French cycling sensation Paul Seixas has taken his remarkable 2026 season to another level after winning Il Lombardia, prompting bold comparisons with Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogačar from respected cycling voices George Hincapie, Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin.
The 20-year-old delivered a stunning performance at the prestigious Italian one-day race on Saturday, 10 October, becoming the youngest winner in Il Lombardia history. His victory has strengthened the belief among some analysts that he is already ahead of Pogačar’s development at the same age, particularly in one-day racing.
Seixas Makes History at Il Lombardia
Representing Decathlon CMA CGM, Seixas produced a commanding ride over the 239-kilometre course from Bergamo to Como.
The Frenchman made his decisive move on the Civiglio climb with approximately 19 kilometres remaining. His acceleration proved too strong for his rivals, allowing him to establish a gap and continue towards the finish alone.
Spain’s Enric Mas finished second, 48 seconds behind Seixas, while Italy’s Giulio Ciccone secured third place, one minute and five seconds behind the winner.
The victory was particularly significant because Il Lombardia is one of cycling’s five Monuments, the sport’s most prestigious one-day races. Seixas’s triumph also ended Pogačar’s five-year winning streak at the event, although the Slovenian was absent from this year’s race following his crash at the Vuelta a España.
‘It’s Not Even a Competition’
Seixas’s achievement quickly became a major talking point on THEMOVE podcast, where Hincapie, Bruyneel and Martin discussed the young Frenchman’s progress and his potential to become one of cycling’s leading riders.
Hincapie initiated the comparison with Pogačar, suggesting that Seixas could already be performing at a higher level than the Slovenian was at 20.
Martin responded with an even stronger assessment.
“Oh, it’s not even a competition,” Martin said, arguing that Seixas had already achieved considerably more in one-day racing than Pogačar had at the same age.
The comments reflected the extraordinary progress Seixas has made during the 2026 season. However, the comparison focused specifically on their achievements at the same age in one-day races rather than establishing who is the better rider overall.
Bruyneel Highlights Seixas’s Impressive Results
Bruyneel supported the discussion by examining Seixas’s performances against some of the strongest riders in professional cycling.
At Strade Bianche, Seixas finished second behind Pogačar, demonstrating his ability to compete with the Slovenian in demanding one-day races.
He subsequently won La Flèche Wallonne before finishing second behind Pogačar at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. His victory at Il Lombardia then provided the highlight of his Classics campaign.
Reflecting on those performances, Bruyneel described Seixas’s results as exceptional and suggested that the young rider had already built an impressive record in a relatively short period.
The former professional team manager also pointed to Seixas’s consistency, noting that he had continued producing major results against elite opposition throughout the season.
His Lombardia victory was especially important because it transformed an already impressive campaign into one featuring a Monument title.
Tour de France Performance Adds to the Excitement
Seixas’s achievements extend beyond one-day racing.
Earlier in 2026, he won the overall classification at the Itzulia Basque Country, collecting three stage victories along the way. He had also won a stage and finished second overall at the Volta ao Algarve.
He then made an impressive Tour de France debut, finishing fourth overall while still 19 years old. That performance made him the youngest rider to finish inside the race’s overall top five.
The combination of his stage-racing ability, climbing strength and success in one-day events has made Seixas one of the most exciting young talents in professional cycling.
Pogačar’s own achievements at 20 were also remarkable. In 2019, he won the Volta ao Algarve and the Tour of California before finishing third overall at the Vuelta a España, where he claimed three stage victories.
However, Pogačar did not win his first Monument until Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2021, when he was 22. Seixas has already secured that milestone at 20.
Can Seixas Match Pogačar’s Success?
Despite the comparisons, matching Pogačar’s long-term achievements will be a different challenge.
The Slovenian has established himself among the greatest riders of his generation through repeated victories in cycling’s biggest races. Seixas, meanwhile, is only beginning to build his professional legacy.
His Il Lombardia triumph nevertheless provides strong evidence of his potential. Winning a Monument at 20, finishing fourth at the Tour de France and repeatedly challenging established champions in major races represent an exceptional start to his career.
For now, the comparison remains focused on what both riders had accomplished at the same age. Whether Seixas can eventually match or surpass Pogačar’s remarkable career is a question that only time and future performances will answer.
One thing is certain: after his historic Il Lombardia victory, Seixas has given cycling fans another compelling young talent to watch.
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