Paul Seixas is one of the most anticipated riders at the World Cycling Championships currently taking place in Canada. The Frenchman arrives at Sunday's road race with the spotlight on him, bolstered by the bronze medal he secured in the time trial, a race won by the great favorite Remco Evenepoel, and the second place he achieved at the recent Montreal Grand Prix.

The medal, however, has not changed his objectives and the young Frenchman, who turned 20 just yesterday, is ready for new conquests. "I turned the page already Sunday evening. The time trial was over, I focused on the road race," Seixas explained. The Frenchman considers third place a confirmation of his condition, but doesn't want to be distracted by the result: "The time trial has nothing to do with the road race, but it shows that I'm in good form. It gives me some confidence, but it doesn't change much."

The Canadian course presents several unknowns. Compared to the Montreal Grand Prix, the race features a long initial flat section and fewer laps of the circuit, twelve instead of sixteen. A layout open to multiple interpretations, as the French rider pointed out: "Depending on the scenarios, it could resemble a course for climber-attackers or sprinter-attackers. The victory will be decided between these two types."

Seixas knows, however, which race could showcase his characteristics. "It will be a race for sprinters, that's certain, but the rest will depend on the pace: whether it's aggressive or tactical," he stated. To increase his chances, the Frenchman believes it's necessary to make the race hard, although the national team's strategies still need to be defined. At the center of the project will be technical commissioner Thomas Voeckler, from whom Seixas awaits guidance: "He always has some idea in mind, I'm waiting to hear what he'll tell us."

France has chosen to rely on him without hesitation. His teammates consider him the team leader and will race to protect him and guide him to the finish. A responsibility that Seixas welcomes with enthusiasm, while admitting he feels some pressure: "It's gratifying for me. I know I have the physical abilities to keep pace with the best and the team is aware of that too." Then he adds: "I'm happy to be the leader of this great team, made up of excellent guys. We want to achieve something splendid together."

The ambitions are stated and leave no room for interpretation. After second place in Montreal and bronze in the time trial, Seixas would not be satisfied with another podium finish: "The objective is to win on Sunday. With the form I have and a team like this, it would inevitably be a disappointment to aim for anything other than the title." A statement that captures the confidence of the young Frenchman, though aware of the unpredictability of a long and complex race.

To win the rainbow jersey, it won't necessarily be mandatory to arrive alone. Seixas would certainly prefer to win without rivals at his side, but he doesn't fear a potential tight sprint: "You don't necessarily have to arrive alone to win, because it's a difficult race. Obviously any rider would tell you they prefer to arrive solo. But arriving with one or more riders could work for me; I'm not slow in a sprint, after all I work on it about once a week. This allows me to maintain an explosiveness that could prove important in the final stages of the race. After 270 kilometers, the situation is always different. The finish is hard. You also have to see what the wind is like." After nearly 300 kilometers of racing, however, any scenario can change. The finale will be tough and the wind could also play a decisive role.

Paul Seixas presents himself this way for the road race: young, ambitious, and supported by a national team built around him. The bronze in the time trial confirmed his condition, but on Sunday the Frenchman will seek something even more prestigious: the world champion's jersey.