"Criticizing young riders who make so many sacrifices..." - Lenny Martínez father on doping accusations, Tour de France sticky bottle, Tour de France and Paul Seixas

Miguel Martínez is a former Quick-Step rider and someone who was part of the pro peloton in his day. Most recently he even net a pro contract at the age of 44 back in 2020 whilst nowadays he works with Bahrain - Victorious, having been given the opportunity due to the signing of his son Lenny. He talks of the collaboration, the Tour de France and many other topics.

It is a cycling family, with several riders who are former or current pros, and with Lenny Martínez headlining it at the moment. Having developed in the ranks of Groupama - FDJ, it was a shock to the system to move to an 'international' project such as Bahrain, where he was given a bigger paycheck but also more responsibilities, and support for his goals.

The 2025 season was a year of adaptation, with a move to Andorra and a new life beginning for a rider who is currently still 22 years old. "... With [sports director] Roman Kreuziger, it's true that last year was a bit more complicated with Lenny. And now, sometimes he asks me for a bit more advice on how to say things," Martínez senior, 50, said in an interview with Cyclism'Actu.

"For example, regarding a goal, the fourth stage of Paris-Nice, Roman Kreuziger tells me 'What I should tell him today is the stage where you have to win'. I say, no, you shouldn't tell him that. I know Lenny, you have to tell him to aim for a top 3 finish. If he gets a top 3, he'll definitely be close to winning. He'll go for the win. So these are little things that, as a father and knowing Lenny very well, I can offer and that he can regulate a little better".

The former pro now works with Bahrain when it comes to reconning routes before the races take place, driving ahead of the peloton and passing along information to the team cars - a key part of the modern marginal gains system. It is something that certainly pays off as the team have properly been able to support the Frenchman into success over the past 15 months.

Victories at Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie, Criterium du Dauphiné and Japan Cup have marked his stint with Bahrain, but as a GC rider he is also more complete. As a lightweight pure climber, excelling in the time trials is near impossible, but he defends himself well.

But in every race he's started this year, he has achieved Top5 results without exception, and with strong competition. He won the final stage of Paris-Nice outsprinting Jonas Vingegaard after resisting his attack; and was second at the Volta a Catalunya only behind the Dane himself.

He is now racing the Ardennes classics, starting off with Flèche Wallonne where he was fourth last year. "Considering the progress Lenny has made between last year and this year, given his performance and improvement statistics, and the leaps he's capable of making, I think he's capable, in my opinion at least, of a Top3 finish".

"After that, he'll be going for the win. But of course, Pogacar isn't there. Has Pidcock fully recovered? Those are two riders already. Kévin Vauquelin will also be there to win. And since Lenny has improved compared to last year, I think he can also beat Paul Seixas".

In 2025 he aimed for stage wins throughout a lot of the year, achieving them, and at the Tour de France he was on the verge of winning the KOM classification. In conversation with CyclignUpToDate this winter in Altea, the Frenchman admitted that he does not find the point system good. Ultimately, the GC riders are heavily favoured in it, despite not fighting for the jersey.

But aside from that, there was a moment at the Tour where a sticky bottle caused a lot of controversy - with him doing it for an extended period of time. Miguel Martínez admits it was a mistake by his son but that "I don't think Lenny deserves to be treated so harshly because of this. He earned his points later on, he was attacking the whole time. But the only way for Lenny to respond is with victories, and that's what he's going to do now".

"Even on social media, when I see people talking badly about young riders, I don't agree. I'd even be in favor of deleting some of the messages. We have to either speak positively or keep it to ourselves". Having been part of the cycling sphere for decades, he knows how it works. But he also sees that the doping allegations fall on all the top riders and that includes Lenny.

"But criticizing young riders who make so many sacrifices, I say no. Because it hurts the families. Not the riders themselves, because the riders don't watch anymore. But the parents of riders who do watch, thinking 'he's doping because he's winning'. No, you shouldn't say that. Because yes, there was doping back then, but it's not like that anymore. Times have changed. And they all make sacrifices to succeed. They take risks on the descents, sometimes almost risking their lives to win a race. So I ask for respect on that issue on social media".

In France, the growth of Paul Seixas has actually put Lenny Martínez under the radar, which may be to his benefit. But the Decathlon man, only 19, has become the hot topic - for several reasons. Asked about his opinion on a Tour de France debut, he's replied:

"It's his choice. But I've always said, even to Lenny when we talked the first year he rode the Tour, even if he 'messed up' he finished 10th in the last time trial he was in a few breakaways. For me, Lenny gained another year. After that, what you have to do is tune out the media, social media. He might get a setback like any young rider, but he'll gain experience".

"The goal is the more experience you have, the better you can perform, so for me, it's a year gained. Even if he doesn't perform well over three weeks, he'll gain a year. That's incredibly important. And these days, we don't burn out young riders. I think he absolutely has to ride the Tour".

"For Lenny, at least, even though the first year was tough, some riders reach their peak performance level in the Tour de France faster than others," he argues. "I know Lenny will have his Tour one day. Maybe not now, but he's getting there steadily. It's a matter of patience. I'm sure of it, I still believe in Lenny".