Teenage prodigy Paul Seixas storms to third on Tour stage 14, takes white jersey and moves to fourth overall

Stage 14: Mulhouse to Le Markstein

The 14th stage of the Tour de France covered 155 kilometres from Mulhouse to the summit finish at Le Markstein Fellering in the Vosges mountains. It was another demanding day in the high mountains, and the general classification battle ignited on the final climb of the Col du Haag. Race leader Tadej Pogacar attacked 1.5 kilometres from the summit, dropping all his rivals. Behind him, a select group fought for the remaining podium places.

Seixas's ride

French teenager Paul Seixas, riding his first Tour de France at 19, emerged as the strongest of the chasers after Jonas Vingegaard. Initially distanced by the Dane's acceleration, Seixas paced himself and clawed back to Vingegaard's wheel just before the summit. On the descent, Isaac Del Toro bridged across, and the trio contested the sprint for second place behind Pogacar. Del Toro took second, but Seixas outsprinted Vingegaard to claim third, his second podium finish of the race.

It's incredible, it was marvellously tough, another very difficult stage, we're starting to get used to them.

Seixas said he had managed his effort carefully and thanked his team for setting a rhythm that suited him. "I felt good all day. It's a reward for all the work we've done," he added. The stage was raced in front of huge crowds, and Seixas, wearing a surgical mask to protect against a virus, was cheered loudly on the podium. Former French star Thibaut Pinot, present at the start, was described by Le Figaro as "in ecstasy" over the "phenomenon" Seixas.

Team strategy pays off

Decathlon CMA CGM rode aggressively on the Col du Haag to put pressure on Seixas's rivals for the overall podium. Tiesj Benoot and Nicolas Prodhomme set a hard tempo at the front, aiming to distance Juan Ayuso and others. Benoot explained the plan: "At the foot of the last climb we continued with the plan to ride hard to launch him, to try to take places in the general classification." The tactic worked: Ayuso lost time and slipped behind Seixas in the standings.

We are here to try to take the podium and for that, we did a good job today I think.

Benoot also noted that Seixas, still a teenager, is visibly improving during the race, particularly in his positioning, which was weaker in the first week but has sharpened considerably.

White jersey and fourth overall

With his third place, Seixas leapfrogged Ayuso into fourth overall and took the white jersey as best young rider. He now trails third-placed Remco Evenepoel by only 15 seconds, with Jonas Vingegaard in second also within reach. Seixas, who had never raced longer than eight days before this Tour, admitted the third week is an unknown. "We're not in the third week yet so be careful," he cautioned. "But we are professional riders. We train very hard. We do altitude camps and we don't die from it."

I'm living a bit of a dream. It's so cool, I hope it continues tomorrow.

He has been in the top 10 overall since the opening stage in Barcelona and has gradually gained seconds on his rivals. The white jersey, he said, is a great pleasure, but the general classification remains the priority.

Next challenge: Plateau de Solaison

Sunday's 15th stage finishes with the brutal climb to Plateau de Solaison, an ascent Seixas knows well. "It's not very far from my grandparents' home, I have a flat not far from there," he said. "I know the climb well, it's very hard. It's difficult to have a tougher climb." He expects another tough day but is confident after his performance. "If it's like today, that would be perfect."