Lewis Askey wins Tour of Britain opener ahead of Ganna

Lewis Askey took the opening stage of the Tour of Britain and claimed the race leader’s jersey, giving NSN Cycling Team an early advantage in the five-stage event. The British rider secured his first victory of 2026 and moved beyond a run of wins achieved only in France.

Askey completed the 182.5-kilometre Lincoln circuit in 4 hours, 2 minutes and 44 seconds on Wednesday, September 2. Filippo Ganna and Tim Wellens finished two seconds behind, while Jasper Stuyven and Daan Hoole were nine seconds back. Florian Vermeersch crossed seventh, 11 seconds after the winner.

The decisive move came on Michaelgate, the narrow cobbled climb used during the four laps around central Lincoln. Askey helped form a 12-rider breakaway on the second passage, then responded to Vermeersch’s attack with two kilometres remaining. He caught and dropped the UAE Emirates-XRG rider 800 metres from the finish, holding off the late pursuit to take control of the general classification.

The result is Askey’s first victory this year after previous successes at the Four Days of Dunkirk and the Boucles de l’Aulne. It was also Emilien Jacquelin’s first stage race outside France; the Decathlon-CMA CGM rider finished 93rd, 8 minutes 54 seconds behind.