Paul Seixas and his Decathlon CMA CGM team have confirmed that he will race this year's Tour de France.
The 19-year-old Frenchman announced his decision in a social media video of the moment he told his grandparents the news.
Seixas is expected to try to challenge Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard on his Grand Tour debut.
I'm here to share some exciting news," Seixas told his grandparents during a visit to their home in the Haute Savoie.
"In July I'll be racing," Seixas said, teasing his grandparents.
"The Tour de France? Oh!" his grandmother said.
"You thought of me, I'm not getting any younger," his grandfather added, "I'm 85. The years are catching-up. I'm the happiest man in the world."
Seixas is expected to try to challenge Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard on his Grand Tour debut. He made it clear he is not riding the 2026 Tour for experience.
“I am truly delighted to announce that I will be participating in the next Tour de France. It’s been my childhood dream, something I’ve often imagined, and now it’s very close," Sixas said via his Decathlon CMA CGM team.
"I’m only 19, but as I’ve already said, age is neither a hindrance nor an excuse. This decision, made in consultation with the team management, was carefully considered and developed collectively over the past few days. My results since the start of the season have given me a lot of confidence; I feel ready and I will have ambitious goals.
"It’s not my mindset or my vision of cycling to line up for the Tour de France simply to gain experience, and I will be aiming for the best possible overall ranking. Before that, I will also be competing in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné) in June, on roads I know very well and in a format that will serve as ideal preparation for my first Grand Tour."
