Luca Martin turns the page on his U21 years with two World Cup podiums. At the start of the last two rounds in Lake Placid (United States) and Mont-Saint-Anne (Canada), at the end of September and beginning of October, he finished 2nd in the two XCO events, and thus retained his 3rd place in the general classification, won by the American Riley Amos. However, the very recent World Champion in his category did not approach his last races with a knife between his teeth. “I had a bout of blues after the Worlds so I decided to take it easy, without too much pressure”, he explains on the microphone of DirectVelo.
Despite a calm approach, the Orbea Factory Team driver quickly got into the game, while he was still in the running to win the World Cup. “Finally, as soon as I arrived in the United States, I switched. I decided to go find the general again. It is still a competition which adds value to a runner, it shows regularity over a whole season”. And if Cycling problems as well as mental fatigue prevented him from being 100%, it is with a lot of positive things that he ends his season. “There is obviously a little disappointment, but not a lot. A podium overall is already great and a 2nd place on a legendary circuit like Mont-Saint-Anne, which means a lot to me, is so good”.
“SPECIAL MOMENTS”
The main thing was elsewhere for Luca Martin, who also wanted to take advantage of the Espoirs rainbow jersey in competition, before putting it away in the closet since he will join the Elite ranks in 2025. “I was able to savor these moments. Orbea made me a special bike, and I kept a few photos. These are special moments, which remain quite rare despite everything, and which are engraved in my memory forever”. And the reception he received from the American public surprised him. “It shocked me a little bit because in the United States, when I was riding in the street, people understood what it meant to have this jersey. The looks that fall on it, I find it magnificent”.
After a long and successful season, it’s time for a deserved and necessary break, before thinking about what’s next. “I’m exhausted, I need to rest. For the moment, I’m having trouble planning for next year, even if I’m really impatient. I’ve wanted to run with the Elites for a year already. I did well to wait again (laughs). MBut now, I want and need new challenges”. And given his last U23 season, Luca Martin could be quite a contender for medals next year.
France
Cycling
