The 2027 Tour de France route was revealed this Thursday morning in Paris and has taken the cycling world by storm. The more traditional and time trial-heavy route might be one that better suits Paul Seixas, as argued by former B&B Hotels - KTM.

In words to RMC Sport, Pineau sees a better chance of France returning to the top steps of the podium than with its previous big hope. “That kid can do everything. A few years ago, when we were dreaming of Julian [Alaphilippe] getting the yellow jersey, we saw a lot of punchy finishes, they were thinking of him. But Seixas, he’s good everywhere".

Ever since leaving the cycling world as a team manager at the end of 2022, Pineau has remained a vocal figure within the community as an experienced, and often critical voice.

A former professional rider, he has seen the rise and demise of France's most recent Tour de France hopes: Jean-Cristophe Peraud, Romain Bardet, Thibaut Pinot and Julian Alaphilippe.

In 2026, a new French player entered the field: Paul Seixas. Having turned professional the year before, the then 19-year old took on his first Tour, finishing in fourth place amongst a field of top riders at their best level.

Paul Seixas was fourth at his Tour de France debut

Was the Tour course designed thinking of Seixas?

Seixas' evolution in the sport might continue in future years, but he is already a well prominent figure in the present, having just won his first monument at Il Lombardia.

Just as notable have been his performances against the clock. He was third at the recent time trial World Championships, with 39 kilometers in length - similar to those the Tour has presented - and with a course that was mostly pan-flat.

Seixas was fourth at the Tour de France's time trial, although that was mostly an uphill and downhill challenge. On flat roads, the Frenchman has proven to be a specialist.

Pineau believes Seixas - alongside Remco Evenepoel's - specialty in the discipline is a large reason why the organizers opted to place 71 kilometers of flat time trials at the Tour, terrain in which Tadej Pogacar may not be able to make the difference - or even have to defend himself.

“Obviously, if he (Seixas, ed.) were really bad at time trials, they wouldn’t have added a second time trial. But it’s clear that Christian Prudhomme and his team, when they spend weeks designing the course, they immediately think of Seixas," Pineau argues.

The goal, for him, is pretty clear: "They think about how to break the hegemony of Pogacar and UAE.”