Lennes story began in the garden, building little hills and riding over them on his BMX. That love for bike handling eventually led him to mountain biking, cyclocross, and later the road. “I’m not scared on my bike,” he says. “I think I have good control. That’s from cyclocross and mountain bike days.” It’s something that already stands out when he races.
Before cycling became his focus, he tried judo and football although he jokes that he didn’t play too much because he wasn’t very good, but nothing captured his imagination quite like bikes. By the time he moved onto the road, he knew what he wanted: to immerse himself fully in the sport. “If I wasn’t a pro cyclist, I’d still want to work in cycling,” he says. “I just love everything around it.” True to that, he’s always tinkering with his equipment, a mechanical mind with a racer’s instinct.
Moving from juniors to U23 is a big step, and Lennes knows it. “I’m excited… a bit nervous,” he admits. “It’s a big jump.” Last year he raced a heavy cyclocross season, so building the endurance “base layer” for road racing is something he’s focused on for 2025. Alongside riding for the Development program, he’ll also continue studying sports and movement science — a programme that covers physiology, nutrition, and everything related to a healthy athletic life.
Lennes describes himself as a rider who thrives in stage races and sees his future in climbing and GC-style racing. “I like the stage races,” he says. “I hope to get more experience there.” With the structure of the Development program and opportunities to sometimes race alongside the Men’s program, he’s eager to learn. “Riding with the pros… you can learn a lot. It’s good for the future.”
Motivation, for him, comes from feel as much as numbers. “I like to train on feeling,” he explains. “I look at my numbers, but I also enjoy just riding hard when I feel good.” His ambitions for the next two years are straightforward: “Improve my skills, get better on the bike, and hopefully become a great cyclist.” Nice and simple!
When asked to describe himself in three words, he chooses: enthusiastic, curious, and playful, and he believes those traits help him on and off the bike. “I think curiosity is a good thing I always want to know what’s next, what I can learn. Being enthusiastic helps with motivation. And playful… that’s good for the vibes on the bus. But I can switch to serious when it matters.”
With natural bike handling skills, lots of ambition, and a bright personality, Lennes steps into the Development program ready to learn fast, push hard, and grow into the rider he hopes to become.