"I thought I was going to be a rider who always comes second and never wins" - Lewis Askey breaks through in 2025

Lewis Askey turned professional with Groupama - FDJ in 2022, but had to wait three full seasons for his first professional victory. And as the old saying suggests; good things come in pair - the 24-year-old Brit backed up his Boucles de l'Aulne victory at 4 Jours de Dunkerque. And the young rider was not far from raising his hands also at the Tour de Suisse.

"I was starting to get to the point where I thought I was going to be a not-quite rider, someone who always comes second and never wins," Askey admitted self-doubts in an interview with Rouleur.

"I had hoped that winning would be a lot easier, but it really wasn't. I always felt like I could do it, but I just never quite managed to make it happen. I was really stressed about the fact that I might never win a bike race." That was until May. "And then the floodgates opened."

As if the gods of destiny wished so, Askey was initially scheduled to race the Giro d'Italia - which if he indeed rode, he would have most likely been still waiting for his first victory: "I was originally supposed to do the Giro d'Italia, but we changed the program to do those races in France and then prepare for the Tour with an altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada," he says.

"I gave everything and put my cards on the table, so I hope that will ultimately be rewarded with a place in the Tour, because I feel that I will be an asset to the team if I am chosen."

What has changed in the mindset of Askey before new season? He removed stress from the equation, allowing himself to go skiing in the winter and so on. "I don't put any restrictions on myself, otherwise it's not fun and you have to enjoy your training."

But most importantly for Askey, the fact that he already knew where he'll race in next years allowed him to race without worries. "I realized before that when I took away the stress of where I was going to ride, I started to perform even better, and that's the case again this year." The Brit can't reveal yet his new destination until August 1, however rumours mention Israel - Premier Tech with strong British contingent as most likely.