Martinez goes solo in Japan & Dutch Treat in Arnhem

Solo is best

Lenny Martinez crowned his stellar debut season with Bahrain Victorious, winning a fine solo victory at the 32nd Utsunomiya Japan Cup Road Race. The 22-year-old Frenchman showed his climbing prowess, adding to this earlier stage wins at Paris-Nice, Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour de Romandie. 

A demanding course as riders tackled 14 laps of a 10km circuit, featuring the Kogashiyama climb each time. With every lap reducing the peloton, attrition was the story of the day. With 20km to go, Martinez was among a select group of seven riders. On the final ascent of Kogashiyama, the French climber launches his attack, breaking away and powering away solo. He kept it all the way to the finish, 32 seconds ahead of Alex Baudin (EF Education Easypost).

"I was able to make my move at the end. I started setting it up early because the climb wasn't very long. Over the last three and two laps, I tried to reduce the group, and on the final lap, I chose the right moment to go solo. It was the lat race of the season, and I'm super happy to win. It's better to be alone than to finish in a group. It's not very common to race in Japan, so I'm especially happy to take the win in such a unique place."

-Lenny Martinez

Danny van Poppel, riding in the Dutch champion's jersey took the final stage of the Tour of Holland narrowly beat Huub Artz, just ahead of the peloton. Christophe Laporte wins the GC in Arnhem. 

"When you've been out training and competition for so long, you sometimes wonder if you'll ever return. I didn't think I would reach this level at the end of the season."

-Christoph Laporte 

"I've never experienced it like this, racing in the Netherlands. There's a lot of attention for this jersey, which is great. But this is especially important for Dutch cycling, including for young people. Organizing races isn't easy, so we have to appreciate that someone does it. Hopefully, this will set something in motion for the future."

-Danny van Poppel