"I didn't think it would work" - Lenny Martinez surprises himself with solo time-trial to victory at Trofeo Laigueglia

More than just a star in the making, Groupama - FDJ's 20-year-old starlet, Lenny Martinez continues to prove he is one of the best climbers in the current peloton. The latest in a string of impressive performances, Martinez took a solo victory on Wednesday afternoon at Trofeo Laigueglia.

“It's unbelievable, I can't believe it,” laughed Martinez in his immediate post-race interview, barely able to contain his delight. “I rode a good final and needed a time trial to finish it. I didn't think it would work, because I'm not yet a strong time trialist."

Part of a leading quintet heading into the final 10km, Martinez attacked clear on the penultimate climb of the day before embarking on a solo time-trial towards the winning line. “Two laps before the end I was still in doubt, because that group behind us with Juan Ayuso and Romain Grégoire could still come back," Martinez reflects. “When it became clear that that group would not come back, I gave it everything."

"I was just able to make the difference compared to Jan Christen, after which I took ten seconds in the descent," concludes the diminutive French climber. "Luckily I kept that up on the Capo Mele. It was very difficult, but I made it and took the victory for my team.”