Paul Seixas Wins Il Lombardia

Paul Seixas made history at the 2026 edition of Il Lombardia by becoming the youngest winner in the history of the prestigious Italian Monument. At just 20 years old, the French prodigy riding for Decathlon CMA CGM announced himself as a major force in professional cycling. Known for his explosive climbing ability and calm tactical maturity, Seixas had already turned heads with impressive early season performances. His victory on the 239 kilometer route from Bergamo to Como brought an end to the five year reign of Tadej Pogacar and secured his team its first ever Monument title.

The day began with drama before the riders even started rolling. Led by European champion Remco Evenepoel, the peloton held a brief five minute protest at the start line to demand better safety standards from race organizers following a terrifying incident involving a police motorcycle at a prior race. Once the action officially underway, early breakaways formed over the hilly Italian terrain, but major teams kept the gap manageable. The tempo steadily ramped up over the iconic Madonna del Ghisallo climb, thinning out the main field and setting the stage for a dramatic climax on the final obstacles.

The decisive move came on the brutal slopes of the Civiglio climb, a 4.2 kilometer ascent averaging nearly ten percent gradient. Seixas launched a relentless, seated acceleration that shattered the group of favorites. While high profile contenders like Evenepoel and Brandon McNulty faded, Seixas pulled away from Tom Pidcock, Enric Mas, and Giulio Ciccone. By the time he reached the summit, the young Frenchman had established a commanding lead that he maintained on the tricky technical descent and over the final climb up the San Fermo della Battaglia. Seixas crossed the finish line in Como alone, capping off a masterclass performance in one of cycling's hardest single day races.