Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ) continued his flying start to 2024 with a 9.3km solo victory in a thrilling edition of Trofeo Laigueglia after a brutal battle in the Ligurian Hills with a group full of youthful talent.
But as the road reared back over the Capo Mele in the final few kilometres, Christen ran out of steam and fell back into the group of chasers. He would finish fifth after a powerful performance at still only 19, with teammate Juan Ayuso appearing from nowhere to take third.
Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) was second in the reduced-group sprint behind, but his presence as the clear fastest man in the lead group prompted Martinez to ensure he was alone at the line.
This is Martinez’s second victory of the season after already claiming the Classic Var and riding a great race at O Gran Camiño to take second overall behind Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).
“It's unbelievable, I can't believe it,” said Martinez after the finish. “I rode a good final and needed a time trial to finish it. I didn't think it would work, because I'm not yet a strong time trialist.”
Christen’s gap came as close as five seconds on the run to the line, but Martinez had made the difference on the descent of the penultimate climb.
“When it became clear that that group would not come back, I gave it everything in the last round,” the 20-year-old winner said.
“I was just able to make the difference compared to Christen, after which I took ten seconds in the descent. Luckily I kept that up on the Capo Mele. It was very difficult, but I made it and took the victory for my team.”
A five-man break went up the road in the opening phases of racing on the 202km route out and back into Laigueglia, Alex Martin (Polti Kometa), Diego Bracalente (Team MBH Bank Colpack Ballan), Ben Granger (Mg.K Vis-Colors for Peace), Marco Palomba (General Store-Essegibi-F.Lli Curia) and Immanuel D'aniello (Work Service-Vitalcare-Dynatek).
They led over the opening 140km, with Intermarché-Wanty and Groupama-FDJ taking up the mantle of chasing on the front of the peloton to bring the gap down before they entered the finishing circuit back into the coastal town.
A huge fight for position broke out at 50km to go as they approached the first of four circuits around the Ligurian hills. Each lap would take in the Colla Micheri (1.9km at 8.6%) and the Capo Mele (2km at 3.4%), which should be recognisable from the Milan-San Remo route.
UAE Team Emirates took up their position at the front of proceedings as they hit the climb but after the group remained mainly intact over the top, Lorenzo Rota (Intermarché-Wanty) took his chances on the technical descent and went solo.
Rota was reeled in as UAE kicked off the racing on the second lap up the Micheri, led by Christen and Ayuso. This split the racing apart with only the strongest climbers hanging on.
Martinez began his assault of the hilly corse one lap later which completely blew the front group to pieces. With pre-race favourite Ayuso dropped, the Frenchman kicked on in the group of five.
Martinez, Christen and Vendrame were joined by Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan) and another 20-year-old talent, Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost).
The leaders went blow for blow until Martinez hit out for victory just inside 10km to go, but he was unable to make separation until the final rise of the Colla Micheri where Christen lost the wheel.
Earlier laps of the climb had exposed the Swiss rider to be slightly tentative on the technical descent, where the Frenchman made the difference and extended his gap to what we eventually be a winning margin of 29 seconds.
Ayuso closed down off camera for third after missing the move of leaders earlier in the day, while Christen fell to fifth in a day that UAE Team Emirates entered as massive favourites.
Results
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