Tour de Romandie: Martinez stays close

 

The key moment of the stage came when Pogacar attacked on the steep gradients of Ovronnaz, forcing a selection of the GC contenders. Martinez was the only rider able to respond straight away. Florian Lipowitz would later return to the front, but the move was key in that Matinez’s ability to keep pace with the best climber in the race. The stage was decided by a four-rider sprint between Pogacar, Lipowitz (2nd), Martinez (3rd) and Nordhagen (4th), with the Slovenian taking the stage win. 

“It was nice. It’s the first time I’ve managed to follow him. It’s always strange to be on his wheel. Even though I’m a pro rider, I still watch him on TV and think it must be crazy to be there with him, and that was the case today. It was the first stage back after a breaking, I felt quite fresh and that’s why I still had something left in the final. In the sprint I was completely dead, I had nothing left.”

-Lenny Matinez, third place on GC.

Three jerseys collected; Best young rider, most combative and Best Mountains jersey (above)