Paul Seixas became the first Frenchman to win the Junior Time Trial World Championship title, surprising his powerful rivals who had hoped he would take the rainbow jersey.

“It was the best performance of my life in the time trial. I don't know how I could do that, it's like a dream come true to be world champion,” said Seixas.

Seixas is considered a generational talent like Lemko Evenpole and Tadej Pogacar, and even a future French Tour de France winner. He surprised time trial specialists such as Belgium's Jasper Schuff and Australia's Will Holmes to win the junior men's world time trial title.

“Paul is a very accomplished athlete with great ability in the mountains and in time trials,” his coach, Alexandre Paco of Decathlon-AG2R, explained to L'Equipe.

Seixas recently won the Giro della Lunigiana stage race in Italy. He also won the junior Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the French national cyclo-cross and time trial titles this year.

One French cycling expert described Seixas as France's next Bernard Hinault.

“He is an all-rounder who can race for days on end while recovering and is not afraid of hard work.

“He attacks, attacks again, gets into the right breakaway, and gets results.

Seixas attacked on the flat course in Belgium with Felix Urn Kristoff (Norway) and Hector Alvarez (Spain) to finish third in the European Championships. Seixas was undaunted and took the lead in the three-man sprint.

Seixas turned 18 on Tuesday, a day after winning the world title in the time trial and two days before his bid for the road race crown in Zurich. He may still be a teenager, but he is wise and talented beyond his years.

Not surprisingly, Seixas' results have caught the attention of the World Tour's biggest teams, including UAE Team Emirates. However, Seixas chose to remain with Decathlon-AG2R after growing up through the Decathlon-AG2R junior team. He hails from Lyon, just 90 minutes from the team's base in the French Alps.

Decathlon-AG2R recently announced that Seixas will step up to the World Tour level in 2025 on a three-year contract. He will be joined by Leo Bijoux, the 2023 World Junior Cyclocross Champion and recent fourth overall at the Tour de l'Avenir; Oscar Chamberlain of New Zealand, the 2023 Junior World Time Trial Champion; French U23 National Champion Noah Isidor, and 2024 Danish national champion Rasmus Soiberg Pedersen are part of a new block of young talent.

“Decathlon-AG2R has always trusted and mentored me. I know them well and I know they will listen to me. I know they will listen to me,” Seixas told L'Equipe.

Seixas will not be racing Grand Tours in his first few years at the World Tour level, but he has ambitions.

“Even in my first year, I want to test myself and see what my limits are. It will knock me down, but that's what I want.”

Before his World Tour debut in 2025, he has a junior final in Zurich and a second world title challenge ahead of him.

Seixas will face strong rivals in the 127km race and will be marked hard, but could achieve a double title in the junior time trial and road race.

Seixas is six years younger than the Belgian, but he is also a special talent in a hurry to recognize his own talent.