"I will go into the race fighting for the GC" - Lenny Martinez out to test himself against Pogacar, Vingegaard & Evenepoel at the Criterium du Dauphine
Cycling
There are few bigger hopes for the future of French cycling than Lenny Martinez. Just 21 years old, the Bahrain - Victorious star already has 8 pro wins on his palmares including a stage of Paris-Nice this year, and has worn the Red Jersey at the Vuelta a Espana. At the Criterium du Dauphine in 2025, Martinez now gets to test himself against the leading Grand Tour riders of the modern era.
“This is a great race in the preparation for the Tour and I will go into the race fighting for the GC," Martinez previews in a press release on the Bahrain - Victorious team's official website, ready to challenge the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel among others for the win at the Dauphine.
"The team will also be looking for a stage. I’ve got a great team around me, and that gives me confidence," continues the diminutive Frenchman, who will be supported by the likes of Jack Haig, Santiago Buitrago, Torstein Traeen, Fred Wright, Kamil Gradek and Robert Stannard. "I did this race previously and I really enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to coming back and testing myself.”
“We are really looking forward to this test ahead of the Tour de France," adds Bahrain - Victorious sports director Roman Kreuziger. "I was at altitude camp with some of the riders and they are in great shape. We’ve got really good support around Lenny. Lenny has already done a great job in Romandie, finishing on the podium in GC. For Dauphiné, we are looking for a top ten. The contenders are really strong, but we know Lenny is capable."
"We expect reduced sprints on the first three stages, and then we have a nice ITT on Stage 4 with a climb, and it’s good to see where we are before the Tour with the contenders," Kreuziger concludes. "Stage 5 will give another chance for the sprinters before the three hilly days from Friday to Sunday. It’s going to be a really big test for the guys, but we are confident that we can fight against the best.”
Bahrain - Victorious for the 2025 Criterium du Dauphine
Lenny Martinez
Jack Haig
Santiago Buitrago
Torstein Traeen
Fred Wright
Kamil Gradek
Robert Stannard
Jack Haig
Santiago Buitrago
Torstein Traeen
Fred Wright
Kamil Gradek
Robert Stannard
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And we, what are we doing?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And yet, it attracts people, even you. What’s more, it attracts the rival fanboys to fill cyberspace with endless pointless my hero is better than your hero blabla that’s all been heard before and only helps sell the site as an advertising platform. You know what the solution is but most can’t resist. No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- he is doing 460 watts for 35 min to achieve 7 w/kg with VO2 at 96 , just unreal numbers.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- Just do it, and put up with the consequencesJumpyjohn08-11-2026
- "was a headliner at the Tour de France" Nobody cared about Piddie. Only rivals that were there for Pogi, Jonas, Remco, Sexias, Lipo, Del Toro and they were all expected to lose. Piddie was not even in any conversation.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- exactly, he had an amazing season, but with these overstatements they don‘t do him good.Ketterechts08-11-2026
- More to the point, it isn't his remaining goal.Renz08-11-2026
- lol yeahmij08-11-2026
- I know, their headlines can be so misleading. Pidcock had a great season with 5 wins. and some solid 2nds. no reason to take away from that with a fake headline.mij08-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment