Paul Seixas, 20, wins Giro di Lombardia after riders delay start over safety

Paul Seixas of France won the Giro di Lombardia in Como, Italy, on Saturday, 10 October 2026. The 20-year-old became the youngest winner in the race's history. It was the first Monument victory of his career.

Seixas is the fourth-youngest winner of a Monument and the youngest since 1944. He rides for Decathlon-CMA CGM. He is the first Frenchman to win a Monument since Julian Alaphilippe at Milan-San Remo in 2019. He is also the first Frenchman to win this race since Thibaut Pinot in 2018.

How the race was won

Seixas attacked about 19 km from the finish, on the Civiglio climb. Tom Pidcock of Great Britain and Giulio Ciccone of Italy followed. Seixas dropped both shortly afterwards and rode alone for roughly the final 18 km. Enric Mas of Spain finished second, 48 seconds behind. Ciccone was third. According to The Guardian, he finished just over a minute behind Seixas. The Guardian also reported that Remco Evenepoel was fourth and world champion Brandon McNulty fifth. BBC Sport reported that Pidcock finished sixth.

Tadej Pogacar, who won the previous five editions, did not take part. He was injured in a crash at the Vuelta a Espana.

Start delayed by protest

Riders delayed the start by five minutes in a protest over safety after a series of incidents involving vehicles. After organisers completed the start countdown, the peloton stayed still, which caused confusion. Evenepoel then addressed the crowd. BBC Sport quoted him as saying "there are too many incidents happening with vehicles in the race". He referred to the death of British rider Fin Tarling. Tarling died after a collision with a vehicle at the Volta a Portugal in August. Earlier in the week, Thomas Gloag and Marcel Camprubi were struck by a police motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction during the Tre Valli Varesine race.

What is disputed

BBC Sport and The Guardian transcribe Evenepoel's speech slightly differently. In BBC Sport's version, he said riders are "getting injured or literally dying". The Guardian's version reads "getting injured or dying".

What each side says

BBC Sport quoted a statement from the CPA riders' union: "Riders race at high speed with little protection, and we depend on the UCI and race organisers to secure the roads. That responsibility is not being met". The union added: "We did not want to affect the race, only to show what riders can do when we stand as one." It called on the UCI to help ensure that organisers improve safety standards.

According to BBC Sport, the UCI recently published the results of a consultation on reforming cycling. They treat safety as "non-negotiable, with stricter enforcement of existing requirements". The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any response from the race organisers or the UCI to the protest. They also do not include any comment from Seixas after his victory.

Analysis

The result adds a Monument win to a season in which Seixas also finished fourth at the Tour de France. Whether he can sustain this level, and how he compares with Pogacar when both race, remains open. The protest raises a separate question. Riders, through the CPA, say responsibility for road security is not being met. The results of the UCI's consultation treat safety as non-negotiable. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not show how organisers or the UCI responded on the day. Possible outcomes range from stricter enforcement of existing rules to further rider action. It is not yet clear which path, if any, will follow.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.