Exactly 45 years after his grandfather won Stage 17 at the 1989 Tour on Bastille Day, and three days after turning 22, Lenny Martinez took over the lead of the King of the Mountains competition at the Tour de France on Monday.
It was the 14th of July, the most significant date in French history, and possibly the most significant in this young rider’s career so far.
For the second time in this first phase of the race, the Frenchman was the catalyst in forming a very early breakaway. Buoyed by a vociferous and partisan home support on the roadside, Martinez stayed at the front with an incredible array of talent which included victor four days ago Ben Healy (EFE), multiple Grand Tour stage winners, and even this year’s Giro d’Italia champion Simon Yates (TVL). He was also one of five French escapees flying the flag in front of thousands of their enthusiastic compatriots.
The 165.3 km from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy was a genuine test of legs, with over 4000m of climbing, and eight cat 2 & 3 climbs, plus many more that were just as tough, even if uncategorised. The Bahrain Victorious youngster took maximum points on all of the opening five passes, and with those he had gathered on S4, a total of 27 guaranteed the polka dot jersey going onto the first rest day.
“I’m very happy. The ‘maillot à pois’ is incredible. It’s something I have dreamed of since I was young and watching the Tour de France. It’s the jersey for the best climber, so I am so happy about today. I tried for the stage but the guys ahead were just too strong. I am over the moon to have the climbers’ jersey.”
Eventually it was Yates who crossed the line first, followed by Thymen Arensman (IGD) and Healy, who wrestled the yellow jersey off the shoulders of reigning champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE). Lenny faded towards the end compared to his more experienced and illustrious companions, but still came in eighth, before pulling on that mythical King of the Mountains jersey that grandad Mariano Martinez had also donned on ‘Quatorze Juillet’, back in 1978.
“On the course there were ups and downs, at times I felt stronger, at times not so strong, it’s different on every climb. I think I started to weaken a bit and the top guys’ strength stays pretty constant. But that will come for me.”
Martinez adds the days in which he will wear the Tour de France KoM jersey to the two days he spent leading the Vuelta a Espana in 2023.
Sports Director Roman Kreuziger acknowledged this milestone in the development of such a young rider:
“I think we should be proud that Lenny knew what was coming on this stage because we reconned it. He had it in his mind, so in the beginning we went for the points, which didn’t really cost us that much, but he had a difficult moment between 30 & 25 km to go. He lost some momentum which is a pity, but now we will have to analyse whether holding onto the jersey is a possibility. We’ll have to do some calculations, which will take some time, because planning the stages in detail for Lenny but also keeping the team’s main objective of winning a stage is something we need to work out.
We are proud; it’s great to have him on the podium, especially as a French rider on Bastille day, and he has an 11 point advantage. Let’s see what tactics might work for both him and the team in The Pyrenees & The Alps.”
