After 10 road stages and two days of time trial in the Caribbean, 28-year-old Guadeloupean Damien Urcel secured victory for his country’s national team this Sunday, July 13, after more than a week of competition in the 44th edition of the Tour de Martinique.
The podium of the French race was graced by Damien Urcel of the Guadeloupe national team as the grand champion, with New Zealander Noah Hollamby (Martigues SC-Payden & Rygel) taking second place, and Frenchman Stefan Bennett (Jeunesse Cycliste 231) in third place.
As for the final stage, it was won by Irishman Dean Harvey (Martigues SC-Payden&Ryge), who crossed the finish line in a lead after covering 134.3 kilometers between Riviere-Pilote and Lamentin. Leading the pack was Frenchman Raphaël Lautone (Madinina Bikers), more than a minute behind the winner.
During the 2024 Tour de Martinique, Damien Urcel finished second, just seven seconds behind the winner, Stefan Bennett. In this 2025 edition, he got his revenge: leading for several days, he defended his yellow jersey until the very end. He won by 16 seconds over New Zealander Noah Hollamby (Martigues).
Damien Urcel had the full support of the Guadeloupe national team. Under pressure from the other favorites, he remained strong and focused. “My teammates gave their all throughout the week to get me in good shape, and I want to thank them; it’s mainly thanks to them,” acknowledged the new Tour de Martinique champion.
A Cyclist Trained on the Roads of Guadeloupe
Born on March 21, 1997, in Capesterre-Belle-Eau, Damien Urcel comes from a family of cyclists. His father, Freddy, Guadeloupe champion in 1985, and his brother, Adrien, competed for USC Goyave. It was with this club that he made his junior debut. There, he achieved his first victory in 2020, before winning two Guadeloupe road championship titles in 2021 and 2022.
Damien Urcel has established himself as one of the best Caribbean cyclists. In 2023, he won the Caribbean Road Championship and the Best Climber’s Jersey at the Tour de Guadeloupe.
In 2024, he had already confirmed his prowess by finishing second in the Tour de Martinique and accumulating numerous victories and podiums on the local calendar. This 2025 season will see him take another step forward, dominating the Martinique event and excelling in other races such as the Critérium des Quartiers du Lamentin and the French Overseas Championship.
At 28 years old, Damien Urcel impresses with his consistency and mental strength. His success in the 2025 Tour de Martinique is a reward for his work and that of his entire team. It gave the Guadeloupe team another important victory and confirmed its status as a benchmark on the Caribbean roads. This already promises great battles for the next edition.