CYCLING – Team Bahrain Victorious closed the Tour de Suisse yesterday with Lenny Martinez finishing second on the final stage in Villars-sur-Ollon and claiming the #rideforgino Mountain Prize.
The concluding stage, a demanding 150.7km mountain route, was won by Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Martinez finished as runner-up after a long day in the breakaway, while Bart Lemmen of Team Visma-Lease a Bike completed the podium.
For Bahrain Victorious, the result carried significance beyond the stage finish.
Martinez was part of the day’s main breakaway alongside teammate Afonso Eulalio, with the squad targeting the #rideforgino Mountain Prize on the highest point of the race.
Martinez crossed the summit first to claim the prize, created in memory of former Bahrain Victorious rider Gino Mader, who tragically passed away following the 2023 Tour de Suisse.
After securing the prize, Martinez continued his pursuit of the stage victory on the final climb.
Pogacar eventually caught him inside the final km before riding on to the win, while Martinez held on for second place, giving Bahrain Victorious its strongest result of the week.
“It was a really tough day,” said Martinez.
“I was in the breakaway from early on and UAE were controlling hard behind, so it was complicated. On the Col de la Croix, where the #rideforgino Mountain Prize was awarded, I really wanted to take it for the team, for everyone. It is something important for us.”