We know Seixas won Lombardia. What was interesting was that he won it the way Pogačar would have.

Pogačar finished third in the 2019 Vuelta at 20 and won the Tour at 21 – no pressure next July, Paul! Seixas, at 19, became the youngest Flèche Wallonne winner in 90 years. At 20, he finished fourth in his first Tour, the youngest rider to start one since 1937. Then he took Lombardia at 20 years and 16 days, a record that had stood since 1905. Pogačar won his first Lombardia at 23.

THE STYLE

About 20 km out on the Civiglio, with the favourites watching each other, he went. Evenepoel was gone, Pidcock and Ciccone couldn’t follow, and he rode the rest alone. “A TT, me against myself,” he called it. That is the Pogačar MO: go early, go hard, and catch me if ya can folks!

It was a great comeback, as just 3 weeks ago in Montréal, cramps wrecked his Worlds and he finished 15th – he didn;t take it so well either.. He called what he did that day “a disgrace.”

After the Tour, he said Pogačar “was from another planet.” He also said he’s working to “one day really compete against him.” Pogacr will be licking his lips, he is after all the Crusher of Dreams, and at 26 I mean jeez – according to as recent as 8 years ago, he should only now be entering his prime cycling years!

Quite remarkable to think that Pogi could still have 6 more top level years in him – with Seixas and del Toro looking at 10 plus. Or, maybe they’ll burn out at 28? We’ve never seen this before, riders this young being the the best around, will be interesting to see.

2027

Seixas’ contract at Decathlon CMA CGM runs to the end of 2027, and he said he’d be there despite rumours linking him to UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Visma-Lease a Bike, Ineos and Pinarello-Q36.5. But if he wants to beat Pogi at the Tour – to even stand a chance – he will form sure need stronger teammates than he currently has. Decathlon will need a big investment from somewhere to attract the riders he needs to beat that other kid, the Slovenian one!