“We weren’t sure if I would even start the race” – Ben Tulett delivers podium for Visma after crash-hit build-up at Flèche Wallonne

Ben Tulett produced one of the standout rides of La Flèche Wallonne 2026, finishing third on the Mur de Huy behind winner Paul Seixas after a disrupted build-up that had left his participation in doubt.

Riding for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the Brit arrived at the final climb in perfect position and held his own among the strongest riders on the day, capping an impressive turnaround following his recent crash in the Basque Country.

Tulett revealed after the race that even making the start had been uncertain in the days leading up to the event. “Yeah, actually we were not sure if I would even start the race today. So this was a big surprise after my crash in Basque two weeks ago. Things did not go so smoothly,” he told Cycling Pro Net post-race.

Despite that, expectations within the team remained cautiously optimistic, even if the final outcome exceeded those hopes. “We were optimistic for this race, but I think this was more than we could have hoped for. It’s a really good end to the day for sure.”

The effects of the crash were still present in the build-up, even forcing Tulett out of the Amstel Gold Race, but they did not prove decisive when it mattered. “Yeah, of course I can still feel it a bit, but obviously it did not affect me today.”

On a finish as specific as the Mur de Huy, execution and positioning are everything, and Tulett underlined how central that was to his result. “It’s such a hard final that positioning is crucial to get a good result in this race. So we really focused on being as far up as possible going into the Mur, and then from there the legs do the talking.”

The result carries added weight given the challenges of the past fortnight, with Tulett forced to manage his recovery carefully after his crash in the Basque Country.

“Just to enjoy my first WorldTour podium is a big moment of my career,” he explained. “It was a challenging couple of weeks, figuring things out with the recovery after the crash in Basque. So to finish it off like this already two weeks later is really special.”

Tulett also highlighted the role of his teammates in delivering him into the decisive moment in the right position. “I’m really thankful to my teammates for putting me in a good position.”

The performance not only delivered a podium on one of the Ardennes’ most demanding finishes, but also provides a solid platform heading into Liège-Bastogne-Liège later this week, where confidence and condition will again be crucial.