Star Metro - French teenager Seixas becomes youngest Fleche Wallonne winner

Seixas beat home Switzerland's Mauro Schmid and British rider Ben Tulett to replace Philemon De Meersman in the race's history books as the Belgian was 21 years old and 150 days when he won in 1936.

It was the dream preparation for an altogether tougher task in facing Slovenian great Tadej Pogacar, who was absent, at Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday.

Pogacar, a two-time winner of the Fleche Wallonne, could only finish 53rd on his debut in the race in 2019.

"It is unbelievable, this is a huge victory," said Seixas.

"I was just saying to myself last year I was watching the race on TV, and this year I have won it the first time I took part."

Seixas's opponents had no answer to his surge around 300 metres from the finishing line after a punishing climb.

"I went with my gut feeling to be honest," he said.

"I saw that everyone was at their limit, so I made an extra effort.

"I tried to gauge how my adversaries were and when I saw they were tiring a bit, I said to myself I have to dig deep till the top of the climb."

Seixas finished with his right elbow bloodied, but he said it was not due to a fall and it was an old wound which opened when the peloton was tightly-packed.

Seixas is regarded as the finest talent France has produced in decades.

He has backed that up this season by winning the Tour of the Basque Country stage race and the Ardeche Classic. He also finished runner-up in the Tour of the Algarve and the Strade Bianche.

However, whether he can beat both Pogacar and another big absentee from Wednesday's race Remco Evenepoel, who won last Sunday's Amstel Gold classic, in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege is the big question.

"That is going to be a different level of challenge," said Seixas.

"Of course I will give it my all to win.

"Today, though, shows I am in great form."

M.Johnson--SMC