Photo via Cyclingnews

Paul Seixas to compete in Roc d'Azur CIC mountain bike race one day after historic Il Lombardia win

Paul Seixas, the 20-year-old French cyclist, will shift his focus from road racing to mountain biking just 24 hours after securing a historic victory at Il Lombardia—the youngest rider ever to win the Monument. His triumph followed a daring solo attack on the Civiglio climb, capping off a standout season that included wins at Itzulia Basque Country, La Flèche Wallonne, and Faun-Ardèche, along with a fourth-place finish in the Tour de France.

Despite finishing third in the UCI Road World Championships time trial and 15th in the road race, Seixas prioritized Il Lombardia, skipping the European championships to chase the Monument title, calling it a defining moment for his professional career.

Seixas will now compete in the Roc d'Azur CIC mountain bike race in Fréjus, marking his first major event in the discipline. The five-day festival, which began Wednesday, features a mix of road, gravel, and mountain biking events, as well as hiking and even canine races.

While Seixas has not competed internationally in mountain biking, he raced in the 2023 cyclocross world championships as a junior, adding another layer of versatility to his already impressive athletic profile.

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