Tulett rewards strong team performance with sixth place on stage one of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

# Tulett Shines in Tough Opening Stage of Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

In a challenging first stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Team Visma | Lease a Bike made a significant mark as they navigated demanding terrain and fierce competition. The Dutch squad quickly positioned itself at the front, providing crucial support for leader Matteo Jorgenson, who made his return to competitive cycling.

The day unfolded dramatically, particularly during the decisive climb up Côte de Rousset, where the team’s strategic efforts became evident. Thanks to the relentless work of Bruno Armirail, the peloton was reduced to a select group as the race barreled toward its climax. Alex Baudin of EF Education – EasyPost took the victory, while Ben Tulett impressed with a sixth-place finish, solidifying his role as a key player in the team’s performance. Jorgenson finished among the favorites, showcasing his capabilities as he eased back into competition.

Reflecting on the day, Jorgenson expressed, “It was a good day to return to racing… I look back on today with a good feeling.” He noted the intensity of competition, remarking, “I expected a bigger fight for the general classification. On the final climb, as a team we took control of the peloton well.”

Team director Maarten Wynants echoed this sentiment, stating, “It was a very hard day. From the start, the road went uphill straight away and the pace was high. Today, it was to be expected that it would mainly be a day for the better climbers, and that is how it played out. As a team, we can look back on a good day.”

The team’s overall performance resulted in several commendable individual finishes, including:

– **1st:** Alex Baudin (EF Education – EasyPost) – 03:43:58
– **2nd:** Ramses Debruyne (Alpecin – Premier Tech) – +00:00:32
– **3rd:** Léo Bisiaux (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) – +00:00:32
– **6th:** Ben Tulett (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:32
– **11th:** Bruno Armirail (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:35
– **20th:** Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:44

With a strong start, Team Visma | Lease a Bike looks ahead to the forthcoming stages with confidence and determination as they aim to make their mark in this prestigious race.