Paul Seixas 2026 Tour de France: Will He Ride?

Here’s a breakdown of the key‌ information from the provided text regarding Paul Seixas and his potential participation in Grand Tours, particularly the Tour de France:

* Tour de ‍France is a dream, ‍but not a certainty: Seixas acknowledges the Tour de France is his biggest goal, but emphasizes the⁣ need for a realistic and smart race⁤ program. He doesn’t want to rush into it.
* Grand Tour in 2026: He plans to ride a Grand Tour in 2026, but hasn’t‌ decided which one yet (Tour ‍de France, Giro d’Italia, or Vuelta a ⁤España). The decision will be made with his team ⁤in the winter.
* Suggestions for Giro ⁤d’Italia first: Some, including Bernard Hinault, suggest he should ride the Giro d’Italia first as a test.
*⁤ Tour de France​ director ⁣is welcoming, but understanding: Christian Prudhomme, the Tour de France race director, would like to see⁤ Seixas at the​ Tour in Barcelona (2026 start location) but is diplomatic. He⁢ states he won’t be⁤ disappointed if Seixas doesn’t participate. He trusts the people around⁤ Seixas to make the right decision for his progress.
* Seixas is seen as a “real gem”: ⁣ Prudhomme believes Seixas⁢ is a very talented rider and trusts those around him to guide his career.

In essence, the article portrays a situation where Seixas is highly sought after for the Tour de France, but is⁣ approaching his career carefully and prioritizing a well-planned development path. The Tour de France association is respectful of this approach and willing to⁢ wait.