Bernard Hinault Urges Young French Cyclist to Compete Against Jonas Vingegaard in Giro d’Italia
The legendary French cyclist, Bernard Hinault, has expressed his encouragement for the promising young talent, Paul Seixas, to challenge himself against reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard during the upcoming Giro d’Italia instead of the more daunting Tour de France, where he would face Tadej Pogacar. At just 19 years old, Seixas, riding for the Decathlon CMA CGM team, represents France’s hopes of ending a long-standing 40-year drought in the Tour de France since Hinault’s last victory in 1985.
Hinault believes that while Seixas shows immense potential as a cyclist, introducing him too early to the pressures of the Tour could be premature and detrimental to his development. Instead, he suggests that Seixas would benefit from the experience gained by racing in either the Giro d’Italia or the Vuelta.
“If putting him in the Tour de France solely leads to burnout, it’s wise to reassess and manage his path more cautiously,” Hinault stated during an interview with RMC Sport. “At the age of 19, if he finds himself competing against Pogacar and ending up ten minutes behind, it may serve him better to seek out competition in a different venue. If he races in the Giro d’Italia against someone like Vingegaard, it would provide a clearer insight into his abilities,” Hinault explained.
The 2026 Giro d’Italia is set to commence on May 8, 2026, in Nessebar, Bulgaria, featuring a series of competitive stages before culminating in a grand finale in Rome on May 31, 2026, offering an ideal platform for young talents like Seixas to showcase their skills against high-caliber opponents.
