Lenny Martinez swaps "unforgettable family" for Bahrain Victorious: "That's pretty unique in cycling"
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Follow us on GoogleFrom Groupama-FDJ to Bahrain Victorious, that is the journey Lenny Martinez is taking this winter. After an extended period of rumors and whispers, the still-only 21-year-old top talent signed with the Bahrain formation in early August. Team boss Milan Erzen said then that the team had been dreaming of a Tour podium with a rider for some time and that the young Frenchman would give them that opportunity. Martinez himself recently focused on that goal.
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Martinez was only 19 when he was transferred from Groupama-FDJ's Conti team to the WorldTour team for the 2023 cycling season, but with his results in the U23, it seemed like a fine move beforehand. In that first year with the pros, he immediately won the CIC-Mont Ventoux and even wore the red jersey for several days in his first Vuelta. In addition to the Trofeo Laigueglia this year, he also won four French 1.1 races—an abrupt progression that other teams noticed.
Indeed, Bahrain Victorious secured the signature of the 21-year-old Martinez. Speaking with Le Monde, the young climber said he would have liked to stay longer with Groupama-FDJ. "I had hoped my transfer would come later," he explained. Still, the young Frenchman is grateful for his time with the French team, which he said is an "unforgettable family. Nevertheless, Martinez has always said he would like to ride on a foreign team.
So 2025, that will happen, as Martinez signed with the Bahrain formation through 2027. However, Bahrain Victorious was not the only club showing interest. "There are a lot of expectations regarding me. Many teams, both foreign and French, approached me. That is unique in the cycling world," Martinez told himself.
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Lenny Martinez wore the leader's jersey in the Vuelta for several days in his first year in the pros
"I want to win the Tour de France," says an ambitious Lenny Martinez
At his new team, the French talent will continue his progression. "I'm going to prepare very well this winter, both on and off the bike, to achieve my goals." So, what are those goals? "I want to win the Tour de France," the young Frenchman said. He believes his transfer also plays a role in that. "To beat Tadej Pogacar, you must have every opportunity on your side."
He rode the Tour for the first time this year, but a 124th place in the GC reveals the anonymity of his first participation. "I wanted to ride the Tour with a French team. I gained experience for the future," he told himself. With that experience and the help of his new team, Martinez hopes to become the first Frenchman since Bernard Hinault in 1985 to win the Tour de France.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026