Bahrain Victorious's French rider Lenny Martinez celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 8th and final stage of the 77th edition of the Criterium du Dauphine cycling race, 133,3 km between Val-d'Arc and Val-Cenis - Plateau du Mont Cenis, on June 15, 2025. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
The Tour de France, a prestigious three-week cycling event, doubles as a showcase for the picturesque landscapes of France. As the 2025 race approaches, it marks the 40th anniversary of Bernard Hinault’s fifth and final Tour victory, a milestone that also highlights the prolonged absence of a French winner on the podium in Paris. Since Hinault’s triumph in 1985, no French cyclist has managed to capture the coveted yellow jersey, a stark contrast to the 21 victories French riders secured in the previous 40 editions.
Despite this drought, hope is rekindled by a new generation of French cyclists, including Romain Grégoire, Paul Seixas, and Lenny Martinez. Among them, Martinez, now riding for Bahrain Victorious, stands out for his potential to break the long-standing dry spell. The Cannes-born cyclist, whose family boasts a rich cycling heritage, made a strategic move from Groupama-FDJ to Bahrain Victorious at the end of 2024, citing factors beyond financial incentives as key to his decision.
Lenny Martinez: A Rising Star
Martinez’s transition to Bahrain Victorious has already borne fruit. The 21-year-old has clinched three WorldTour stage wins in 2025, including victories at Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandie, and the Critérium du Dauphiné. His impressive form and youthful exuberance have not gone unnoticed, as he prepares to join the Tour de France lineup alongside fellow young talent Santiago Buitrago.
In an interview with Cyclingnews at the Dauphiné, Martinez expressed confidence in his preparation for the Tour, stating, “I feel super good, this is the race in preparation for the Tour, and I just finished a training camp, so I hope the sensations will be good this week.” Despite his strong performances, Martinez remains grounded, acknowledging the pressure that comes with being a French contender in the race.
Lessons from the Past
Reflecting on his 2024 Tour debut, where he finished 124th in the general classification, Martinez identified fatigue as a significant factor in his performance. “Looking back, I now know that when you have a series of very highs and very lows, it means there’s a problem, a very serious fatigue that has set in,” he told L’Equipe. This realization has informed his approach to training and competition, as he aims to improve his endurance and consistency.
“On the Tour, it was one [good day] a week. After the Tour, it was zero. I was terrible for months, it only got worse.”
Rod Ellingworth’s Influence
Integral to Martinez’s development is Rod Ellingworth, Bahrain Victorious’ special project manager. Ellingworth, who rejoined the team with a focus on nurturing Grand Tour talents, has been instrumental in refining Martinez’s training regimen. “The reason for taking him on was [that] you could see he’d got something and he’d won a good few races with his previous team,” Ellingworth explained, highlighting Martinez’s potential.
Ellingworth’s strategy involves acclimating Martinez to the team’s international environment and increasing the intensity of his training. “I believe you’ve got to put pressure on people a little bit, even early doors, because at the end of the day, this is bike racing and performances are your outcomes,” he noted.
Potential and Realism
While Martinez’s versatility and winning instinct are evident, the question remains: can he contend for the yellow jersey? Ellingworth is cautiously optimistic, stating, “I’m pretty sure he can top 10 in the Tour de France. Could he finish top five at the Tour? Potentially. Could he podium at the Tour? Potentially. Could he win the Tour? Don’t know.”
“[Lenny’s] got a huge capacity to take workload. He bounces back from fatigue pretty well. One of his challenges is putting three weeks together, and I think it’s step by step.”
Martinez shares a pragmatic view of his prospects, focusing on stage victories and gradual improvement. “He’s really realistic with his goals and ambitions. He’s not saying ‘I want to win the Tour de France’. He’s saying, ‘Hang on, I’d love to perform at the Tour, I’d love to win a stage at the Tour’ – that would be the first thing to tick off and then see what happens,” Ellingworth conveyed.
Facing French Expectations
As the only French rider on Bahrain Victorious, Martinez carries the weight of national expectations. The pressure to end the French drought is palpable, yet his team believes that being in a non-French squad alleviates some of this burden. Team directeur sportif Neil Stephens remarked, “We try to encourage that, that sort of non-French, not too much pressure [mindset] because if he were in a French team, he’d have real direct pressure on him.”
Teammate Fred Wright also observed Martinez’s composure, stating, “He seems quite relaxed, to be honest. I don’t think he realises how important he is to French fans. He just takes it as it comes, which is the benefit of being 21, just riding his bike, racing it.”
As Martinez gears up for the Tour de France, the French public will undoubtedly rally behind him, hoping for a breakthrough. While Bahrain Victorious has set realistic targets for the young cyclist, the potential for a surprise performance remains. The journey to reclaiming the yellow jersey may be long, but Martinez’s ascent offers a glimmer of hope for French cycling enthusiasts.
