France may not have won the European Championship title, but the bronze conquered by nineteen-year-old Paul Seixas represents a ray of hope and the awareness that soon this young man from Lyon will be able to climb the highest steps and raise his arms at the finish line of the most prestigious races. Nineteen years old, Paul Seixas turned nineteen last September 24th and in just a week he finished thirteenth at the World Championships in Kigali and today third at the European Championships in Drôme-Ardèche.

"I don't know how I managed it. It's so crazy" - said an emotional Seixas after the awards ceremony - "This morning I would never have imagined a result like this. I was so sure I wouldn't make the podium that I didn't even prepare the outfit to wear at the finish for an awards ceremony. I just don't know how it was possible".

Looking at the award ceremony images, in fact, you can see that all riders have clean clothing and are no longer wearing cycling shoes but sneakers, while Seixas still has his entire racing outfit, cycling shoes included.

"When I had to go up on the podium, I looked around and saw that with me were Pogacar and Evenepoel, the two strongest riders in the world, and I couldn't believe I would be on the podium with them. I don't think I really understood it, it was incredible, I don't know, maybe it's all thanks to my legs, I think I had the best legs of my life".

Paul Seixas was truly stunned, because it doesn't happen every day to be awarded alongside the World Road Champion and the World Time Trial Champion.

"During the race, when I saw them attacking, I thought it would be hell, but then I told myself I had to try, and so I went too".

Seixas is the new hero for the French: when he was racing and during the awards ceremony, the public showed all their affection for this young man who, at just 19 years old, managed to chase the world's best riders.

"The crowd's enthusiasm was crazy, honestly, during the climb I thought I was going deaf. As I passed, people were shouting my name and it was really crazy, I've never seen anything like it and I believe it will remain etched in my mind for the rest of my life. They keep telling me I'm very mature for my age, but I'm just myself and then I fight, I always give everything on the bike and I think, well, I don't know how I do it but I can't explain it, it's all so crazy and I'm happy".