Team Visma | Lease a Bike sets its sights on the remainder of the UAE Tour after fast time trial

# Team Visma | Lease a Bike Looks Ahead to UAE Tour After Fast Time Trial

As the second day of the UAE Tour unfolded, the riders tackled a swift 12.2-kilometer individual time trial on Hudayriyat Island. The flat terrain proved challenging for many, but the world champion Remco Evenepoel from Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe emerged as the dominant force, securing the stage victory with a time of 13:03.960.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike had Wilco Kelderman leading the charge, finishing in sixteenth place—a notable performance considering the tough competition. Meanwhile, Ben Tulett, who had started strong by ranking fifth overall after the first stage, faced a setback, losing 55 seconds to Evenepoel.

Reflecting on the day, sports director Maarten Wynants remarked, “It wasn’t a time trial that suited us perfectly. Ben lost 55 seconds to Evenepoel. Of course, we had hoped the gap would be a bit smaller. Everyone gave it their all, but Wilco may well have been the surprise of the day. His sixteenth place finish shows that he’s already performing well right from the start of the season.”

Wynants remained optimistic about the upcoming stages, stating, “There are still several challenging stages to come with uphill finishes. We hope to achieve some top results with Ben in the coming days. The steep final climb in stage three should suit him well. He is surrounded by a strong group of riders, so we’re looking forward to showing ourselves as best as possible.”

#### UAE Tour Stage 2 Results:

1. **Remco Evenepoel** (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) – 00:13:03.960
2. **Joshua Tarling** (INEOS Grenadiers) – +00:00:05.460
3. **Rémi Cavagna** (Groupama – FDJ United) – +00:00:11.410
16. **Wilco Kelderman** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:35.220
29. **Jørgen Nordhagen** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:42.300
43. **Ben Tulett** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:54.570
55. **Owain Doull** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:01:01.790
63. **Tijmen Graat** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:01:04.020
99. **Steven Kruijswijk** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:01:22.950
115. **Pietro Mattio** (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:01:31.000

The team now sets its sights on the remaining stages, eager to capitalize on their strengths in the upcoming uphill finishes. As the tour progresses, the focus will be on achieving top results and showcasing their capabilities against intense competition.