General Race Thread 2026 **spoilers**

There're rumours that Macron has intervened (he has form in this intervening to keep Mbappe at PSG albeit this didn't last long) https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/seixas-transfer-hype-hits-overdrive-amid-report-of-president-macron-intervention/

Decathlon have been throwing money at the team, and probably have the clout to become a major force over the next few years. They certainly leave a less sour taste than all the petrochemical/nasty regime sport washers.

Aside from a huge pay packet, would UAE be a good move? He'd always be 2nd fiddle to Pog until he finally decides he's had enough (does anybody really believe that'll be after the Olympics?)

Seixas already turned down a move to a bigger team.

"I realised that staying with a familiar team and environment was better than getting a bigger paycheque elsewhere"

If that's his actual thinking then he seems to be really steady and mature for a very young man.

There's a lot more than talent needed to reach the very top in any sport but in particular something a viciously hard as pro cycling. All types of great talents fall by the way side with "if only" stories.

Long term Decathlon may or may not be the best place for him, the pressure around the Tour will be immense/insane until he wins one, but while he's still actually developing for the next few seasons somewhere he's at home and comfortable would be best.

That's awful news, RIP

Remco gone. Incredible from Seixas to hang on here but he's struggling.

He was gritting his teeth and rocking all over the place the last couple of mins on la redoute. Had to work overtime to stay with him.

Doesn't even need to come a close second, never mind win. He's already proved he has it. They have to send him to the Tour.

I think I need another new bike. Pog rode up a 12% slope in the saddle at 24kmh, that must be an amazing Colnago he's on. Seixas was swinging and struggling, out of the saddle, all the way up La Redoute long before this, great credit to hang on as long as he did. But these new bikes mean that a 260km monument classic with 4300m climbing can be covered at nearly 45kmh. Astonishing

Oh yeah, I forgot the fitness bit. Climbers used to get out of the saddle more often in yonder years, now Pog just spins away, even more effectively than Chris WashingMachine Froome used to do

That really is dreadful. I think there was quite a lot of concern for exactly this kind of thing the WvA did his knee in the Vuelta - I think he was in hospital for 2-3 weeks after it. There could be a bit of the compromised immune system in it as you say, or maybe even just bacteria that his body didn't know how to deal with (i.e., common enough in eastern France, not common at all in Colombia).

At any rate, RIP.