Britain's Lewis Askey won the opening stage of the Tour of Britain Men on Wednesday, the NSN rider attacking on the cobbles of the Michaelgate climb and riding clear to victory.
Filippo Ganna (Netcompany Ineos) came home second, two seconds down, while Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was third.
Askey had set up a 12-man break which formed on the second of four 13km finishing laps around the start and finish city of Lincoln, leading the group which contested the finish. With their lead over a four-man chase group more than 1:30 on the last lap, the group began attacking each other, though no one was able to go clear.
As the race approached the final ascent of the short, steep, cobbled climb of Michaelgate into the centre of Lincoln, Wellens attacked first, gapping his rivals briefly, before Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) made his move. Through the Belgian looked to have done enough, Lewis Askey countered on the cobbles, catching the Vermeersch and riding away to the win.
A thrilling day out on the Lincoln Grand Prix course
To create parity with the women’s race, this year’s Tour of Britain Men reduced from six to five stages, with Wednesday’s opening day starting and finishing in Lincoln.
The 156.1km race took the peloton north, into the hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds before heading south to tackle four full laps of a circuit around the city centre. Featuring the narrow cobbled climb of Michaelgate, the race used the similar circuit as the British National Series race, the Lincoln GP, though the finish line was just outside the city centre, on a flat road, adding a different dynamic to the lap.
After a lengthy neutralised section which took the peloton outside the city limits, the attacks began the moment the flag dropped, with riders from the race’s eight third division Continental teams particularly aggressive.
After 10km six riders escaped, Michal Schuran (United Shipping), Jonah Killy (Tarteletto-Isorex), Oscar Schempp (Bike Aid), Simen Evertsen-Hegreberg (Lucky Sport), Asger Røjbek (BHS-PL Beton Bornholm) and the only British rider in the group, Adam Lewis (APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery) quickly building a lead of 1:30.
Behind them three of the five WorldTour teams in the race, Netcompany Ineos, Soudal-QuickStep and Decathlon CMA CGM set to work holding the leading group close, the deficit settling around 1:20.
By the time the break reached the the back end of the circuit for the first time, they had lost two of their number, and with Netcompany-Ineos upping the pace behind, their lead was down to 30 seconds at the top of the climb. They were eventually caught towards the end of the first full lap, with 42km remaining.
On the second ascent of Michaelgate, Askey put in a huge attack, the NSN rider drawing a group of 12 clear, and with all the WorldTour teams represented, cooperation behind was difficult. By the time that group reached the finish line with two laps to go, they led a chasing group of four by almost one minute.
On the penultimate ascent of the cobbled climb, Rick Pluimers (Tudor Pro Cycling) upped the pace, though the group remained together, their lead at 1:30 as the final 13km circuit began.
Askey executed his plan to perfection to take his first win of 2026 with an assured ride up a climb he surely knows well, claiming the leader's jersey too.
With such a punchy circuit to close the race, there were some huge time gaps on the general classification, with the 12th placed rider over two minutes down with four stages to go.
Results
Position |
Rider (Country) Team |
Time Gap |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Lewis Askey (GBr) NSN Cycling Team |
4:02:44 |
2 |
Filippo Ganna (Ita) Netcompany Ineos |
0:00:02 |
3 |
Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
|
4 |
Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep |
0:00:09 |
5 |
Daan Hoole (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM |
|
6 |
Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling |
|
7 |
Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
0:00:11 |
8 |
Elliot Rowe (GBr) Team Visma | Lease A Bike Development |
0:00:19 |
9 |
Rick Pluimers (Ned) Tudor Pro Cycling |
|
10 |
Paul Wright (NZl) Modern Adventure |
0:00:26 |
11 |
Kim Alexander Heiduk (Ger) Netcompany Ineos |
0:00:55 |
12 |
Mark Donovan (GBr) Pinarello-Q36.5 |
0:02:06 |
13 |
Nils Politt (Ger) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
0:02:09 |
14 |
Micheal Ben Wiggins (GBr) Hagens Berman Jayco |
0:02:15 |
15 |
Robbe Ghys (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM |
0:02:31 |
16 |
Fabio Christen (Swi) Pinarello-Q36.5 |
0:03:17 |
17 |
Elias Maris (Bel) Team Flanders- Baloise |
|
18 |
Yohann Simon (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
|
19 |
Alessandro Pinarello (Ita) NSN Cycling Team |
|
20 |
Boas Lysgaard (Den) Bhs-Pl Beton Bornholm |
|
21 |
Dylan Vandenstorme (Bel) Team Flanders- Baloise |
|
22 |
Siebe Deweirdt (Bel) Team Flanders- Baloise |
|
23 |
Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Pinarello-Q36.5 |
|
24 |
Axel Källberg (Fin) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
|
25 |
Edgar David Cadena Martinez (Mex) Team Storck- Mrw Bau |
|
26 |
Yorben Lauryssen (Bel) Tarteletto- Isorex |
|
27 |
Théo Delacroix (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
|
28 |
Henri Vandenabeele (Bel) Team Flanders- Baloise |
|
29 |
Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep |
|
30 |
Vilmer Ekman (Swe) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
|
31 |
Lucas Beneteau (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
|
32 |
Nikiforos Arvanitou (Gre) Team United Shipping |
|
33 |
Jacob Eriksson (Swe) Tudor Pro Cycling |
|
34 |
Jacob Bush (GBr) Development Team Picnic Postnl |
|
35 |
Ethan Dunham (USA) Aps Pro Cycling By Team Cadence Cyclery |
|
36 |
Sebastian Vestergaard |
|
37 |
Jake Stewart (GBr) NSN Cycling Team |
|
38 |
Lennert Teugels (Bel) Tarteletto- Isorex |
|
39 |
Arne Santy (Bel) Tarteletto- Isorex |
|
40 |
Yannis Voisard (Swi) Tudor Pro Cycling |
|
41 |
Gianni Marchand (Bel) Tarteletto- Isorex |
0:03:23 |
42 |
Samuel Florez Garces (Col) Modern Adventure |
|
43 |
Brody Mcdonald (USA) Modern Adventure |
|
44 |
Ward Vanhoof (Bel) Team Flanders- Baloise |
|
45 |
Teodor De Luca (Swe) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
0:03:27 |
46 |
Mikkel Norsgaard Bjerg (Den) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
0:03:28 |
47 |
Brem Deman (Bel) Team Flanders- Baloise |
|
48 |
Frank Aron Ragilo (Est) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
0:03:30 |
49 |
Noé Ury (Lux) Team Storck- Mrw Bau |
|
50 |
Kristians Belohvosciks (Lat) Bike Aid |
|
51 |
Axel Bouquet (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
|
52 |
Ian Lopez De San Roman (USA) Modern Adventure |
|
53 |
Oliver Mattheis (Ger) Bike Aid |
|
54 |
Conn Mc Dunphy (Irl) Aps Pro Cycling By Team Cadence Cyclery |
|
55 |
Tomáš Přidal (Cze) Team United Shipping |
|
56 |
Thomas Champion (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
|
57 |
János Zsombor Pelikán (Hun) Team United Shipping |
0:03:34 |
58 |
Connor Swift (GBr) Netcompany Ineos |
0:03:41 |
59 |
Erik Fetter (Hun) Team United Shipping |
|
60 |
William Smith |
|
61 |
Robin Donzé (Swi) Tudor Pro Cycling |
|
62 |
Hjalmar Klyver (Swe) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
0:03:52 |
63 |
Marcus Sander Hansen (Den) Bhs-Pl Beton Bornholm |
|
64 |
Andrew Lydic (USA) Aps Pro Cycling By Team Cadence Cyclery |
0:03:56 |
65 |
Oliver Wood |
0:04:11 |
66 |
Mark Stewart (GBr) Modern Adventure |
|
67 |
Robin Kull (Swi) Team Storck- Mrw Bau |
0:04:13 |
68 |
Riley Pickrell (Can) Modern Adventure |
0:04:16 |
69 |
Ryan Mullen (Irl) NSN Cycling Team |
|
70 |
Dion Allan Smith (NZl) NSN Cycling Team |
|
71 |
Petr Kelemen (Cze) Tudor Pro Cycling |
|
72 |
Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
0:04:25 |
73 |
Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Soudal-QuickStep |
|
74 |
Ben Swift (GBr) Netcompany Ineos |
|
75 |
Dylan Van Baarle (Ned) Soudal-QuickStep |
|
76 |
Felix Grossschartner (Aut) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
|
77 |
Laurenz Rex (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep |
|
78 |
Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal-QuickStep |
|
79 |
Jonah Killy (USA) Tarteletto- Isorex |
|
80 |
Matthew Bostock |
|
81 |
Olav Kooij (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM |
0:04:39 |
82 |
Stan Dewulf (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM |
0:04:44 |
83 |
Cees Bol (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM |
0:04:45 |
84 |
Alvaro Sagrado Perez (Spa) Team Storck- Mrw Bau |
0:05:01 |
85 |
Matthew Walls (GBr) Team Storck- Mrw Bau |
0:05:48 |
86 |
Romain Cardis (Fra) St Michel- Preference Home- Auber93 |
0:05:56 |
87 |
Kamil Małecki (Pol) Pinarello-Q36.5 |
0:05:57 |
88 |
Simen Evertsen-Hegreberg (Nor) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
0:06:01 |
89 |
Sam Welsford (Aus) Netcompany Ineos |
0:06:08 |
90 |
Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Pinarello-Q36.5 |
|
91 |
Sam Bennett (Irl) Pinarello-Q36.5 |
|
92 |
Oscar Schempp (Ger) Bike Aid |
0:07:06 |
93 |
Émilien Jacquelin |
0:08:54 |
94 |
Michal Schuran (Cze) Team United Shipping |
0:09:18 |
95 |
Timothy Dupont (Bel) Tarteletto- Isorex |
|
96 |
Karl Hall |
|
97 |
Veljko Stojnić (Srb) Team United Shipping |
|
98 |
Lennard Sternsdorff (Ger) Bike Aid |
|
99 |
Victor Vidal (Fra) Bike Aid |
|
100 |
Adam Lewis (GBr) Aps Pro Cycling By Team Cadence Cyclery |
|
101 |
Ronan O Connor (Irl) Aps Pro Cycling By Team Cadence Cyclery |
|
102 |
Schandorff Emil Iwersen (Den) Bhs-Pl Beton Bornholm |
|
103 |
Ethan Vernon (GBr) NSN Cycling Team |
0:09:28 |
104 |
Artem Shmidt (USA) Netcompany Ineos |
|
105 |
Victor Johannsen (Den) Bhs-Pl Beton Bornholm |
0:16:32 |
106 |
Jakob Neumann (Ger) Team Storck- Mrw Bau |
|
107 |
Røjbek Asger Sørensen (Den) Bhs-Pl Beton Bornholm |
|
108 |
Cian Keogh (Irl) Aps Pro Cycling By Team Cadence Cyclery |
Position |
Rider (Country) Team |
Time Gap |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Lewis Askey (GBr) NSN Cycling Team |
4:02:31 |
2 |
Filippo Ganna (Ita) Netcompany Ineos |
0:00:09 |
3 |
Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
0:00:11 |
4 |
Daan Hoole (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
0:00:20 |
5 |
Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
0:00:21 |
6 |
Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
0:00:22 |
7 |
Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
0:00:24 |
8 |
Elliot Rowe (GBr) Great Britain |
0:00:32 |
9 |
Paul Wright (NZl) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
|
10 |
Rick Pluimers (Ned) Modern Adventure Pro Cycling |
0:00:39 |
11 |
Kim Heiduk (Ger) Netcompany INEOS |
0:01:08 |
12 |
Mark Donovan (GBr) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
0:02:19 |
13 |
Nils Politt (Ger) UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
0:02:22 |
14 |
Ben Wiggins (GBr) Great Britain |
0:02:28 |
15 |
Robbe Ghys (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
0:02:44 |
16 |
Fabio Christen (Swi) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
0:03:30 |
17 |
Elias Maris (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise |
|
18 |
Yohann Simon (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 |
|
19 |
Alessandro Pinarello (Ita) NSN Cycling Team |
|
20 |
Boas Lysgaard (Den) BHS - PL Beton Bornholm |
|
21 |
Dylan Vandenstorme (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise |
|
22 |
Siebe Deweirdt (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise |
|
23 |
Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
|
24 |
Axel Källberg (Fin) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
|
25 |
Edgar David Cadena (Mex) Team Storck - MRW Bau |
|
26 |
Yorben Lauryssen (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex |
|
27 |
Théo Delacroix (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 |
|
28 |
Henri Vandenabeele (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise |
|
29 |
Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
|
30 |
Vilmer Ekman (Swe) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
|
31 |
Lucas Bénéteau (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 |
|
32 |
Nikiforos Arvanitou (Gre) Team United Shipping |
|
33 |
Jacob Eriksson (Swe) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
|
34 |
Jacob Bush (GBr) Great Britain |
|
35 |
Ethan Dunham (USA) APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery |
|
36 |
Sebastian Vestergaard (Den) BHS - PL Beton Bornholm |
|
37 |
Jake Stewart (GBr) NSN Cycling Team |
|
38 |
Lennert Teugels (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex |
|
39 |
Arne Santy (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex |
|
40 |
Yannis Voisard (Swi) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
|
41 |
Gianni Marchand (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex |
0:03:36 |
42 |
Samuel Flórez (Col) Modern Adventure Pro Cycling |
|
43 |
Brody McDonald (USA) Modern Adventure Pro Cycling |
|
44 |
Ward Vanhoof (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise |
|
45 |
Teodor De Luca (Swe) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
0:03:40 |
46 |
Mikkel Bjerg (Den) UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
0:03:41 |
47 |
Brem Deman (Bel) Team Flanders - Baloise |
|
48 |
Frank Aron Ragilo (Est) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
0:03:43 |
49 |
Noé Ury (Lux) Team Storck - MRW Bau |
|
50 |
Kristiāns Belohvoščiks (Lat) BIKE AID |
|
51 |
Axel Bouquet (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 |
|
52 |
Ian López (USA) Modern Adventure Pro Cycling |
|
53 |
Oliver Mattheis (Ger) BIKE AID |
|
54 |
Conn McDunphy (Irl) APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery |
|
55 |
Tomáš Přidal (Cze) Team United Shipping |
|
56 |
Thomas Champion (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 |
|
57 |
János Pelikán (Hun) Team United Shipping |
0:03:47 |
58 |
Connor Swift (GBr) Netcompany INEOS |
0:03:54 |
59 |
Erik Fetter (Hun) Team United Shipping |
|
60 |
William Smith (GBr) Great Britain |
|
61 |
Robin Donzé (Swi) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
|
62 |
Hjalmar Klyver (Swe) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
0:04:05 |
63 |
Marcus Sander Hansen (Den) BHS - PL Beton Bornholm |
|
64 |
Andrew Lydic (USA) APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery |
0:04:09 |
65 |
Oliver Wood (GBr) Great Britain |
0:04:24 |
66 |
Mark Stewart (GBr) Modern Adventure Pro Cycling |
|
67 |
Robin Kull (Swi) Team Storck - MRW Bau |
0:04:26 |
68 |
Riley Pickrell (Can) Modern Adventure Pro Cycling |
0:04:29 |
69 |
Ryan Mullen (Irl) NSN Cycling Team |
|
70 |
Dion Smith (NZl) NSN Cycling Team |
|
71 |
Petr Kelemen (Cze) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
|
72 |
Benoît Cosnefroy (Fra) UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
0:04:38 |
73 |
Pascal Eenkhoorn (Ned) Soudal Quick-Step |
|
74 |
Ben Swift (GBr) Netcompany INEOS |
|
75 |
Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Soudal Quick-Step |
|
76 |
Felix Großschartner (Aut) UAE Team Emirates - XRG |
|
77 |
Laurenz Rex (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
|
78 |
Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
|
79 |
Jonah Killy (USA) Tarteletto - Isorex |
|
80 |
Matthew Bostock (GBr) Great Britain |
|
81 |
Olav Kooij (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
0:04:52 |
82 |
Stan Dewulf (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
0:04:57 |
83 |
Cees Bol (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
0:04:58 |
84 |
Alvaro Sagrado (Spa) Team Storck - MRW Bau |
0:05:14 |
85 |
Matthew Walls (GBr) Team Storck - MRW Bau |
0:06:01 |
86 |
Romain Cardis (Fra) St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 |
0:06:09 |
87 |
Kamil Małecki (Pol) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
0:06:10 |
88 |
Simen Evertsen-Hegreberg (Nor) Lucky Sport Cycling Team |
0:06:11 |
89 |
Sam Welsford (Aus) Netcompany INEOS |
0:06:21 |
90 |
Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
|
91 |
Sam Bennett (Irl) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
|
92 |
Oscar Schempp (Ger) BIKE AID |
0:07:18 |
93 |
Émilien Jacquelin (Fra) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
0:09:07 |
94 |
Michal Schuran (Cze) Team United Shipping |
0:09:29 |
95 |
Timothy Dupont (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex |
0:09:31 |
96 |
Karl Hall (GBr) BIKE AID |
|
97 |
Veljko Stojnić (Srb) Team United Shipping |
|
98 |
Lennard Sternsdorff (Ger) BIKE AID |
|
99 |
Victor Vidal (Fra) BIKE AID |
|
100 |
Adam Lewis (GBr) APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery |
|
101 |
Ronan O'Connor (Irl) APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery |
|
102 |
Emil Schandorff Iwersen (Den) BHS - PL Beton Bornholm |
|
103 |
Ethan Vernon (GBr) NSN Cycling Team |
0:09:41 |
104 |
Artem Shmidt (USA) Netcompany INEOS |
|
105 |
Victor Johannsen (Den) BHS - PL Beton Bornholm |
0:16:45 |
106 |
Jakob Neumann (Ger) Team Storck - MRW Bau |
|
107 |
Asger Røjbek Sørensen (Den) BHS - PL Beton Bornholm |
|
108 |
Cian Keogh (Irl) APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery |
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