Tour de France: Firsts of Paul Seixas and Olav Kooij
In their first appearance at Tour France, Paul Seixas and Olav Kooij will take on leadership roles. They’ll be able to rely on a team well-versed in the demands of three-week races. Tiesj Benoot, who is set to compete in his 11th Grand tour, will bring all his experience alongside Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Nicolas Prodhomme, and Cees Bol, all three of whom are competing in their eighth Grand tour. Daan Hoole (6th Grand tour) and Matthew Riccitello (4th Grand tour first Tour France) round out a well-balanced squad, capable of supporting its two young leaders on all types of terrain.
Dominique Serieys: To compete for the overall title and win at least one stage
“We’re approaching the Tour ambition but also humility, determined to build on the progress we’ve made over the past few seasons. We’ve put together a very well-rounded and united team, made up of riders profiles are well-suited to achieving our goals. Paul Seixas will be making his Tour de France debut as part of this team, with the goal of achieving the best possible result while focusing on learning. Olav Kooij, who will also be competing in his first Tour France, will have several opportunities to showcase his speed in sprint finishes. With this lineup, the team led by Luke Rowe -who will be making his Grand tour debut tour a sports director- will aim for the general classification and will try to secure at least one stage victory whenever the opportunity arises.“
Paul Seixas: Give it our all to achieve the best possible ranking
“After my crash and withdrawal from the Tour , I was able to resume my training for the Tour France almost as usual, adjusting a few sessions due to my injuries. With five days to go before the Grand Départ, I feel ready to give it my all to complete these three weeks and achieve the best possible finish. I’m not setting a more specific goal because I’m heading into the unknown, I’ve never competed in a race this long and demanding before. I hope to be a key player, continue to improve, and also enjoy myself. This is the race I’ve always dreamed of, and I realize how lucky I am to be able to compete in it so early in my career.”
Olav Kooij: I've regained a lot of confidence.
“My start to the season wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but we managed to stay patient and keep working. The victories I’ve earned in recent weeks, since returning to competition, have really boosted my confidence. I know the competition will be fierce since we’ll be racing in the world’s biggest cycling race, but our goals are clear, both for the team and for me: for Paul to finish as high as possible in the overall standings and win at least one sprint stage. I want to thank the team for the trust they’ve placed in me.”
Key figure: 1937
Paul Seixas will start the 2026 Tour de France at the age of 19 years, 9 months and 10 days, making him the youngest rider to compete in Tour de France since 1937.
Contacts
DECATHLON CMA CGM Team
DECATHLON GROUP
CMA CGM
About DECATHLON
A global multi-specialist sports brand catering for everyone from beginners to top athletes, DECATHLON is an innovative manufacturer of sporting goods for all skill levels. With over 102,900 teammates and 1,902 stores worldwide, DECATHLON and its teams have been working ever since 1976 to make the joys and benefits of sport truly accessible to all.
About the CMA CGM Group
The CMA CGM Group is a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, true to its corporate Purpose: We imagine better ways to serve a world in motion. Present in 177 countries, it employs 160,000 people, including nearly 6,000 in Marseille, where its head office is located. As the world’s third-largest shipping company, CMA CGM serves more than 420 ports across five continents with a fleet of over 700 vessels. In 2025, CMA CGM carried more than 24 million twenty-foot equivalent containers (TEUs). Its subsidiary, CEVA Logistics, one of the top five global players, operates 1,000 warehouses and handled 15 million shipments in 2025. The Group’s air division operates a fleet of cargo aircraft under the CMA CGM AIR CARGO and Air Belgium brands. CMA Media, the third-largest private media group in France, brings together RMC-BFM and several national and regional press titles (La Tribune Dimanche, La Tribune, La Provence, and Corse Matin) as well as the social media platform Brut. Committed to the energy transition, the CMA CGM Group aims for Net Zero Carbon by 2050. The CMA CGM Foundation provides humanitarian aid in crisis situations and supports education and equal opportunities worldwide. To date, the Foundation has transported 120,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to 106 countries and supported over 630 projects in France, Lebanon, and around the world.
© Photo Alex Broadway // Decathlon CMA CGM Team