Paul Seixas
“Three stage wins and the overall title—it’s incredible”
“It was an epic stage, in terrible weather conditions. I decided to break away on the climb so I could tackle the descent alone and avoid taking any risks. I thought the other leaders would catch up quickly, but that didn’t happen; I had to push pretty hard, but I felt good. I’m ending this week with three stage wins and the overall title—it’s incredible. I’ve achieved one of my goals for the season. I know it’s been 19 years since a French rider last did this. I was barely a year old. I’m very proud that it’s me, but others came close, like Bardet or Pinot. I also realized this week that you need a really solid team to win, and I was lucky to have guys by my side who gave it their all. A staff that had really studied everything meticulously. This victory is theirs too.”
Cyril Dessel
“The result is extraordinary”
“This was a race we’d been looking forward to for several weeks; we knew it was a major event for Paul. The result is extraordinary—three stage wins and the overall classification—along with flawless teamwork. The entire team positioned Paul so he could attack and make his move; they supported him in the best possible way this week. This final stage was stressful, but we managed to control it to secure the overall victory. It’s been a fantastic week for the team, with Paul as the leader and an exemplary team effort. For him, this is a major milestone: he was expected to be the sole leader and rose to the occasion at the highest international level. A milestone that will mark the beginning of his career.”
The news
A new record for early blooming
By winning the overall classification at the Itzulia Basque Country, Paul, at 19 years, 6 months, and 17 days old, became the youngest rider win this race, as well as the youngest winner of a WorldTour stage race since the category’s inception, edging out a certain Remco Evenepoel.
795
Key number
That’s how many kilometers Paul Seixas spent at the top of the general classification of Tour the Basque Country. After winning the opening time trial, Paul donned the yellow leader’s jersey, which he held onto until the finish line of the final stage. He also won three of the six stages, the King of the Mountains jersey, the Best Young Rider jersey, and the points classification: a total domination.
