Double-digit gradients. Passionate tifosi. October sunshine or pouring rain. More than a hundred years of history. These are the hallmarks of the Italian fall classics, which reach their climax over the coming week.

For Ben Tulett, it’s a chance to wrap up a big year in style. The young Brit arrives straight from a successful Vuelta a España, but after nearly three weeks of both rest and quality training sessions, he is ready to spearhead the team in Italy. A team that also counts the likes of Cian Uijtdebroeks and Bart Lemmen.

”After the Vuelta, I had some rest days to absorb everything and detox both mentally and physically. I’m feeling good now, and everything has gone smoothly leading up to this Italian block. The races here are very honest, and it’s some of the most aggressive racing you’ll see the entire year. I’m motivated to finish the season on a high,” Tulett says.

First on the program is Saturday’s Giro dell’Emilia. With five laps on the brutal San Luca climb leading to the basilica atop Bologna, a worthy winner is always crowned here. However, the steep gradients don’t scare Tulett. Back in spring, he finished second in Milano–Torino, where the Superga climb features similar severity.

”Giro dell’Emilia should suit my characteristics. It’s a really special finale on the San Luca, very demanding. I’m going into the race with positive intentions, and of course it’s nice to have the opportunity to race for a result myself, but we also have a strong squad there.”

After Giro dell’Emilia, the races continue in quick succession. Coppa Bernocchi and Tre Valli Varesine may not have as recognisable finales, but their challenging circuits earlier in the route usually open the race from far out. In 2023, Team Visma | Lease a Bike won Bernocchi with Wout van Aert. This year, the goal is the same with Matthew Brennan, sports director Marc Reef explains.

”Coppa Bernocchi suits Matthew really well. There are some hard hills on the laps in the middle of the race, and then a flatter run in to the finish line. He only just turned 20, and it’s been a long season for him, but he’s feeling good.”

Coppa Bernocchi will be Matthew Brennan’s final race of the year. The day after, the climbers take the front seat once again in Varese, where riders like Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx, Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar are on the list of winners.

”We’re bringing a really strong team to Tre Valli Varesine. The attacks usually start quite early, and we want to be there and race aggressively. Ben will be the protected guy again, but Sepp Kuss is also flying in from America. He has been doing some good training since the Vuelta, so we’re hoping he can do well in these races too. His skills as a one-day rider are sometimes overlooked.”
 

Beyond the tough courses and the offensive tactics many teams bring to these late-season races, there’s another decisive factor this time of year: mental fatigue. Many riders have been racing without longer breaks since January or February, and with a holiday just around the corner, it can be a challenge to get mentally prepared for the grueling Italian classics. But it can also be an advantage, says Marc Reef.

”The mental aspect plays a huge role at this stage of the season. If you’re ready to train hard and suffer, possibly even in bad weather conditions, you’ve already made a big difference. It’s been a long season, and many riders are tired, but we have some guys here who really want to finish the season on a high and go into the winter with a good feeling.”

Ben Tulett sure is aiming to put a fine bow on the best season of his career so far. Already in February and March he claimed podiums in the Drôme Classic and Milano–Torino, as well as a stage win and overall victory in Settimana Coppi e Bartali, before climbing with the best in both Criterium du Dauphiné and Vuelta a España.

”I definitely feel like I’ve taken a step this year. It’s evident in the results and performances too, and I think we can be happy with that too. It also shows that the structure of the team works really well for me, so that gives me a lot of confidence for the future,” Tulett concludes.

For now, the races in Italy are the main goal. You can follow Tulett, Uijtdebroeks, Brennan, Kuss and the rest of our riders in the liveblogs on the website.