Race Report: Paul Seixas delivered a stunning performance at Il Lombardia, riding away from the favourites on the steep slopes of the Civiglio before soloing into Como to claim his first Monument. Just 20 years old, the Frenchman turned the season’s final big showdown into a demonstration of climbing class. Giulio Ciccone and Enric Mas were left chasing podium places, while Remco Evenepoel’s hopes unravelled on the decisive climb.

The talent was never in question. Now Paul Seixas has a Monument to go with it.

On the roads from Bergamo to Como, the young Frenchman took on some of the biggest names in cycling—and dropped the lot. His attack on the Civiglio, around 20 kilometres from the finish, proved too much for Isaac del Toro, Brandon McNulty, Tom Pidcock and, eventually, Giulio Ciccone.

Once Seixas had daylight, there was no bringing him back. The Race of the Falling Leaves had found a new star.

Destination – Como

Before the Racing: Riders Demand Safer Roads

The first significant moment came before anyone turned a pedal in anger.

The peloton delayed the start by around five minutes in a protest over rider safety, following a frightening incident at Tre Valli Varesine. Pinarello-Q36.5 riders Marcel Camprubí and Tom Gloag had been caught out by a police motorcycle travelling in the wrong direction. Both escaped serious injury, but the consequences could have been far worse.

European champion Remco Evenepoel stood at the front of the bunch to explain the protest.

The race finally rolled out of Bergamo at around 11:15, with 239 kilometres and nine climbs standing between the riders and the finish in Como.

“This is a statement to the whole world that riders keep dying in races,” he said. “We are holding a five-minute strike to send a message to race organisers. We are asking for safer races so that we can continue racing in the future.”

A brief pause, with a message that deserved everyone’s attention.

O’Connor and Campenaerts Get Things Moving

There was no shortage of enthusiasm for the early break. Visma | Lease a Bike were particularly active through Victor Campenaerts and Bruno Armirail, while Michael Matthews and Ben O’Connor tried their luck for Jayco AlUla.

Canadian Michael Leonard leads the early break

O’Connor and Campenaerts helped establish the move that finally stuck. Through several waves of attacks, a strong group of 14 formed at the front.

Joining them were Antonio Tiberi, Sylvain Moniquet, Canadian Michael Leonard, Maxime Decomble, Julien Bernard, Fausto Masnada, George Bennett, Pau Martí, Louis Vervaeke, Gijs Leemreize, Andrea Mifsud and Johannes Kulset.

Plenty of climbing ability there, but the favourites’ teams were paying attention and the gap never grew beyond three minutes.

Ghisallo Lights the Fuse

The first serious shake-up arrived on the Madonna del Ghisallo, with its 8.6 kilometres at an average gradient of 5.4%, more than 50 kilometres from the finish.

Evenepoel initially put his teammates to work, with Giulio Pellizzari doing a big shift on the front. But when Visma | Lease a Bike took over, the attacks followed.

Matteo Jorgenson went clear with fellow Americans Brandon McNulty and Quinn Simmons, plus Italy’s Christian Scaroni. Three Americans and an Italian heading up the road made for an interesting combination—but the favourites weren’t panicking.

Evenepoel, Pidcock and Seixas still had teammates available, and the move was soon brought back.

Up ahead, O’Connor’s pressure had cut the original break to seven riders. Their advantage was disappearing, however, and around 40 riders remained in contention as the race headed towards its decisive climbs.

Two passages of San Fermo della Battaglia, with the Civiglio between them. Familiar Lombardia terrain, and nowhere to hide.

Seixas Turns Up the Heat on Civiglio

The Civiglio is only 4.2 kilometres long, but at an average of 9.7%, it asks some very direct questions.  PEZ walked part way up the limb in 2015, then rode the down the climb in 2023 – see that video below

Yates leads the chase on the bottom ramp of the Civiglio climb

Seixas supplied the answer.

The Frenchman accelerated, swept past the remaining escapees and immediately put the favourites under pressure. Evenepoel opted to ride at his own tempo, but quickly lost ground.

McNulty, Del Toro, Pidcock and Ciccone initially followed Seixas. Staying there was another matter.

The UAE pair began to struggle. Pidcock lost contact with around two kilometres still to climb. Ciccone held on longest, but even the Italian couldn’t match the relentless pace.

By the summit, Seixas was alone with around 20 seconds in hand.

Twenty years old. Twenty kilometres from Como. His first Monument within reach.

Solo to Como

Behind him, Vuelta winner Enric Mas rode his way into contention, joining Ciccone as Seixas’s closest pursuers.

But the battle had changed. They were racing for the podium; Seixas was racing towards the biggest victory of his career.

Through the rolling finale and the last climb of San Fermo della Battaglia, the Frenchman kept his advantage and completed his solo ride into Como.

A first Monument for Seixas, and a landmark victory for Decathlon CMA CGM—the first win in one of cycling’s five Monuments for the team or its predecessors.

Lombardia has a habit of delivering something special at the end of the season. This time, it delivered a 20-year-old Frenchman riding away from the established stars on one of cycling’s most demanding stages.

Remember this one. Paul Seixas has arrived.