The usual Canadian Grands Prix in September, contested over three days in Quebec and Montreal, had a special flavor this year. Taking place at the dawn of the end of the season, these races were much more scrutinized than usual, as they were used as a dress rehearsal before the road racing world championship, which will take place in Montreal on Sunday September 27. But they were also closely followed since they announced the return to competition of Paul Seixas.
Seven weeks after astonishing the French public during a whirlwind month of July marked by a 4th place in his first Tour de France, the 19-year-old climber has once again pinned a bib. “I was completely exhausted. When you are nervous every day for three weeks before the stages, it wears you out,” he recalled in the columns of L’Equipe.
Two weeks of full break, a return to training then an internship in the Alps, straddling August and September, and here he is again, launched towards the Worlds as leader, already, of the French team. In Quebec, Friday, the final result (17th), one minute behind the winner Remco Evenepoel, did not live up to its ambitions.
A recovery in Quebec, a rise in power in Montreal
Despite everything, the Frenchman was one of the main leaders from the start, shaking up the peloton twice on the very steep climb of the Mountain, the usual decisive moment of the race. “We didn't have too many doubts about the physical side, but we have to get back into the habits of the peloton, especially in a race on an urban circuit like Quebec, it's quite atypical. We're not used to doing twenty laps like that. It was an interesting recovery,” praised its sports director Julien Jurdie at the finish.
For these circuit classics, just like the Worlds, Paul Seixas focused his preparation more on short and intense efforts, whereas he had rather worked on the threshold and long efforts for the Tour de France. He reached another milestone two days later, taking 2nd place in Montreal, behind the man who had already deprived him of the podium on the Tour, Isaac del Toro (UAE-Emirates).
Once again, it was he who molested the peloton in the green Canadian city, engaging in a sprint duel for victory with the Mexican. A careless error when starting Del Toro doomed his chances. "I was trying to find out where we were, I couldn't find the 200m sign. He left, he surprised me, he played really well. He was just simply stronger at the end," admitted the Frenchman.
The fact remains that a second place in a race with a route similar to that of the Worlds, whose route will display a difference in altitude worthy of a mountain stage of the Tour de France (4,300 m) with the ascent of Mont-Royal as justice of the peace, is very reassuring for him as for his coach Thomas Voeckler. "All day I wasn't feeling too good. I think I was a little too fresh, I didn't ride enough yesterday (Saturday)," Seixas explained. “I made do with what I had, it was already very good, I felt that I had gained power since the Tour. I think there is still room for improvement” for the Worlds, continued the Decathlon-CMA CGM climber.
Jordan Jegat called to replace Louis Barré
Flanked by a very interesting team, with veterans Bruno Armirail and Pavel Sivakov, his lieutenant Nicolas Prodhomme, to whom Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies) was added on Monday to replace Louis Barré (Visma - Lease A bike), Paul Seixas has few gray areas as he approaches his second elite world championship, after having suffered, like everyone else, the merciless law of Tadej Pogacar at Kigali (Rwanda) last year.
On a course for climbers, his main opponents are identified (Remco Evenepoel, Isaac del Toro, Tom Pidcock or Richard Carapaz). Paul Seixas will have to control them, but in the absence of the Slovenian, the opportunity for him and everyone is too good to pass up a rainbow jersey.
