Lenny Martinez wins stage 8, Pogačar adds Dauphiné to his tally
The Critérium du Dauphiné wrapped up on stage 8 with stage victory for Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious) from the breakaway, his third WorldTour stage win of the season, and a consolation prize after suffering a jour sans on Saturday's Queen Stage.
Deserving though Martinez was of a visit to the podium, there was a sense of Tadej Pogačar pulling the strings from the peloton; the world champion could have, but didn't want to win a fourth stage of the race because, with the GC to boot, it would prematurely bring his victory tally to 100 – “I'd rather save that one hundredth victory for the Tour,” Tadej Pogačar joked on Saturday morning, before taking number 98.
Pogačar's rivals almost spoiled it for him, though, with attacks flying on the final climb before the five-kilometre plateau to the line. But the gap to Martinez held, and Jonas Vingegaard led the world champion over the line 33 seconds after the stage winner, meaning Pogačar took his first Dauphiné title ahead of the Tour de France, where his 100th victory will be waiting.
[race_result id=15 stage_id=86659 count=5 gc=0 year=2025]
[race_result id=15 stage_id=86659 count=5 gc=5 year=2025]
