On the finish of final yr’s Tour de France, a lot was made from the truth that Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) had lastly reached an age the place he may not battle for the youth classification, however on the Volta a Catalunya that grew to become apparent for the primary time this season.
After Pogačar’s victory on stage 2 at Vallter, he emerged on the winner’s podium to don the jersey of mountains chief, factors chief and, after all, the general chief. The one jersey lacking from Pogačar’s spring Catalan assortment was the race’s white one with orange stripes denoting one of the best younger rider.
As an alternative, that honour went to Groupama-FDJ’s Lenny Martínez, the 20-year-old Frenchman who already grew to become the Vuelta a España’s youngest-ever GC chief final September. At his return to racing south of the Pyrenees once more in Catalunya, he completed fifth at Vallter.
Martinez’s newest achievement is available in a yr the place he retains popping up within the prime half of the outcomes pages, and extra. He has already taken wins at Basic Var and Trofeo Laigueglia in addition to second in O Gran Camiño on the ultimate summit end behind Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike). Maybe most impressively of all for a rider weighing a scant 52 kilos and infrequently categorised as a pure climber, he was eighth in Strade Bianche.
Now one of the best younger rider in Catalunya and within the battle for the general, Martinez instructed reporters afterwards, “At first of the stage I didn’t really feel so nice as all that, however on the finish of the stage it went rather well on the climb”.
“There was just a little break up already after which I obtained again in it, and I attempted to assault a number of occasions however the degree was actually excessive,” he mentioned about Pogačar attacking about 7km from the summit.
“Then Mikel Landa was sturdy and went for it on the finish,” he added about Landa taking second on the stage and transferring into second total. “I attempted to stick with him however I couldn’t. So I simply held on in there, and caught in all the way in which to the end.”
Visibly shivering continually as he spoke to reporters, Martínez mentioned that by way of temperatures, a minimum of, it had been one in every of his hardest days on the bike.
“On the summit I’ve by no means felt so chilly, I should have modified my gears 100 occasions with my arms on function to try to get some feeling again into them however I couldn’t it was so chilly. It was a extremely onerous scenario.”
Given such beautiful performances at such a younger age irrespective of the temperature (and in Galicia’s O Gran Camiño Martinez additionally impressed in even wetter, and typically colder, climate), there was a lot discuss already about Martínez being out of contract subsequent yr. Even earlier than his newest present of climbing energy, Martinez has, unsurprisingly, been receiving some hefty gives for his providers for subsequent yr.
Bahrain Victorious are amongst these reportedly eager to signal him, however as Martínez instructed L’Equipe on Tuesday, he’s not serious about subsequent yr but, and for now he takes such curiosity as a praise, however nothing extra.
“The issue is that numerous individuals have gotten very enthusiastic about these rumours however we’re nonetheless barely in March,” he mentioned. “I don’t need to take into consideration that now, I’ve obtained a season to do. Contract time is in August.
“It’s regular that individuals get excited about me, together with different groups. While you win races, that’s what occurs in biking. I take it extra as a optimistic factor than a unfavorable.”
