Ben Tulett to fill many roles for Simon Yates: “Tour is now an option”
Earlier this week it became clear that Visma | Lease a Bike will internally absorb the sudden loss of Simon Yates. According to the Head of Racing, this offers opportunities for other riders to step up. One of the main candidates to fill Yates’ shoes is Ben Tulett. He was expected to have a free role at the Vuelta a España, but now the Tour de France might be waiting for him. He tells WielerFlits about this.
For Tulett, the news of his compatriot’s retirement came as a surprise, as it did for many. The 24-year-old climber congratulates Yates on his career and tells our camera that he has looked up to the former Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España winner throughout his entire career. “I’m really glad I got to be his teammate for a year. I learned a lot from Simon during that period,” says Tulett. “We already had the plan for 2026 with the team ready, and Simon was part of it. Of course, that has now changed and we need to regroup.”
Enter Tulett: “It looks like there will definitely be some changes in my own calendar,” says the Brit. He was scheduled to play a leading role in several classics – Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold Race, and the Ardennes double – just as at the Vuelta. “Those changes are also something to look forward to. Where Simon’s door has closed, another one opens somewhere else. I’m going to seize the opportunities as they come. Right now, the team and I are looking at which changes we’re going to make. We need to fill his shoes.”
Tour debut beckons
Over the past two years, Tulett has developed rapidly at Visma | Lease a Bike. After the departures of Cian Uijtdebroeks and then Yates, he seems next in line in the hierarchy. The latter was part of the plan to try once again to win the Tour de France in 2026. Wilco Kelderman and Tulett are the main contenders to take Yates’ spot in France. “That is definitely a possibility. Indeed, the plan was for Simon to go to the Tour. That has now changed, so we will have to adapt. The Tour would be very challenging and exciting!”
Tulett would be willing to sacrifice a potential leadership role in the 2026 Vuelta a España for that. Otherwise, he will continue to build on the confidence he receives from Visma | Lease a Bike, with opportunities also in the spring during the hilly classics. “My long-term goal is to compete for good standings in Grand Tours. But to put it simply, I race because I’m competitive whenever I pin on a number. And of course, I want to win races. That is therefore my priority. Every time there is a chance to win, I want to grab that opportunity!”
