside the podium places.
His performance has strengthened interest from rival teams, but Emmanuel Macron has already made his preferred outcome clear: France’s brightest cycling talent should remain with the French Decathlon-CMA CGM team.
According to Cyclingnews’ report on Macron’s intervention, the president spoke directly with Seixas during the Tour and encouraged him to continue his career in French colours.
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Macron makes his position clear
Macron met Seixas following the sixth stage between Pau and Gavarnie-Gèdre, where the French president had followed the race from the Tour director’s car.
“He is in a good team,” Macron said when asked about the teenager’s future.
Cyclingnews reported that Macron also told Seixas privately that he should remain with a French squad. The publication said it had verified the conversation with a person who witnessed it.
The intervention came amid reports that Macron had already used his influence behind the scenes to encourage Seixas and his representatives to extend their relationship with Decathlon-CMA CGM.
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Macron publicly praised both Seixas and Lenny Martinez during his Tour visit, describing their performances as “magnificent”. He also revealed that Tadej Pogačar had identified Seixas as a possible future winner of the race.
“Tadej had some very kind words,” Macron said. “He said: ‘You will see, Seixas will be next.’”
Fourth place changes everything
Seixas was already considered one of cycling’s leading young prospects before the Tour. His fourth-place finish has moved him into a different category.
He completed the race behind five-time winner Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro. Seixas also finished ahead of several established Grand Tour leaders despite being the youngest rider in the field.
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His success came during a remarkable season that included victory at the Tour of the Basque Country and La Flèche Wallonne, as well as second places at Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Seixas is contracted to Decathlon-CMA CGM until the end of 2027, meaning another team cannot simply sign him immediately without negotiating his release.
However, his Tour performance has increased the pressure on the French team to secure a longer agreement before its rivals make their interest more concrete.
As described by L’Équipe in its late-night interview with Seixas, the Frenchman does not intend to make a rapid decision despite the growing speculation.
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“I do not have to decide this quickly, I still have time,” Seixas said.
“I would rather enjoy my season than think about it.”
Reported €13m offer raises the stakes
The financial figures surrounding Seixas demonstrate how dramatically his position has changed.
Visma-Lease a Bike has reportedly maintained contact with the rider’s representatives for almost a year. UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Netcompany INEOS have also been linked with him.
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The most extraordinary reported proposal has come from Q36.5 Pinarello.
According to Domestique’s account of the transfer battle, the Swiss team could be prepared to offer Seixas close to €13 million per season. The figure has not been officially confirmed by the rider or the team.
Such an agreement would reportedly make Seixas the highest-paid rider in professional cycling, despite his limited experience at Grand Tour level.
Q36.5 is backed by billionaire Ivan Glasenberg and demonstrated its ambitions by signing Tom Pidcock. Adding Seixas would transform the team’s profile and provide it with a possible future Tour winner.
Visma’s approach is believed to be based less on salary and more on sporting development. The Dutch team could offer Seixas the opportunity to learn alongside Jonas Vingegaard, just as the Dane developed behind Primož Roglič before becoming a Tour champion.
Seixas refuses to be rushed
Seixas has attempted to distance himself from the transfer race.
He said repeated contract discussions had consumed too much energy during the early stages of his career. When he signed his current three-year deal, he asked to be left alone for the duration of the agreement.
“Every time I produced another performance, people wanted to make something bigger,” he told L’Équipe.
“It takes more energy from me than anything else.”
His latest comments offered encouragement to Decathlon-CMA CGM without amounting to a promise that he will stay.
“I feel good in this team,” Seixas said. “I trust the team, and the team trusts me.”
He nevertheless added that his future remains open, saying: “If I stay, I stay. If I leave, I leave.”
France fears losing its next Tour winner
The political interest in Seixas reflects France’s long and increasingly painful wait for another Tour de France champion.
Bernard Hinault remains the most recent French winner, having claimed his fifth title in 1985. Numerous riders have since been presented as possible successors, but none has been able to end the drought.
Seixas is different because of the age at which he has already competed near the front of the Tour.
Macron’s involvement also recalls his intervention in Kylian Mbappé’s future in 2022. The president acknowledged that he had encouraged Mbappé to remain at Paris Saint-Germain rather than immediately joining Real Madrid.
In both cases, Macron’s position appears to be shaped by the belief that France’s leading sporting figures should continue developing within French institutions.
However, professional cycling is an international business. Seixas may ultimately decide that another team can offer stronger teammates, better preparation or a clearer route towards the yellow jersey.
A sporting decision becomes a national cause
Decathlon-CMA CGM has insisted that Seixas is central to its future. The team has increased its budget, strengthened its squad and attempted to create an environment capable of supporting a genuine Tour challenge.
His fourth-place finish suggests that such a challenge may arrive considerably earlier than expected.
It has also ensured that every conversation about his contract will now attract enormous attention in France.
Seixas says he wants time. His rivals want an opportunity. Decathlon wants a long-term commitment.
Macron has already chosen his side.
The president wants France’s next possible Tour winner to remain French-owned, French-supported and, above all, within reach.
