Lenny Martinez has emerged victorious in the queen stage of the Tour de Romandie, capturing the spotlight on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The 21-year-old French cyclist from Bahrain Victorious showcased his strength and tactical prowess, defeating Joao Almeida in a thrilling sprint finish at Thyon 2000. This win marks the eighth victory of Martinez's career and his second in a World Tour event this season.
The stage, which started in Sion, featured a challenging 128 km route with over 4,000 meters of elevation gain. The decisive moment unfolded in the final 20 kilometers, where Martinez executed a perfectly timed attack just three kilometers from the summit. With the UAE Team Emirates duo of Almeida and Jay Vine applying pressure, Martinez strategically conserved energy before unleashing his sprint.
Martinez crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 43 minutes, and 46 seconds, sharing the same time as Almeida, but with a decisive edge that allowed him to claim victory. Lorenzo Fortunato, who finished third, trailed by 29 seconds, while Remco Evenepoel, a pre-race favorite, struggled and finished ninth, 1 minute and 41 seconds behind.
With this victory, Martinez not only secured the stage win but also took the yellow jersey from Alex Baudin, who was unable to keep pace with the leaders during the grueling ascent. As the new leader of the general classification, Martinez holds a slim two-second advantage over Fortunato and three seconds over Almeida, setting the stage for a dramatic final time trial on Sunday, May 4, 2025, around Geneva.
Reflecting on his performance, Martinez expressed his satisfaction, stating, "It was long, but I had to avoid thinking about the length of the climb, or I risked running out of steam. The UAE were very strong together. I managed to beat Joao Almeida in the sprint. I didn't want to let an UAE rider go solo. There was a good rhythm. Almeida is explosive; I saw him come back on my left. Overall, I’m just happy to have won a stage." His tactical awareness and ability to respond to attacks were crucial in securing his position as the race leader.
The stage began with a breakaway formed by Ben Zwiehoff, Louis Barré, and Julien Bernard, who initially gained a significant lead. However, as the race approached the final climb, the UAE Team Emirates squad intensified the pace, splitting the peloton and forcing many competitors, including Evenepoel and Baudin, to fall behind.
With the finish line in sight, it was a showdown between Martinez and Almeida. The two riders navigated the final technical turn just 150 meters before the finish, where Martinez's superior sprinting ability allowed him to pull ahead and secure the win. His performance today positions him as a strong contender for the overall title, with the final stage time trial looming.
The upcoming time trial, covering 17 kilometers, will be crucial for all riders in contention for the overall win. Martinez will start at 15:40, aiming to defend his lead and secure his first major stage race title. The excitement is palpable as cycling fans eagerly await the conclusion of the 78th edition of the Tour de Romandie.
As the general classification stands after the fourth stage, the top positions are as follows:
- Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious): 16 hours, 29 minutes, 56 seconds
- Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team): +2 seconds
- Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates - XRG): +3 seconds
- Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates - XRG): +32 seconds
- Junior Lecerf (Soudal Quick-Step): +54 seconds
With the stakes higher than ever, the final time trial promises to be a thrilling conclusion to this year's Tour de Romandie, as Lenny Martinez aims to solidify his place in cycling history.
