Lenny Martinez Pois jersey, on behalf of the grandfather

The young French climber of the Bahrain-Victorious wears the polka dot jersey at the end of the 10th stage, 47 years after his grandfather, Mariano.

“I aim for the steps, and if the polka jersey arrives, it would be cool”said Lenny Martinez when presenting the runners in Lille. So it's cool! The Frenchman, who was targeting the stage victory but could not follow the pace imposed by Ben Healy, ends the tenth stage of the Tour de France with the legendary tunic of the best climber, Monday, July 14. A great way to celebrate the national holiday and pay tribute to his grandfather, Mariano, who had brought it and won in 1978.

The runner of the Bahrain-Victorious team had targeted this arrival at Mont-Dore as a goal. He had announced during the last stage of the Dauphiné, won, that he would not target the general classification of the Tour de France this year, and his failure during the first stage made him harmless for the great leaders. So on this national day day, the native of Cannes had an outing to go to the breakaway. “I was not sure of myself for the stage victory, but I did not want to leave without anything”he told the arrival.

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At the front, the young runner of just 22 years old was snatched on the first five climbs to go to the top at the top and take 25 sufficient points for the polka dot jersey. Then he offered the luxury of finishing the stage by drawing Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, which he had caught up, over the last 500 meters. “I suffered a lot today”he said, before having a thought for his grandfather, Mariano. “He brought it back to Paris, so it's nice to have it”, he continued, with restraint.

This family tunic, Lenny Martinez had been able to admire him with his grandparents, with whom he had lunch every midday when he was in high school. “I remember that she is in wool. It had shocked me, I told myself that he had to be hot with it! I can't imagine wearing this now. He keeps it in a wardrobe, with other old jerseys suspended from hangers. I was young, I no longer know how old I was the day he showed me. But it makes you want to do the same! “he declared in a special issue of The team on the polka dot jersey.

Now, the young Frenchman is experiencing the magnitude of the task that awaits him. “I will try to take it as far as possible. With tadej (Pogacar) It's going to be complicated, but I'm going to do the maximum “he assures. When Mariano Martinez wore the polka dot jersey in 1978, he also won a stage that year. Lenny only dreams of imitating him.