"I'm still young, I still have a lot of time ahead of me" - Lenny Martinez in no rush for Tour de France debut

Just 20 years of age, Lenny Martinez has already begun to make a name for himself in the peloton, wearing the Red Jersey on Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana earlier this year. One of the top prospects in French cycling, how long before he shows himself at the Tour de France?

“I don't necessarily want to do the Tour at the moment," Groupama - FDJ's CIC - Mont Ventoux winning prodigy tells Cyclism'Actu, insisting that time is on his side and that there is no rush for him. "I'm still young, I still have a lot of time ahead of me, so I'm not necessarily in a hurry to do it."

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Looking back on his first year at World Tour level though, there's a lot for Martinez to be proud of. "It's been a first year beyond my expectations, I can only be satisfied," reflects the 20-year-old. "I'm very happy to have won a race and to have worn a leader's jersey on a Grand Tour. I also took a few slaps in races that were not to my advantage, but that's part of cycling and overall, I loved everything during this first year."

With Groupama - FDJ's talismanic figurehead, Thibaut Pinot retiring, the space is open for someone to fill Pinot's shoes. Could Martinez be the next leader of the team and the big hope of French cycling?

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CyclingUpToDate Rating 2023 | Groupama-FDJ: 4.67