Team Visma | Lease a Bike set sights on challenging finale of Itzulia Basque Country

# Team Visma | Lease a Bike Faces Challenges at Itzulia Basque Country’s Fourth Stage

The Itzulia Basque Country has reached a crucial juncture as Team Visma | Lease a Bike grappled with the challenges of the fourth stage. Riders set off under warm conditions for a demanding 167-kilometer route beginning and ending in Galdakao, featuring seven categorized climbs.

American rider Brandon McNulty initiated the action with a bold solo move approximately ninety kilometers into the race. His effort, however, was met with resistance from a chase group of 35 riders, including Team Visma’s Tim Rex. Unfortunately for McNulty, his lead came to an end with just over thirty kilometers remaining.

The climb of Elorritxueta proved to be pivotal, as it caused splits in the lead group and left Rex trailing behind. Meanwhile, Ben Tulett, starting the day in fifth place overall, demonstrated resilience, staying engaged with the top contenders.

As the race approached its conclusion, Alex Aranburu and Tobias Johannessen emerged as fierce competitors in the breakaway. Their collaboration frayed in the final kilometer, allowing for a dramatic finish. Aranburu successfully secured the stage victory, while classification leader Paul Seixas managed to gain a slight advantage over his competitors during a technical descent.

Ben Tulett finished in twelfth place, concluding 34 seconds after Aranburu, and remains sixth in the general classification with just two stages left to race.

Reflecting on his experience, Tulett stated: “It was another tough stage, like every day so far. I wasn’t sure how my body would respond after yesterday’s crash, but fortunately, I didn’t feel too bad. I’m happy that I could compete with my classification rivals on the climbs. I was also very well supported by my teammates. There are still two challenging stages to come, and a lot can still happen. I’m looking forward to it.”

### Stage 4 Results:
1. Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) – 03:55:15
2. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) – +00:00:04
3. Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) – +00:00:06
12. Ben Tulett (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:34

### General Classification Standings:
1. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) – 12:03:53
2. Primož Roglič (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) – +00:02:19
3. Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) – +00:02:28
6. Ben Tulett (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:02:47

As the competition intensifies, Team Visma remains focused on navigating the remaining stages and maintaining their position in the overall rankings.