Lenny Martínez beats Michael Woods to take debut pro win at Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge

Lenny Martinez is only 19 years of age but one of the most promising climbers in pro cycling. He has taken his first pro win today, winning the mountainous Mont Ventoux Denivelé Challenge.

The race was shortened due to the risks of poor weather which significantly affected the race. The final ascent of Mont Ventoux was not raced, and the race would end at the summit of the first passage through the finish, in the climb's top however with a shallower climb and only 99 kilometers in the legs.

With this, five riders took advantage of the hilly start to go up the road. Asier Etxebarria (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Pablo Castrillo (Equipo Kern Pharma), Jose Maria Garcia (Electro Hiper Europa), Léo Danès (CIC U Nantes) and Valentin Retaillau (AG2R Citroën Team) formed the day's breakaway.

Within the final 24-kilometer climb, the first two third were not too hard, there Castrillo attacked solo off the front, his effort proved valiant but eventually he was reeled in with 5 kilometers to go with a fast-moving peloton behind. Movistar forced the pace early on, Groupama-FDJ then assisted as both looked to set up their pure climbers.

As the riders entered the hardest section of the climb Cristian Rodríguez attacked followed by Lenny Martínez, they were shortly caught but alongside Einer Rubio followed the attack of Michael Woods. Rubio cracked afterwards whilst Simon Carr and Ivan Sosa bridged across to the front group.

Woods and Rodríguez made a few moves but without collaboration in the group the pace slowed down and several riders joined just outside the final kilometer. Domenico Pozzovivo took to the front of the group to set the pace for Woods and it came down to a sprint.

Martínez and Woods rode side by side for a few seconds, but in the final straight the Frenchman had the best legs and took the victory. Simon Carr took third place on the day.

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