“I didn’t know how good Askey was because it’s not easy to drop somebody” - Tim Wellens seizes Tour of Britain lead with decisive Stage 4 attack
Cycling
Tim Wellens admitted he was unsure whether Lewis Askey could be dropped before launching the attack that transformed the Tour of Britain on Stage 4 and carried him into the overall race lead.
The UAE Team Emirates – XRG rider began the day 12 seconds behind Askey, but the hardest section between Helmsley and Leyburn completely changed the general classification.
After Felix Grossschartner and Benoit Cosnefroy drove the pace, Wellens attacked on the Redmire climb with around 42 kilometres remaining.
He bridged across to Cees Bol, who had survived from the day’s original breakaway, and the pair stayed clear all the way to Leyburn. Bol won the stage in the two-up sprint, with Wellens three seconds behind, while Askey reached the finish 30 seconds after the winner.
“I didn’t know how good Askey was”
Wellens said his own sensations gave him the confidence to attack, although he did not know beforehand whether Askey would be vulnerable when the pressure increased.
“I said at the beginning of the stage that I felt super good, so I had confidence on the climb, but I didn’t know how good Askey was because it’s not easy to drop somebody,” Wellens explained afterwards. “The team went all out when Felix [Grossschartner] and Benoit [Cosnefroy] started pulling.”
The gap Wellens opened on Redmire ultimately proved enough to overturn the GC. His second place also brought six bonus seconds, leaving him firmly in control heading into the final stage.
Wellens wary of hectic final day
Attention now turns to Stage 5 around Earlston, where Wellens will start with a 21-second advantage over Askey. “I’m feeling really good but tomorrow can be hectic,” he said. “Hopefully there are some climbs and maybe in the beginning some rain, I hope the advantage will be enough to keep the green jersey until the end.”
Matteo Trentin remains third overall at 40 seconds, with Jasper Stuyven and Daan Hoole at 42 seconds. The final stage contains rolling terrain but no major late climb, leaving Wellens with a substantial advantage to defend as he targets overall Tour of Britain victory.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
- I'm picking .... .... Never mind 🫥flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment