Lewis Askey Takes Tour of Britain Lead With Michaelgate Attack

What happened

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Lewis Askey won the opening stage of the 2026 Tour of Britain Men after launching a decisive attack on the steep cobbles of Michaelgate in Lincoln. The British rider from NSN Cycling reached the finish two seconds ahead of Filippo Ganna of Netcompany-Ineos, with Tim Wellens of UAE Team Emirates-XRG taking third on the same time as Ganna.

According to Cyclingnews, Askey helped create the select move that shaped the finish when a 12-rider group formed during the closing circuits. The stage had started and finished in Lincoln, taking the peloton through the Lincolnshire Wolds before a repeated city-centre finale turned the race into a Classics-style contest. The official pre-race route information listed 182.5 kilometres and 1,315 metres of climbing, with Michaelgate providing the sharpest tactical test near the line.

How the race was won

The decisive group contained proven one-day strength, including Ganna, Wellens and Florian Vermeersch. That made timing more important than waiting for a conventional sprint. Askey attacked inside the final kilometre on Michaelgate, used the gradient and cobbled surface to open a gap, and then held his speed through the run to the finish.

Ganna mounted the closest chase but could not close the final two seconds. TNT Sports recorded Askey’s winning time as 4 hours, 2 minutes and 44 seconds. The result gave the 25-year-old his first victory of the season and the opening green leader’s jersey of the five-stage race.

Why it matters

This was more than a home win. The field includes five WorldTour teams, and Askey beat riders with major championship, Grand Tour and Classics credentials in a finale that rewarded positioning, power and confidence. His move also showed that NSN Cycling can influence the race rather than simply defend a narrow lead after collecting it.

The victory changes the tactical picture for the next stage. NSN now carries responsibility for protecting the race leader, while Ganna and Wellens begin only two seconds behind. Bonus seconds and small splits can therefore matter immediately, even on terrain expected to favour faster finishers.

What to watch

Stage two heads from Boston toward Skegness and gives teams another day in Lincolnshire before the route continues north. A flatter finish could invite sprint squads to control the breakaway, but Askey’s small advantage means rivals may also look for intermediate bonuses or crosswind opportunities.

The broader Tour of Britain runs through Sunday, finishing in Earlston in the Scottish Borders. As the road becomes more selective later in the week, Askey’s opening win gives him both a valuable cushion and a clear tactical challenge: conserve enough support to defend the jersey while remaining alert to attacks from riders already within seconds of the lead.