Results Tour of Britain 2026 stage 1 - Lewis Askey beats Ganna and Wellens to win on Michaelgate showdown
CyclingWednesday, 02 September 2026 at 15:46
Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain has provided true spectacle in a classics-style race. Lewis Askey of NSN Cycling Team took the first win of the race, in what was an extremely hard and tactical finale.
The race began in Lincoln and stage 1 would feature several laps of the narrow and cobbled Michaelgate climb on the opening day, with 400 meters at 10% leading up almost to the finish. The breakaway of the day was formed by Michal Schuran, Adam Lewis, Simen Evertsen-Hegreberg, Jonah Killy, Oscar Schempp and Asger Rojbek Sorensen.
With around 40 kilometers to go the race blew up in the final circuit already, with the breakaway getting caught and a group forming itself in the head of the race with some of the race's main favourites.
The final kilometers turned extremely tactical, with the 11-rider group not wanting to take it into the final climb. Tim Wellens, Matteo Trentin, Kim Heiduk all launched attacks. But UAE had two men and with 2 kilometers to go, Florian Vermeersch launched an attack that was not matched by anyone else.
On the final ascent to Michaelgate, those from behind brought more speed. Lewis Askey launched a brutal attack up the climb, creating the winning gap, having distanced Tim Wellens. Filippo Ganna came from behind and rode to second but could only watch as the Briton took the first stage win of the race, creating significant gaps - whilst Wellens was third behind.
Results Tour of Britain 2026 stage 1
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- Can see that - why burn the matches in vain - it’s a long race, riders have other goals and ambitionsCrashjames02-09-2026
- Hah now it’s a race!Crashjames02-09-2026
- Stef Clement is an "analyst,"... with the BS he said? Really, are you serious? Does he know that crashes in numerous occasions are inevitable and unavoidable? No he doesn't. If he did, he wouldn't be spitting this #$"@§%&/()=* nonsense around. PS: Did Jonas, Van Aert, Remco, Roglič...etc etc. crash so many times because they knew they were the best and became careless? Answer this one Clement... just don't insult my intelligence. Capish?PogiSloFans02-09-2026
- What a stupid thing to say! Niki Lauda raced again 42 days after he burned out. If he's ready, he will race.MajorPayne02-09-2026
- So, based on that logic, there should be an asterisk next to every XC rider that is not Pidcock and ever cyclocross rider that isint van der Poel?Theleg402-09-2026
- Carapaz will ride for Carapaz and Carapaz only.jad2901-09-2026
- literally everytime visma has solid racing options that they table to 'ride for wout' to sprint it backfires.jad2901-09-2026
- My thoughts exactly.anonymouscyclist01-09-2026
- Yeah. This is his 10th GT and his first DNF in a GT. Relative to many riders he’s been lucky in avoiding illness. And lucky or skillful, or most likely a bit of both, to avoid race-ending crashes.mobk01-09-2026
- Forgot to mention that Michaelgate is cobbled
Rafionain-Glas01-09-2026
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