"I don’t see much point coming here to chase GC" - Lenny Martinez sets sights on stage wins and polka-dot jersey at 2025 Tour de France

One of the big hopes for the future of French cycling, 21-year-old Lenny Martinez is already set to start his second Tour de France later this week. Despite some seeing him as the man likely to end the wait for home winner of the Maillot Jaune however, Martinez enters without any GC ambitions in 2025.

"I think there’s less pressure than last year. I’ve done it once, so now I know what to expect. People made the Tour out to be something terrifying, and yes — it’s a massive race — but in the end, it’s still a bike race," the Bahrain - Victorious star previews in quotes collected by L'Equipe. "My preparation has been different this year: a lot more altitude training, and even a specific training camp focused on the Tour. I’ve recovered well since the Dauphiné and I’m arriving in good shape."

As mentioned though, the Maillot Jaune isn't a target for the 21-year-old. Not yet at least. "My focus is on stage wins. If things go well, maybe I can also start picking up a few points for the polka-dot jersey — but that’s definitely a secondary goal for now," he explains. "One thing’s certain: I’m not aiming for the general classification just yet. That’s something I might look at in the future, but right now, I really enjoy going after stages."

"I do enjoy riding for the general classification, but it’s a very different feeling. Winning a stage — that sensation you get at the finish line — is indescribable. It’s just insane," he clarifies. "And anyway, there’s no way I can win the Tour at this stage of my career, so I don’t see much point in coming here just to chase the GC."

In terms of stages to win, there are a few that stand out as well. "I really like the Mûr-de-Bretagne stage, for example. I also like the ones finishing at Mont Ventoux and Mont-Dore. But honestly, any stage — if I can win it, it would be amazing," he says excitedly. "The time trial at Peyragudes too — even though it’ll be hard to beat the top guys, I think that on a good day, I might not be too far off. So I’ll be going for a strong result there as well."

Whilst last year, Martinez had the added pressures of riding for a French team at his home Grand Tour, this year he arrives in different surroundings at Bahrain - Victorious. "We’ve made a lot of changes in training these past few months. I spent the whole winter working on my explosive efforts with my coach. I also felt I needed a new environment," he explains. "Being in an international team, surrounded by riders from all over the world, is really motivating. I enjoy change, and it’s done me good."

"After analysing my training data, he saw I had a real aptitude for short, sharp efforts, and we’ve really focused on that. I can also handle long climbs, but he felt it was more valuable to develop that punchy side," concludes the French starlet. "It’s such an important asset — those little differences in the final moments are often what decide a win when you arrive in a small group. I now feel much more confident in those situations."