It was the first edition of the Classic Var, and it was a Frenchman who won at home. At the top of Mount Faron, Cannes climber Lenny Martinez won on the wire. An unexpected success 100 m from the finish line when Uno X cyclist Tobias Johannessen launched a sharp attack.
Unstuck, Martinez sees his Norwegian rival set off towards victory. But the latter relaxes, raises his arms and cuts his effort a few hectometers from the line. An error which will allow the Groupama FDJ rider to get back on Johannessen and pass him in front on the line.
A victory that the French hope, who was a red jersey in the Vuelta last year, will always have believed in: “I sprinted to the end, I was completely exhausted. I thought it was over at the 500m, honestly, but the guys lay down a bit and I passed. »
Lenny Martinez thus wins his second professional race after a previous success at the Mont Ventoux classic in 2023. The Norwegian Johannessen must be content with a second place. The podium of the event is completed by another Frenchman Romain Bardet. The usual leader of the FDJ, David Gaudu, must be content with 6th place. Kevin Vauquelin, winner of last year’s race, had to withdraw and abandon after a big fall on a central reservation.
The Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var continues this weekend with two stages. The first goes from Levens to the Azur Aréna in Antibes and the second goes from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Vence.
