Tour 2024: Lenny Martinez’s debut comes sooner than expected

Groupama-FDJ has come up with a surprising name for the upcoming Tour de France. Lenny Martinez appears to be preparing for the Vuelta a España, but he has already made his Tour de France debut this year. The 20-year-old Frenchman will compete alongside David Gaudeau, Romain Gregoire, Stephane Kung and others.

Martinez rode his first Grand Tour last year at the Vuelta a España and immediately managed to distinguish himself: the very young climber came second in the mountain stage behind Javalambre and then rode in the red jersey of the two-day leader. Martinez was due to take part in the Spanish Tour again this year, but his Groupama-FDJ team already believes the time has come for him to make his debut in the world’s biggest cycling race.

The question is whether Martinez will immediately seek a good rating, as David Gaudu will also appear on the tour. The 27-year-old climber has already finished fourth in the 2022 Tour de France, but is by no means satisfied with that performance. It aims to achieve more in the next version. “I dream of the podium,” the Groupama-FDJ climber said in an interview. L’Equipe.

“I was actually able to compete with the best in Paris-Nice last year. The year before I finished fourth in the Tour. To be honest, my biggest dream is to win, but I have to be realistic. It will be very difficult. A podium is more rewarding, Although that would be very difficult as well.

Free thieves
We can’t expect much from Groupama-FDJ on the flat stages, although the speedy Clément Russo may be able to join the aggressive sprints a few times. In transition and mountainous stages, a formation featuring Martinez, Gaudo, top talent Romain Gregoire (first round), Valentin Maduas, Quentin Bacher, Kevin Nettes and Stefan Kung can attack to their hearts’ content. The latter will also focus on the two time trials.