Tour de France contender Paul Seixas a target for Visma-Lease a Bike - 'We're the best team to develop him'
Updated 07/07/2026 at 15:56 GMT+1
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Visma-Lease a Bike want to sign Paul Seixas, according to general manager Richard Plugge, but will not yet make a concrete move for the teenage star, who is currently riding for Decathlon-CMA CGM at the Tour de France for the first time.
Highlights: Yellow changes hands as Pogacar sees off Vingegaard in Stage 3 duel
Video credit: TNT Sports
Seixas has emerged as one of cycling's brightest young talents this year, winning the Tour of the Basque Country and La Fleche Wallonne.
He has been tipped as the potential next challenger to Tadej Pogacar, with the 19-year-old sixth in the Tour de France general classification after three stages.
And now Visma, currently led by two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, have revealed their interest in Seixas, who has a contract with Decathlon which runs until the end of 2027.
"First of all, everyone wants to talk to Seixas, and everyone wants to have him," Plugge told NOS. "We have Jonas. Jonas is our big leader at the moment.
"But we also have to look to the future. We are always developing riders, and helping people get better."
Visma reportedly view Seixas as a future Grand Tour leader, but he would not immediately replace Vingegaard, 29, in that role.
The aim instead is to give the youngster a "long-term development path", with guidance from Vingegaard.
"Jonas is also doing a lot of coaching already, for example with [Davide] Piganzoli," Plugge said. "Of course, we do that ourselves as a team too, but Jonas plays a big role in that."
Asked if he has spoken to Seixas, Plugge said: "Yes, I spoke to him last year in Tignes. He was there, and I was there. It was the Tour de l’Avenir, and we spoke very briefly.
"He is with Decathlon, and he still has a contract there. He has to respect his contract, and we respect the rules, so we are not concretely working on anything.
"But if he decides to go to another team, then we think we are the best team to develop him to win Grand Tours."
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Seixas has been linked with other teams, including Q36.5-Pinarello, who have reportedly offered him €13 million (£11.1m) per season.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and Ineos Grenadiers are also believed to be interested in the Frenchman.
But Decathlon are said to be determined to keep their star rider, and are prepared to offer a sizeable salary.
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'On another planet!' - Pogacar rips to victory ahead of Vingegaard on Stage 3
Video credit: TNT Sports
It remains to be seen if Visma can compete financially, but Plugge suggested money will not be the deciding factor.
"We will see," he said. "I think the boy is very sensible, very smart, and he will make a choice based on where he can achieve the best results.
”We have already won Grand Tours with several riders. We have won the most Grand Tours of the current teams in the peloton, so we think he has the best chance with us to go on and win Grand Tours."
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