"I did my best and I could count on my teammates" - Lenny Martinez thanks his team for support in windy stage 9

Learning continues for Lenny Martinez at Vuelta a Espana. After giving up the red jersey on Saturday, the Groupama-FDJ climber almost lost big this Sunday on a 9th stage animated by the wind. Caught out twice during the stage, the wearer of the white jersey could count on the support of his team to manage the badly looking situation for their leader.

"I think it's the second time I've been caught in echelons," he explained after the finish. "The first time I was in the last peloton, this time in the second, so I'm progressing. It's still hard for me, a light weight. I did my best and I could count on my teammates. We rode, rode and we were able to return. Tomorrow, we have a well-deserved day of rest, it will be good. The first part of La Vuelta is over, time for the second," concluded Martinez.

On a day the young Frenchman could've lost everything, he eventually crossed the line some 15 seconds behind the big favuorites and thus will attempt to defend his 3rd place overall in the ITT scheduled after the rest day. Martinez currently enjoys 1:20 advantage over 4th Remco Evenepoel.