Tour de France: Yellow is the Color of His Hope

Barcelona buzzed with yellow, the color of the Tour de France, as the iconic race prepared to start. Giant posters and sponsor-gifted caps adorned the city, where thousands gathered to watch the teams parade from the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau to the Sagrada Família. Riders rolled onto a yellow ramp, the church glowing in the evening light.

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He has something that awakens optimism for the future. Hats off, truly hats off.

Amidst this vibrant scene, 19-year-old Paul Seixas, a slender cyclist with curly hair, made his debut in the world's biggest cycling race. He is already France's greatest hope for a major victory, a triumph that has eluded the nation since Bernard Hinault's win in 1985. Seixas is no stranger to winning, having secured seven victories this season alone.

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My goodness, what a rider. We haven't seen anyone like him in France for 50 years, since Hinault. Unbelievable.

His recent successes include a commanding win in the Tour of the Basque Country, where he finished 2 minutes and 30 seconds ahead of German rider Florian Lipowitz. He also claimed three stage wins in northern Spain. Shortly after, he dominated the Flèche Wallonne in the Ardennes and then, four days later, showcased his prowess at the Liège–Bastogne–Liège monument. There, he was the only rider able to counter every attack from Tadej Pogačar, the current star of cycling, ultimately finishing second to Pogačar but adding another chapter to his remarkable early career.

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Breathtaking. Simply breathtaking.

Legendary cyclist Bernard Hinault, a five-time Tour de France winner, expressed his admiration for Seixas, stating, "He has something that awakens optimism for the future. Hats off, truly hats off." Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour de France, echoed this sentiment in an interview with ZEIT, calling Seixas "unbelievable" and the most exciting French rider seen in 50 years. "Breathtaking. Simply breathtaking," Prudhomme said, acknowledging that while Seixas's future trajectory is unknown, he is poised to deliver significant emotions during the Tour.

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But he opens a door to something very big. I don't know how the race will end, but I am convinced that Paul Seixas will give us many emotions during this Tour.