Lenny Martinez with limp-drive toward 2026, Antonio Tiberi opts for other goals

Bahrain Victorious outlined its plans for the upcoming cycling season Monday in Altea, Spain. The team's two promising classification leaders, Lenny Martinez and Antonio Tiberi, will both go to the Tour de France. For the Italian, it will be his first participation.

Martinez will begin his season in his own country, racing the Classic Var, Tour des Alpes Maritimes and Paris-Nice. In the latter race he managed to win a stage last season. After that, the climber will work towards the Tour de France via La Flèche Wallonne, Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse.

The Frenchman knows that his erratic performance may also return in 2026. ' How can I explain that? It's not even because of my brain; I think it's just my legs. At this level, you notice it incredibly quickly. You only have to be 15 watts short, and on a climb you're no longer slightly in the red but under control, you're completely in the red and collapsing.'

'Honestly, I wouldn't mind continuing to win like this. Winning matches is the ultimate goal. And right now I'm really enjoying it. When I'm tasked with winning stages, it's all or nothing. I don't want to be second, I don't want to be third, it's first or nothing. An overall classification is nice, but it's something else," he told L'Equipe.

Tiberi will not ride the Giro d'Italia in 2026, he told Cyclism'Actu, "I think it's good to have new goals, to try to achieve something different. It gives you a little more motivation, something different. It's good for me to go to the Tour de France for the first time and think it's the right time. I'm almost 25 now.'

What his goal will be, the Italian does not yet know exactly. 'The level is very high. I want to get there in top form. And once I get there and see that I have a chance for the final classification, then I will continue. I will try every day to go for the overall. Otherwise, focusing on specific stages is also a good option.'

Tiberi will begin his season with the Tour of Valencia and then ride the UAE Tour, Trofeo Laigueglia, Tirreno-Adriatico, Izulia Basque Country, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour of Romandie and Dauphiné toward his Tour debut.