Tulett Reflects On Tour Of Wales Win

Young Kent rider emulates Martin, Dowsett and Pidcock in prestigious race, writes Paul Knott

- Paul Knott

Having secured the junior national road race title and junior cyclo-cross world title already this season, Ben Tulett recently added another significant victory to his young career: the Junior Tour of Wales. The four-day, five-stage event takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend in the Brecon Beacons and is as good a guide of future potential as you’ll get.

“In 2004 we had Dan Martin first, Geraint Thomas second and Steven Kruiswjik in fourth place,” explained race organiser Richard Hopkins. “Now those three are in the top eight of the Tour de France. With Geraint winning the Tour this year all the guys in this year’s race know exactly where it leads.”

Tulett, still a first-year junior and riding for the South East Region, took the overall victory in style, riding strongly on the final stage to overturn Leo Hayter’s slim lead and win by 19 seconds.

“I went into the race wanting to win and I was really happy to get that done,” Tulett said. “It was pretty close and it was a really exciting final stage with that finish up the Tumble.”