Today Paul Seixas did not win, but was still the protagonist of the thrilling finale of the fourth stage of the Basque Country Tour. The young French rider, leader of the general classification, attacked on the descent section approximately 6 km from the finish line, surprising all his direct rivals. A calculated move that allowed him to end the day with an additional gain of 20 seconds.

"I knew they would attack me today, but I didn't think they would try from so far back. I simply tried to stay calm and save energy for the finale. I knew the course very well; we did a reconnaissance with the team and I knew that the descent had ideal terrain for attacking. We studied it really carefully and that allowed me to not take unnecessary risks—there were definitely some very difficult sections, and that's exactly where I attacked. Today my objective wasn't to win the stage, but to gain some ground in the general classification. Fortunately, I found myself with other riders and so we managed to share the work," Seixas explained, once again proving that despite his young age, he leaves nothing to chance. On the descent after the Legina climb, the Frenchman indeed came out fearlessly from the group of general classification contenders, leaving Team Red Bull Bora empty-handed.

Paul Seixas is undoubtedly a champion, but he has on his side a team that is supporting him brilliantly and leaves nothing to chance. This is demonstrated by the reconnaissance and study of today's stage, but also by the excellent work of his teammates throughout the stage, both in controlling the breakaway and in keeping him in the right position. "The team was extraordinary, giving me incredible support. Being able to do the reconnaissance was a great help, especially psychologically because making a difference on the descent is always very difficult. We studied it thoroughly, I knew every curve, every risk was calculated and that gave me confidence," Seixas continued. "My teammates were impeccable and never stopped supporting me from the morning before the race. Today they kept the large breakaway under control and were always by my side. I never got lost in the group and thanks to them I was able to save precious energy for the finale."

Tomorrow the queen stage is scheduled with start and finish in Eibar, but Seixas has already sent a clear message to his rivals, showing that it's far from easy to put him in difficulty. "So far I've always felt good during the race. My rivals are strong, but they haven't managed to hurt me. Tomorrow anything can happen, but honestly I'm very confident."