Paul Seixas will be the leader of France in the Elite road race at the World Championships to be held on Sunday, September 27 in Montreal, Canada. The talented athlete from Lyon has publicly received the captain's insignia of the "Bleu" squad from Technical Commissioner Voeckler who, in an interview granted to Le Télégraphe, declared: «The team will be built around him and will be at his service».

Highlighting how the Canadian course is extremely demanding, the French coach also added: «Paul's choice as captain is more than obvious. I don't need to look for a leader for our team, I already have one».

Seixas is the only name revealed so far by Voeckler, who however has assured that he has «the names of the eight men who will make up the National team in mind».

Some of the riders currently on the Technical Commissioner's list have already been informed, while others have not yet received the call. Voeckler explained: «I expect results on the road, the right attitudes. Then, there are still several weeks until the World Championships, many things can happen. The team that looks "ready" on paper could undergo changes».

The certainty is Seixas. Voeckler places great faith in the rider and, without fear of putting pressure on him, he also ventures a prediction: «Paul can become world champion this year».