Lenny Martinez has apologized on Saturday for the so-called sticky bottles incident on Thursday during the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France. The French rider from Bahrain Victorious received help from his team leader, which led to much criticism.
The 22-year-old Martinez struggled on the Col du Glandon to keep up with the pace of the leading group, but he wanted to be the first to cross the finish line at the top of the mountain. The then-current polka dot jersey wearer was aiming for the points for the mountain classification.
During the climb, Martinez received a bottle from the team car three times, with the climber and his team leader holding onto each other for a long time. The rider was thus briefly helped forward by the speed of the car.
Martinez rejoined the leading group and finished first on the mountain before Thymen Arensman, allowing the Frenchman to add twenty points to the mountain classification. The action led to much criticism. The jury of the Tour decided to hand out eight penalty points to Martinez.
On Saturday, before the twentieth stage, Martinez ate humble pie. “I have noticed that it has caused a lot of commotion,” the rider told Eurosport. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t want to cheat.”
Martinez understands the commotion
Martinez understands why people reacted angrily. “I accepted bottles and gels while I didn’t necessarily need them. There was a misunderstanding with the team leader. On the bike, I didn’t feel like I was doing anything wrong. I went all out. But when you see the images, I understand it.”
It is now clear that Martinez no longer has a chance of winning the overall victory in the mountain classification. Tadej Pogacar has 117 points and is already assured of the polka dot jersey. Number three Martinez has collected 97 points.
Pogacar also won the polka dot jersey in 2020 and 2021. Last year, the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz crowned himself king of the mountains and Pogacar finished second in the mountain classification. Gert-Jan Theunisse was the last Dutch winner of the climbers’ classification in 1989.