Yeah that's the race where I first noticed him last year.
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No surpise when they have the three hilly one day races in France from Friday to sunday.
It was Pinot who made it a team participation in Trentino, and he won't be there: he'll be riding the three races that you mention, on his home soil, and say goodbye to his fans.
We may have seen what the future holds for Pinot: getting out of his shell to promote local cycling. Pinot is part of the organization, getting attention and sponsors, maybe he's saving these three races by creating a mini-Italian Fall races at a good time in the calendar, easy on teams and logistics. Hilly, yes, but tough finishes.
I hope that Lenny is brought to the Tour to be to Gaudu what Gaudu was to Pinot in '19. He would grow so much.
Gaudu was in his third pro season and over 2.5 years older than Martinez will be in July at the time of the 2019 Tour, with a lot more experience and results to his name too. I think it's a bit early to throw him into that role, doing the Vuelta (which he's actually scheduled to do) instead makes more sense to me. The Tour can come next year if he progresses as expected.
Look who just got his first pro win!
(I might consider changing the thread title to "Lenny, the best French Martinez". But of course I don't know if some of the old people on the forum will agree that he's better than his father and grandfather were.)
(I might consider changing the thread title to "Lenny, the best French Martinez". But of course I don't know if some of the old people on the forum will agree that he's better than his father and grandfather were.)
He comes up through the fog on the Mont Ventoux and you still don't want to change it to "a mythical climber comes up"?
Well, okay, it was a deconstructed stage...
Since I'm one of the "old people", here's my take: I was a Mariano fan and I see more with Lenny. He can be the best French Martinez. He's not there yet.
Rewind three or four posts back, with the no Démare squad for the upcoming Tour, five spots taken, three open, he's hot, there's an opportunity for him to learn a lot, no pressure. Then the Italian fall classics with Pinot.
TBF, there's the "Baby Giro" - or "Giro Next Gen", and there's the Tour de l'Avenir. However, it doesn't seem like there's a U23 Vuelta, so... might as well just hijack the big boys' race.
Hm, I thought the Vuelta this year is going to be stacked?
Roglic, Mas, Evenepoel, Vlasov, Thomas, Rodriguez, (maybe Hart as well?), Ayuso, Ciccone, Almeida, Dunbar, Carapaz, Carthy... just Pogacar and Vingegaard missing so far? Of course it's difficult to say who is a "big boy" at the moment, since other people don't win much when Pogacar and Vingegaard are at the start.
Roglic, Mas, Evenepoel, Vlasov, Thomas, Rodriguez, (maybe Hart as well?), Ayuso, Ciccone, Almeida, Dunbar, Carapaz, Carthy... just Pogacar and Vingegaard missing so far? Of course it's difficult to say who is a "big boy" at the moment, since other people don't win much when Pogacar and Vingegaard are at the start.
And now he's done something neither his grandfather or father (or great-uncle, or uncle) ever did:
Taken the lead in a GT!
Taken the lead in a GT!
Youngest leader of a GT since 1904. Insanity. (h/t PCS)
Can Lenny be the sensation of this Vuelta? He's young, has great potential and has an almost 3 minute buffer over top dogs! Nobody is sure what he's capable of in a 3-week race but we shouldn't set any limits either for the talented youngster.
I can't wait for the epic showdown between him and Kuss in the ITT.
It would be great for the race if he rides up the Tourmalet still in red. I expect him to leak several minutes however in the TT and that could be a challenge if he loses time elsewhere on the climbs. I think a top 10 overall is now realistic for him and would still be a very good result although he might now hope for more.
He's probably gonna get rekt so hard in the ITT that he'll only be red in one spot.
I'm so happy today! It was a big day for Lenny Martinez: first GT, 3rd in the GC coming into this bike race, and wow! He showed up. Big fan of his. Bravo Lenny!
Went into the race thinking he could be up there on a few mountain stages, try and win one from the break.
Now we're at the point where I think by the end of the race some teams could live to regret giving this guy 3 minutes for free, he just strikes me as the type who will scrap like a dog to keep it going.
Now we're at the point where I think by the end of the race some teams could live to regret giving this guy 3 minutes for free, he just strikes me as the type who will scrap like a dog to keep it going.
So is the Lenny collapse just due to his young age and inexperience, or is he struggling with something?
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