French climber Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) has signed a three-year cope with Bahrain Victorious, as a part of a plan to focus on the Tour de France in years to come back.
21-year-old Martinez is seen as probably the most promising younger climbers within the WorldTour peloton. He has already received six races and final yr he turned the youngest ever chief of the Vuelta a España after a robust first week.
Rumours of his departure from Groupama-FDJ to Bahrain Victorious have circulated for a number of months. the affirmation solely arrived on Saturday in an announcement from his new staff for 2025.
“I’m extraordinarily comfortable to affix Team Bahrain Victorious for the following three seasons. The strong challenge across the staff and myself satisfied me. Together, now we have nice ambitions, and I’m satisfied we are going to obtain nice issues,” Martinez mentioned.
“I want to thank the Groupama FDJ staff, who accompanied me throughout my first years within the skilled ranks.”
Milan Erzen, Bahrain Victorious staff supervisor mentioned: “When we began this challenge in 2017, we dreamed of reaching a podium on the Tour de France with a French rider from our staff. We consider Lenny provides us that likelihood. His expertise, dedication, and spirit align completely with our staff’s imaginative and prescient.”
This yr Martinez demonstrated his spectacular racing versatility with eighth place in Strade Bianche, victory within the mountainous Mercan’Tour Classic, second behind Jonas Vingegaard within the O Gran Camiño stage race, and two one-day wins in France within the house of three days within the Tour du Doubs and Classic Grand Besançon Doubs.
Martínez rode a lacklustre Tour de France this July, the place he was a last-minute addition to the Groupama-FDJ squad. Although an eleventh place within the closing TT in Nice recommended he was coming into higher type because the race continued.
He is pencilled in to race each the Clásica San Sebastian after which return to the Vuelta later this summer time. However, his participation in each occasions has but to be definitively confirmed by Groupama-FDJ.
