Martinez edges Almeida on Thyon 2000 as duo take climbing record at Tour de Romandie

Lenny Martinez claimed a thrilling victory on the Queen Stage of the 2025 Tour de Romandie, outsprinting João Almeida at the summit of Thyon 2000 after an intense two-man battle. In the process, both riders etched their names into the record books…by one second.

The duo completed the punishing ascent in 58 minutes and 44 seconds, shaving a single second off the previous record of 58:45 set by Adam Yates two years ago. It was a marginal gain, but enough to establish a new benchmark on one of Switzerland’s most iconic climbs.

Riding for Bahrain – Victorious, Martinez played his cards perfectly on the 20km final climb. Inside the final four kilometres, he and Almeida broke away from Jay Vine and Lorenzo Fortunato, asserting themselves as the strongest on the day. By the 2.5km mark, the pair had opened up a 25-second lead over their nearest chasers, who soon found themselves under pressure from a resurgent Carlos Rodriguez, the INEOS Grenadiers leader and defending Tour de Romandie champion.

Though Almeida and Martinez began marking each other cautiously in the final kilometre, the gap was never close enough for their pursuers to bridge. The stage win would be decided between the two, and in the final metres, it was Martinez who delivered the decisive kick to take one of the best wins of his young career.