Critérium du Dauphiné: A French Climbing Prodigy Soars on the Final Stage as Pogačar Claims His Prize

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Lenny Martinez’s stunning victory on the final stage caps a dramatic week in the Alps, while Tadej Pogačar secures his first Critérium du Dauphiné title ahead of the Tour de France

VAL-CENIS, France — The thin mountain air at 2,000 meters seemed to suit Lenny Martinez just fine. With eight kilometers of climbing still ahead of him, the 21-year-old Frenchman dropped Enric Mas of Spain like a stone and never looked back, soloing to victory on the punishing final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné as cycling’s biggest stars watched helplessly from behind.

It was a moment of pure audacity from a rider who had entered the day with modest expectations. Martinez, riding for Bahrain Victorious, had struggled in recent stages and wasn’t feeling particularly confident. But sometimes in cycling, as in life, the legs surprise you when it matters most.

 
“I wasn’t expecting much today,” Martinez said after his triumph on the slopes of Col de Mont-Cenis, still catching his breath from the effort. “Yesterday, I was really bad, and I hadn’t been feeling great the days before either. So I wasn’t expecting much today. But then I finally felt good at the start, so I decided to go for it.”

His victory — the third World Tour win of his young career — provided the perfect exclamation point to a week that saw Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia methodically dismantle his rivals to claim his first Critérium du Dauphiné title, a traditional dress rehearsal for the Tour de France that begins in just over two weeks.

The Battle Unfolds

The stage began with 135 riders rolling out from Val-d’Arc, including Romain Bardet, who was honored with a guard of honour as he began his final day as a professional cyclist. But ceremony quickly gave way to combat as the race exploded into action from the opening kilometers.

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Romain BARDET (TEAM PICNIC POSTNL) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

As has become his trademark, Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck fired the first shots, attacking over the category-3 Côte d’Aiton just 4.7 kilometers into the stage. The Dutch superstar’s initial move was neutralized, but his relentless pressure eventually cracked the peloton open, allowing a star-studded 12-man breakaway to form at kilometer 14.

The composition of the break was telling: alongside Martinez and van der Poel rode Max Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Sepp Kuss (Team Visma-Lease a Bike), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), Enric Mas and Ivan Romeo (both Movistar Team), and Alexey Lutsenko (Israel-Premier Tech).

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Mathieu VAN DER POEL (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

With four minutes of breathing room by kilometer 36, the break seemed destined for glory. But cycling rarely rewards complacency. Behind them, Uno-X Mobility began a methodical chase to protect Tobias Johannessen’s fifth place overall from the dangerous Mas. The gap hemorrhaged time — down to 2:30 by the summit of Col de Beaune at kilometer 66.7.

Van der Poel’s Gambit

The race’s narrative shifted dramatically when van der Poel, never one to sit idle, launched another explosive attack before the intermediate sprint in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. The former world champion’s acceleration was devastating, instantly creating a 1:10 gap as he crested the Côte d’Aussois alone at kilometer 101.

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Mathieu VAN DER POEL (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

For a tantalizing moment, it appeared the Dutchman might solo to victory, his powerful pedal strokes eating up the kilometers toward the final climb. Behind him, Ivan Romeo of Movistar Team worked desperately to organize the chase, the Spanish climber understanding that his teammate Mas’s overall ambitions hung in the balance.

But van der Poel’s heroic effort came undone just before the base of the Col de Mont-Cenis, the day’s decisive climb. The elastic had stretched too far, and cycling’s harsh mathematics caught up with him. He was swept up by his former companions, setting the stage for the day’s real drama.

The Mountain Decides

The Col de Mont-Cenis — 20 kilometers of climbing at an average gradient of 5.1% — has always been a brutally honest judge of form. As the breakaway hit the lower slopes, the attacks came in rapid succession, each one winnowing the group further.

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Lenny MARTINEZ (BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

Mas, the experienced Spanish climber, made the first serious move, his acceleration designed to drop everyone except the very strongest. Only Martinez could match him, the young Frenchman’s climbing style appearing effortless as he shadowed the Movistar rider’s every move.

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Jonas VINGEGAARD (TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE), Tadej POGACAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

Behind them, chaos reigned. Jonas Vingegaard of Team Visma-Lease a Bike, the two-time Tour de France champion, began his own series of probing attacks in the main field. Only Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates XRG could follow, the two rivals locked in their familiar dance of thrust and parry.

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Jonas VINGEGAARD (TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE), Tadej POGACAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

With eight kilometers remaining to the summit, Martinez made his decisive move. It wasn’t a violent acceleration — more a gradual ratcheting up of pace that left Mas grasping at thin air. The Frenchman crested the summit with a 50-second advantage over the Pogačar-Vingegaard duo, who had dispatched the remnants of the breakaway in the final 1.5 kilometers.

A Champion’s Calculation

The five-kilometer descent to the finish in Val-Cenis became a test of nerve and tactical acumen. Martinez, despite his youth, rode with the composure of a veteran, taking calculated risks on the technical descent while maintaining enough of his advantage to secure victory.

Behind him, Pogačar had already accomplished his primary objective — securing his first Critérium du Dauphiné title with his 59-second overall victory margin over Vingegaard. Yet the Slovenian continued to match his Danish rival’s every acceleration, a psychological statement that spoke volumes about their ongoing rivalry.

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Lenny MARTINEZ (BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

“At one point, I thought Van der Poel was going to win, then I thought I was going to get caught by the Pogačar-Vingegaard duo a little later,” Martinez reflected afterward. “It would have been a real shame, but it worked out! I was going all out until the last kilometre and it was only at the end that I really believed it was possible to win.”

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Lenny MARTINEZ (BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

When Martinez crossed the line 34 seconds ahead of Vingegaard and Pogačar, his arms raised in triumph, it marked not just a stage victory but the announcement of France’s newest climbing sensation.

The Anatomy of a Masterclass

Pogačar’s path to overall victory was anything but straightforward. After losing significant time in an early time trial, the two-time Tour de France champion found himself facing deficits that would have demoralized lesser riders. But the 26-year-old possesses an almost supernatural ability to turn adversity into opportunity.

“There’s a lot of positives from this week and we turned all the negatives into positives, so it’s all good,” Pogačar said with characteristic understatement after securing his 99th professional victory. “It’s been a really amazing week. Once again today, the team did a great job. We managed to defend the jersey and we can go home happy and prepare for the Tour.”

The tactical chess match that unfolded over eight stages showcased why Pogačar is considered the most complete rider of his generation. His climbing prowess was never in doubt, but his ability to limit losses when the terrain didn’t suit him, then strike decisively when it did, demonstrated the calculating intelligence that separates champions from also-rans.

Supporting Cast Excellence

The week also showcased the emerging talent of Florian Lipowitz, the 23-year-old German who claimed third place overall for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. His consistent performance throughout the eight stages marked him as a rider to watch in the upcoming Tour de France.

“I would never have thought I could compete like this in the Criterium du Dauphiné,” Lipowitz admitted. “It’s an incredible week for me and I’m delighted with the result. Three weeks is super hard but now I have more confidence and I’m really looking forward to the Tour de France.”

Perhaps most remarkably, Bruno Armirail of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team secured the King of the Mountains classification despite being, by his own admission, far from the prototypical climber. At over 70 kilograms (154 pounds), Armirail represents the modern evolution of the climbing specialist — tactical intelligence compensating for what might be considered physical disadvantages.

“That’s not bad for a guy who weighs over 70 kilos,” Armirail said with evident satisfaction after claiming the polka-dot jersey. “This morning I was thinking a little bit about the polka dot jersey, but Buitrago was well placed, as were Higuita and Pogacar. Every day I was able to pick up a few points, I went for it, and I guess it worked.”

The Road to July

As the cycling world’s attention now turns to the Tour de France, the Critérium du Dauphiné has served its traditional purpose: sharpening form, testing tactics, and providing psychological markers for the sport’s biggest names.

Pogačar heads to his altitude training camp at Isola 2000 with the confidence that comes from victory, but also with the knowledge that Vingegaard remains dangerous. “Now we go to an altitude camp at Isola 2000,” Pogačar explained. “There’s not much to do ahead of the Tour. I rest a bit, maybe some extra work for the time-trial, and then I’m ready.”

Martinez returns to his team with newfound confidence and the experience of beating the world’s best when it mattered most. His tactical intelligence — remaining patient when van der Poel seemed destined for victory, then timing his attack to perfection on the final climb — suggests a maturity beyond his 21 years.

“I came here for the overall classification: it didn’t work out, but I’ve salvaged the week,” Martinez reflected. “The team told me never to give up, so that’s why I tried again today. Now we can be proud of what we’ve done here with this victory. I hope to win in the Tour too, we’ll see.”

For cycling fans, the storylines emerging from these Alpine roads suggest that the Tour de France may be one of the most compelling in years. The young French climber who surprised everyone may yet have more surprises in store when the racing resumes on cycling’s biggest stage.

In a sport where seeing is believing, Martinez has given fans plenty to see — and reason to believe that France’s next cycling star has already announced himself on the slopes of Val-Cenis.


 

15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Mathieu VAN DER POEL (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

Stage 8 Results

Rank Rider Team Time Gap Bonus
1 Lenny Martinez Bahrain Victorious 3:34:18 10″
2 Jonas Vingegaard Team Visma-Lease a Bike 3:34:52 +00:34 6″
3 Tadej Pogačar UAE Team Emirates XRG 3:34:52 +00:34 4″
4 Matteo Jorgenson Team Visma-Lease a Bike 3:34:58 +00:40
5 Remco Evenepoel Soudal Quick-Step 3:34:58 +00:40
6 Enric Mas Movistar Team 3:35:03 +00:45 1″
7 Florian Lipowitz Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe 3:35:05 +00:47
8 Tobias Johannessen Uno-X Mobility 3:35:05 +00:47
9 Ben Healy EF Education-EasyPost 3:35:19 +01:01
10 Sepp Kuss Team Visma-Lease a Bike 3:35:19 +01:01
 
15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Jonas VINGEGAARD (TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE), Tadej POGACAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG), Florian LIPOWITZ (RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

Final General Classification

Rank Rider Team Time Gap Bonus
1 Tadej Pogačar UAE Team Emirates XRG 29:19:46 36″
2 Jonas Vingegaard Team Visma-Lease a Bike 29:20:45 +00:59 24″
3 Florian Lipowitz Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe 29:22:24 +02:38 8″
4 Remco Evenepoel Soudal Quick-Step 29:24:07 +04:21 1″
5 Tobias Johannessen Uno-X Mobility 29:25:58 +06:12 2″
6 Matteo Jorgenson Team Visma-Lease a Bike 29:27:14 +07:28
7 Enric Mas Movistar Team 29:27:43 +07:57 1″
8 Paul Seixas Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 29:28:11 +08:25
9 Carlos Rodriguez Ineos Grenadiers 29:28:43 +08:57
10 Guillaume Martin Guyonnet Groupama-FDJ 29:29:47 +10:01
 
15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Tadej POGACAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

Final Points (maillot vert) Classification

Rank Rider Team Points
1 Tadej Pogačar UAE Team Emirates XRG 79
2 Mathieu van der Poel Alpecin-Deceuninck 79
3 Jonas Vingegaard Team Visma-Lease a Bike 70
4 Remco Evenepoel Soudal Quick-Step 55
5 Florian Lipowitz Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe 48
6 Jonathan Milan Lidl-Trek 41
7 Axel Laurance Ineos Grenadiers 36
8 Louis Barre Intermarché-Wanty 33
9 Bastien Tronchon Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 32
10 Alfred Wright Bahrain Victorious 32
 
15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Bruno ARMIRAIL (DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

Final KOM (maillot à pois) Classification

Rank Rider Team Points
1 Bruno Armirail Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 36
2 Tadej Pogačar UAE Team Emirates XRG 33
3 Sergio Andres Higuita Garcia XDS Astana Team 27
4 Jonas Vingegaard Team Visma-Lease a Bike 26
5 Lenny Martinez Bahrain Victorious 23
6 Guillermo Juan Martinez Huertas Team Picnic PostNL 18
7 Romain Bardet Team Picnic PostNL 16
8 Florian Lipowitz Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe 15
9 Mathieu van der Poel Alpecin-Deceuninck 14
10 Alex Baudin EF Education-EasyPost 13
 
15/06/2025 – Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 – Étape 8 – Val-d’Arc / Val-Cenis – Plateau du Mont-Cenis (133,3 km) – Florian LIPOWITZ (RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE) © A.S.O./Tony Esnault

Final Young Riders (U26) Classification

Rank Rider Team Time Gap Bonus
1 Florian Lipowitz Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe 29:22:24 8″
2 Remco Evenepoel Soudal Quick-Step 29:24:07 +01:43 1″
3 Paul Seixas Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 29:28:11 +05:47
4 Carlos Rodriguez Ineos Grenadiers 29:28:43 +06:19
5 Ben Tulett Team Visma-Lease a Bike 29:32:54 +10:30
6 Mathys Rondel Tudor Pro Cycling Team 29:36:45 +14:21
7 Lenny Martinez Bahrain Victorious 29:58:38 +36:14 10″
8 Louis Barre Intermarché-Wanty 30:01:49 +39:25 7″
9 Ben Healy EF Education-EasyPost 30:07:37 +45:13
10 Ivan Romeo Abad Movistar Team 30:09:01 +46:37  

Final Teams Classification

Rank Team Time Gap
1 Team Visma-Lease a Bike 88:16:04
2 Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team 88:55:09 +39:05
3 Bahrain Victorious 89:05:25 +49:21
4 Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe 89:07:26 +51:22
5 UAE Team Emirates XRG 89:07:50 +51:46
6 Movistar Team 89:11:01 +54:57
7 EF Education-EasyPost 89:26:58 +70:54
8 Ineos Grenadiers 89:32:32 +76:28
9 Groupama-FDJ 89:33:33 +77:29
10 Soudal Quick-Step 89:45:02 +88:58
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