Lenny Martinez wins Classic Grand Besançon Doubs

Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ)
Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) (Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) raced to his third win of the 2024 season at the Classic Grand Besançon Doubs, going clear 2km from the finish up the closing climb of Montfaucon to upgrade on his 2023 second place.

The 20-year-old went early on the 3.8km, 9% finishing ramp, catching and passing earlier attacker Adne Holter (Uno-X Mobility) halfway up before Victor Langellotti (Burgos-BH) accelerated to make it two up front 500 metres from the line.

Groupama-FDJ would celebrate the team's sixth win of the season as well as a double podium finish as David Gaudu came home in third place, 11 seconds down on Martinez.

The race, in its fourth edition this season, is the first of a triple-header of one-day races held in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France, coming ahead of Saturday's Tour du Jura and Sunday's Tour du Doubs.

That didn't stop a breakaway venturing out up the road inside the first 20km, however, with Holter among the early attackers as the Norwegian was joined by Alain Jousseaume (TotalEnergies), Enekoitz Azparren (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Maël Guégan (CIC U Nantes Atlantique), Jérémy Leveau (Van Rysal-Roubaix), and Théo Delacroix (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93).

Azparren, Levau and Guégan were the first to drop up front as the remaining trio battled on and Lotto-Dstny and Burgos-BH joined in the pacemaking behind.

He'd catch and pass Holter within a kilometre and looked set for a solo victory to go with previous wins at the CIC Mont Ventoux, Classic Var, and Trofeo Laigueglia. He seemed to falter heading into the closing kilometre, however, as Langellotti led the charge behind.

Results

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor, later being hired full-time. Her favourite races include Strade Bianche, the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro Léon.

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