One of the hottest names for Transfers 2025 is that of Lenny Martinez. Steadily coming forward to sign the 2003-class grimpeur is Visma | Lease a Bike. The small French climber was one of the revelations of last season, but it is in this first part of 2024 that he has shown further significant progress, making him one of the brightest talents for stage racing. Already four victories this season for the Groupama-FDJ rider, who, however, will almost certainly lose him at the end of the year.

Confirming the Dutch squadron’s interest in the prodigious 20-year-old is sports director Merijn Zeeman himself, who, speaking to GCN, revealed that the team has been talking to the rider about his potential entry into the team from next season. “We’ve had some good talks, there’s nothing concrete yet, but it could happen,” Zeeman said Wednesday night.

Another team strongly interested in the very talented French climber is Bahrain-Victorious. The Emirati team could also offer Martinez a better chance of leadership in the bigger, more prestigious stage races, such as the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France. “I’ve been following Lenny for three or four years and he will definitely be one of the French stars of the future, but I can’t confirm anything,” Bahrain-Victorious boss Milan Eržen had told GCN some time ago, “We talked with his agent, but not with him and we don’t have a signature. He is still at the top of our list.”