Cycling, particularly women’s cycling, has its fair share of inspiring novice-to-pro stories, tales of athletes taking up the sport later in life and then excelling at the highest level. But Marine Lenehan’s story is noteworthy for just how rapid her rise from not owning a bike to the WorldTour has been. Or, as she put it, from her “longest ride being a 5km cycle” to signing a pro contract with the sport’s new richest team, Lidl-Trek. “Life is sometimes surprising,” the soon-to-be 28-year-old quips. 

The abridged version of her story begins when she was 10. Actually, a little before that. Born in Dublin, she moved to Normandy with her French mother when she began school. Aged 10 she began competing in hurdles, and before long was representing France at a youth level. But a professional future in track and field never materialised, and a career in nutrition beckoned. It was only in February 2023 that she started cycling, and she immediately positioned herself in the fast-track lane: less than three years later, she’s won Gran Fondos, gravel races, and most recently inked a contract to become a professional cyclist. “I had the ambition to make a living from being an athlete, but when I started cycling at first that wasn’t my ambition. I really was not a cyclist!” She is now, though, and Lidl-Trek are confident of big things.

This article was published in Rouleur in December 2025. To read the full article click here.