'Beating Pogacar when he's at his level, not on the decline' - Seixas aims to topple Pogacar

The 19-year-old Frenchman from Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale spoke candidly during Monday's appearance on Bistrot Vélo about the substantial gap that still exists between himself and cycling's dominant force.

"On a regular basis, it's not for now," Seixas admitted when asked if he could beat Pogacar soon. "But we know the best performances he has done. We're going to train to try to beat him. That's what sport is all about. There are some great steps to take first. There's a lot of work to do, that's for sure."

Seixas has faced Pogacar four times during his debut professional season – at the Critérium du Dauphiné, World Championships, European Championships, and Tour of Lombardy – with the Slovenian winning each encounter. At the European Championships, the young Frenchman was among the select few who briefly followed Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel's acceleration.

For Seixas, Pogacar represents the benchmark in modern cycling.

"It's his level that you need to have to win races today, at least the biggest ones," he explained. "He's one of the most complete, in what he does, the races he takes part in, he's always ready to win. Regardless of the profile and type of effort, between two minutes and an hour, it's the strongest. It's pretty crazy."

The eight-year age gap between the riders offers perspective on their different career trajectories, but Seixas is clear about his ultimate ambition.

"The age gap is still significant," said the Frenchman, who is almost exactly eight years younger than Pogacar. "It means that we are not in the same generation and that after a while, if everything goes well, he will be on the decline before me. But that's not the goal to beat him when he's on the decline, but when he's at his level."

Rather than setting an arbitrary timeline for challenging Pogacar, Seixas prefers a measured approach to his development.

"It seems far away to me because there are so many steps to take to reach this level," he reflected. "I prefer to take a step back and tell myself that I still have time to progress. I'm progressing at my own pace, there's no point in telling myself that in two years, I have to reach his level. I prefer to progress little by little and be the best version of myself."

Seixas, who harbours ambitions for both stage races and one-day classics, including the Tour of Flanders, remains undaunted by Pogacar's remarkable tally of 45 wins over the past two seasons

For now, the French talent is focused on his development while keeping the ultimate goal in sight: challenging cycling's dominant force when both are at their best.