VIDEO. Cycling: “Ah no, it's 2! Ah stupid…”, the Frenchman Lenny Martinez hits the Johannessen post and wins the Classic Var

Le Français s'est arraché jusqu'au bout. – Capture d'écran X

Le jeune français de la Groupama-FDJ a profité d'une célébration trop anticipée du Norvégien Tobias Johannessen pour lui chiper la victoire sur la ligne et remporter la Classic Var au sommet du Mont Faron. 

Never declare victory too quickly! Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X) learned it the hard way, this Friday February 16, on the Classic Var, 184km between Saint-Raphaël and Mont Faron (Toulon).

The 24-year-old Norwegian climber thought he had tamed the slopes of Mont Faron by escaping from a group with Romain Bardet (DSM), David Gaudu (G-FDJ) , Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech),  Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R-Décathlon) and Lenny Martinez (G-FDJ).

🫢 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 ! @chainelsteve ne s'en remet pas : Tobias Johannessen pense avoir gagné mais relâche son effort trop et Lenny Martinez le saute sur la ligne pour remporter la #ClassicVar ! #LesRP pic.twitter.com/ZrlDgwyuQ1

— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) February 16, 2024

The Groupama-FDJ pocket climber believed in it until the end until he caught up, on a competitor who was raising an arm and already seemed to be celebrating , and get the victory, on the line. Enough to puzzle Steve Chainel, consultant at the microphone of Eurosport, who said: "Ah no, it's 2! Ah stupid…", live.

Romain Bardet completes the podium. 

LENNY MARTINEZ !!!!!!!
La victoire au Mont Faron 🙌

𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟, 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑛 🤩 pic.twitter.com/XpcdjbKu0G

— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) February 16, 2024

The wearer of the red jersey on the last Vuelta and winner of the Challenge Mont Ventoux last year raises his arms for his first race in 2024. He will be at the start of the Gran Camino on the 22nd ;nbsp;next February before continuing with the Tour of Catalonia.