Lewis Askey won the Tour of Britain Men opener in Lincoln after a forceful final climb of Michaelgate. The NSN Cycling rider attacked from an elite group and held off Filippo Ganna.
The 182.5km stage started and finished in Lincoln, with five ascents of the cobbled Michaelgate climb. The finish line sat just beyond the climb, making the famous Lincoln Grand Prix ascent central to the race.
Askey reached the line two seconds ahead of Ganna of Netcompany-Ineos. Tim Wellens of UAE Team Emirates-XRG finished third on the same time as Ganna.
Lewis Askey strikes on Michaelgate
The decisive move formed after a long-standing six-rider breakaway came back with around 40km remaining. The catch happened just before another passage of Michaelgate, where the race quickly split.
Matteo Trentin of Tudor Pro Cycling and Askey made the first move on the cobbles. Ganna, Florian Vermeersch, Wellens and Jasper Stuyven joined them, along with five others. That created an 11-rider selection packed with strength.
The group cooperated until the final 10km, when Wellens began attacking. The Belgian tried repeatedly to force a gap, but the front group closed each move.
Vermeersch then launched a powerful attack with two kilometres left. His move looked dangerous, but Askey responded on the final climb and surged clear on Michaelgate.
With his family watching, Askey emptied himself on the cobbles and left Vermeersch behind. The effort delivered a popular home victory and the first race lead.
After the stage, Askey said he had been close to winning several times this year, including at Nationals. He said being able to “put my hands up in the air” was a major reason he races.
Askey also said racing without teammates in the break was “difficult to manage” because rival squads had numbers. He believed his form could carry him if he reached the final climb in contention.
That confidence proved accurate. Askey said he thought the win had nearly slipped away near the end, before he found the legs to close and finish the job.
Tour of Britain Men stage one top 10
- 1. Lewis Askey (Gbr) NSN Cycling, 4:02:44
- 2. Filippo Ganna (Ita) Netcompany-Ineos, +2s
- 3. Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, same time
- 4. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, +9s
- 5. Daan Hoole (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM, same time
- 6. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling, same time
- 7. Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +11s
- 8. Elliot Rowe (Gbr) Great Britain, +19s
- 9. Rick Pluimers (Ned) Tudor Pro Cycling, same time
- 10. Paul Wright (Nzl) Modern Adventure Cycling, +26s
General classification after stage one
- 1. Lewis Askey (Gbr) NSN Cycling, 4:02:31
- 2. Filippo Ganna (Ita) Netcompany-Ineos, +9s
- 3. Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +11s
- 4. Daan Hoole (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM, +20s
- 5. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling, +21s
- 6. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, +22s
- 7. Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +24s
- 8. Elliot Rowe (Gbr) Great Britain, +32s
- 9. Rick Pluimers (Ned) Tudor Pro Cycling, same time
- 10. Paul Wright (Nzl) Modern Adventure Cycling, +39s