Lenny Martinez enters the winter season with a good feeling. The Frenchman from Bahrain Victorious soloed to victory on Sunday in the 32nd edition of the Japan Cup. The 22-year-old climber clearly outsprinted his compatriot Alex Baudin and the Spaniard Ion Izagirre.
Those who thought the road season was over are mistaken. Races were still held on Sunday in various regions and even continents: it was time for an always special event on the cycling calendar. We’re talking about the Japan Cup, a one-day race that takes place entirely in Utsunomiya. The course consists solely of a short local circuit, with one key climb at its center.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 |  Lenny Martinez |
| 2024 |  Neilson Powless |
| 2023 |  Rui Alberto Costa Da Faria |
| 2022 | Neilson Powless |
| 2019 |  Bauke Mollema |
| 2018 |  Robert Power |
| 2017 |  Marco Canola |
| 2016 | Davide Villella |
| 2015 | Bauke Mollema |
| 2014 | Nathan Haas |
The action had to happen on the slopes of Mt. Kogashiyama (4.7 km at 3.5%, with spikes up to 7%), where the race would undoubtedly explode. This climb was also featured in the 1990 World Championship course and, in the Japan Cup, it is the decisive spot in the race. The local circuit, measuring 10.3 kilometers, started and ended halfway up Mt. Kogashiyama. So from the start, it was all about climbing.
Martinez lives up to his favorite status
The course was tailor made for Martinez. The young Frenchman was tipped as the top favorite before the start and fully justified that role. He expertly broke down his rivals on the demanding Utsunomiya circuit and soloed convincingly to victory.
With this win, Martinez secured his fourth victory of the season at the last minute, after earlier stage wins in Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandie, and the Critérium du Dauphiné. The Bahrain Victorious rider was joined on the Japanese podium by his compatriot Alex Baudin, who finished second, and the veteran Ion Izagirre, who claimed his first podium of the season at the Japan Cup.
Lenny Martinez wins the Japan Cup 😍
— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) October 19, 2025
Further down the results, we find the name of a Dutch rider. Jardi Christiaan van der Lee—who has distinguished himself several times over recent months riding for EF Education-EasyPost—crossed the line in fifteenth place, just over five minutes behind winner Martinez.
Utsunomiya Japan Cup Road Race| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 03:30:00 | |
| 2 | + 32 | |
| 3 | " | |
| 4 | + 40 | |
| 5 | " | |
| 6 | + 49 | |
| 7 | + 01:46 | |
| 8 | + 01:49 | |
| 9 | + 02:39 | |
| 10 | + 02:47 |
