Oliver Naesen expects a lot from Seixas: "Only one able to follow Pogacar in Liège"

Cycling fans are already eagerly anticipating it: the potential showdown between king Tadej Pogacar and his heir apparent Paul Seixas at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Oliver Naesen has high hopes for his only 19-year-old French teammate, although he also tempers the sky-high expectations a bit.

Roman Bardet and Thibaut Pinot just missed the mark in the end, but with Paul Seixas, there now really seems to be a successor ready for Bernard Hinault. The now 71-year-old Hinault was the last Frenchman to win the Tour de France, back in 1985, 41 years ago. Since then, the cycling nation has been craving a successor, and Paul Seixas could well be the long-cherished wish come true.

But that is for later: the rider from Decathlon CMA CGM is first targeting the Ardennes Classics this week. What can we expect from the newcomer in La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège? "I think Paul has a better chance in La Flèche Wallonne than in Liège," Naesen says on the cycling podcast of Het Laatste Nieuws. "He has a shot at victory on Wednesday, and that’s incredible for someone his age."

Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a different story according to Naesen. "I have too much respect for the über-champion Pogacar for that. Still, I believe Paul is the only one capable of keeping up with him. You can expect a lot from Paul. I expect him to podium, and I think he expects that himself."

"I would take him to the Tour"
After the Ardennes Classics, Seixas seems to be shifting his focus towards the Tour de France, although it is not yet certain if he will actually make his debut this year. "If I were the team boss, I would send him," Naesen is clear. "If he doesn’t start and then finishes around fifth in the Vuelta, next year he won’t be able to go to the Tour without pressure. For the French, anything less than fifth is considered a failure."