Bilbao identifies a 'major challenge' for Lenny Martinez: "Competing in a three-week GC with a lightweight physique"

Pello Bilbao didn’t have his best cycling season. He only claimed one victory, in the Tour of Slovenia, and was unable to make a significant impact in the Grand Tours. In an interview with Tuttobiciweb, the Bahrain Victorious rider discusses the young talents in his team, including Antonio Tiberi, Santiago Buitrago, and the future addition, Lenny Martinez.

Bilbao, now 34 years old, has witnessed significant changes in cycling throughout his career. He notes that the sport has become much more intense. "The aggressiveness and speed are completely different from when I started. Nowadays, you enter the hot phase of the race much earlier: the race explodes a lot sooner. I think this is good for cycling because it makes the sport more appealing to a broader audience."

Bilbao provides an example: "A striking example for me is the Strade Bianche. Ten years ago, there would be a group of about fifty riders in the final stages; today, the race falls apart fifty, if not eighty, kilometers from the finish, and you practically arrive one by one at Piazza del Campo." He believes this makes the sport tougher but also more exciting. "The fatigue certainly increases, but so does the motivation; when you feel an attack can come from far away, your adrenaline spikes immediately. As an endurance rider, I appreciate this evolution in our sport."

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Bilbao sees a significant disadvantage for Martinez

He notes that this evolution in the sport poses challenges for smaller, lighter riders. "This extremely higher intensity compared to just a short while ago has put very pure climbers in big trouble. Those who weigh 50-55 kilograms and are very aerobic (high oxygen uptake) but not very explosive risk being dropped even on flat terrain. I think of the Venezuelan José Rujano, who was very strong and even won three stages in the Giro d'Italia and finished on the podium: it would perhaps be impossible for someone like him to do the same today. He might do well on days with four thousand meters of elevation or more, but he can't maintain that level for three weeks straight."

The description of a rider like Rujano fits Martinez well, the petite climber who will be joining Bahrain Victorious. The Frenchman harbors enormous ambition regarding the Grand Tours. "I'm going to prepare very well this winter, both on and off the bike, to achieve my goals: I want to win the Tour de France," he said recently. However, according to Bilbao, this could be very challenging. "I can say that Lenny will face a big challenge, which brings us back to what I just mentioned: maintaining a three-week general classification with such a light physical build. However, there is no doubt about his potential. At just 21 years old, he already has six wins to his name and can contribute a lot to the team."

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Tiberi currently the best of the three

For Buitrago, Bilbao believes there is still work to be done if the Colombian wants to become a top-level general classification rider. "In particular, Santiago, with whom I've raced a lot, hasn’t yet found the consistency to aim for the top positions. His tenth-place finishes in the overall standings of the 2023 Vuelta and the Tour three months ago suggest that he has the potential to get there. Athletically, he’s in good shape; he just needs to learn how to interpret certain race situations correctly."

Regarding Tiberi, however, Bilbao is much more optimistic. "Tiberi is truly well-rounded; he climbs well, has the right power for time trials, and holds his own on the 5-7% climbs you often encounter in the Tour de France. If he can ride a Giro like he did this year at just 23 years old, it means he can certainly stand on the podium in a Grand Tour. On the other hand, Buitrago and Martinez are lighter than Antonio; they may go faster on individual climbs, but I see them as less complete than Tiberi for a Grand Tour."