Pogacar’s Throne Is Under Threat: The Rising Stars You Need to Know

Pogacar and Vingegaard may soon face serious competition.

The Tour de l’Avenir has long been regarded as a glimpse into cycling’s future stars, and the 2025 edition confirmed that the next wave of climbing talent is arriving faster than ever.

Belgian national coach Serge Pauwels had suggested that a rivalry was forming between Jarno Widar and Paul Seixas, calling it “a great duel a bit like Pogacar against Vingegaard.”

The queen stage to the ski resort of Tignes proved that prediction accurate.

On this decisive stage, Belgium’s 19-year-old Widar claimed victory, narrowly defeating France’s 18-year-old Seixas.

The pace up Tignes was blistering, with both riders pushing each other to the limit throughout the fifth stage.

Widar cemented his reputation as a top climber by setting a new record on the steepest 7.5 km of the final ascent a section no rider had ever completed faster.

Comparisons to Tadej Pogacar were immediate.

To put it in perspective, Jai Hindley climbed the same segment in 21:14 in 2016, while Pogacar took 20:28 during the 2021 Tour de France.

Widar, however, shattered these times, finishing in just 19:17. Seixas was a mere three seconds behind at 19:20, signaling a formidable dual threat in the mountains.

This performance shows that Widar and Seixas aren’t just competing in U23 races; they are already challenging the benchmarks set by elite professionals.

Their rivalry promises to be defined by raw speed, power, and high-altitude endurance.

For Widar, this victory was a form of redemption after an “off day” in last year’s Tour de l’Avenir. Arriving in excellent shape, he had already impressed at the mountainous Tour de la Vallée d’Aoste in July.

Pauwels confirmed Widar was “in superb form,” and the Tignes stage suited him perfectly.

Seixas, meanwhile, is being described as “a bit of a phenomenon.”

Despite finishing just behind Widar, he faced his own obstacles: lactic acid buildup, a heart rate that wouldn’t respond, a mechanical issue requiring a bike change, and the absence of his power meter on the climb.

Yet he managed to limit his losses, finishing second on the stage and later winning the overall Tour de l’Avenir after the final time trial, 40 seconds ahead of Widar.

The comparison of their times with Pogacar’s efforts suggests that the current hierarchy of Grand Tour climbing could soon be challenged.

Both Widar and Seixas show the ability to engage in intense, high-level duels, and the speed they displayed in 2025 forces the cycling world to reconsider when today’s records might fall.

The 2025 Tour de l’Avenir didn’t just reveal one future star it showcased two young climbers ready to reshape professional cycling.