Paul Seixas halts talks with Decathlon as UAE works on his arrival

Paul Seixas has been earning superlatives in recent weeks. The 19-year-old French top talent notched his first two professional wins and put up a strong fight against winner Tadej Pogačar at Strade Bianche on Saturday. Interest in the Frenchman was already high, but now it’s even greater. Het Laatste Nieuws reports that talks to renegotiate and extend his contract running until the end of 2027 with Decathlon CMA CGM are on hold until after the classics. This has also been confirmed to WielerFlits.

All major WorldTeams have expressed their interest in Seixas should the new French superstar become available on the market. Last weekend, Het Laatste Nieuws already revealed that UAE Emirates XRG is pursuing his signature. The world’s top team sees Seixas as the natural successor to Tadej Pogačar, the current world champion and team leader. Sources close to the team told WielerFlits that talks with the Frenchman are ‘going in the right direction.’ Notably, UAE Emirates XRG also has riders like Isaac Del Toro and João Almeida on their roster.

That said, it does not necessarily mean Seixas will leave after the current season. He could also fulfill his contract, which runs until the end of next year, and transfer starting January 1, 2028. But an earlier move is also possible due to uncertainties surrounding his contract with Decathlon CMA CGM. “One of the problems was the legal ambiguity regarding his contract situation with AG2R-Citroën. As a junior, he signed there, but at that age, a parent’s signature must be on the contract. That was missing, although there was a photo showing his parents were present when he signed,” Patrick Lefevere wrote in his column.

Furthermore, the French team later attracted Decathlon and increased its budget. Last year CMA CGM, a large French multinational, also joined. The French team does not require a high transfer fee. At the same time, they realized last year they needed to upgrade Seixas’s neo-pro contract. But that status now seems outdated—especially after his performance last weekend. “I think every team wants him. He is a very interesting rider, but he still has a contract with his current team,” said sporting director Joxéan - Matxin - Fernández regarding Seixas’s potential transfer to HLN.