At the start of the second stage of the Tour de Romandie, no runner managed to imagine the scenario of the day. In the end, the Sudal Quick-Step took advantage of the ground proposed to harden the race, and the peloton exploded over the various ascents. There are only 18 strong to finish in the minute. Among them, Lenny Martinez who answered present after a slightly crazy step. “In the final, it was complicated to manage. I think Remco (Evenepoel) scared everyone a little by putting several attacks from the start of the flat part, after the last ascent. And then the attacks were linked”he reports to Directvelo.
About twenty kilometers from the finish, a group of five runners took off and was able to play the victory with almost a minute ahead of the big favorites of the race (see classification). A boon for Lennert Van Eetvelt which took precious time before the last three stages. “I think it could have been worse, with big leaders who take time”relativizes Lenny Martinez. The leader of the Bahrain Victorious has no regrets. “I couldn’t do more I think. And if I had tried to go out with the group that went to the end, I think Remco would not have let me go”.
After three days of racing, Lenny Martinez occupies 9th place of the General, 56 seconds from his compatriot Alex Baudin. It is rather optimistic for the next few days. “The legs answered well”. The Friday stage, drawn around Cossonay, gives her an eye. “It can be not bad. If I still feel good, I think it’s a good step to check”he said then that the finale benefits the Punchers. Then will come the great moment of this Tour de Romandie, with the Saturday stage which will arrive in the Thyon 2000 station after an endless 21 -kilometer climb. And she does not remind him of very good memories. “It’s a very long bump. We will see what it gives, I have never made too much effort on an hour. I had finished very very far two years”. But since then, he no longer really has the same status.
