Paris (France) (AFP) – The British Lewis Askey leads the Tour of Britain by winning with authority this Wednesday in the first stage, 182.5 km around the city of Lincoln, in the northeast of England.

First modification: 09/02/2026 - 16:41

The NSN team rider, who at 25 years old achieved the third victory of his professional career, took a first step towards Sunday's final victory.

Askey broke through in the last few meters, catching up and then leaving behind the Belgian Florian Vermeersch, who had tried to escape on the last ascent of a brutal, cobbled slope (400 meters at 10%), which the final circuit proposed six times.

Eleven runners, including the Italian Filippo Ganna and the Belgian Tim Wellens, second and third, had escaped in the final stretch, fateful for other favorites, among whom was the Frenchman Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE-Emirates), who crossed the line almost four and a half minutes late.

The Tour of Britain, reduced to five stages from six last year, ends on Sunday.

In 2025, the final victory went to the Frenchman Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), ahead of the Belgian Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe.

The first two are not competing this year and the third retired a few weeks ago.

The 2025 edition was also marked by the farewell of the Welshman Geraint Thomas.

The winner of the 2018 Tour de France has since been the sports director of the Netcompany Ineos team, very active on Wednesday in the final stretch.

- Classification of the first stage:

1. Lewis Askey (GBR/NSN) 182.5 km in 4h 02:44.

2. Filippo Ganna (ITA/NCI) at 2.

3. Tim Wellens (BEL/UAE) 2.

4. Jasper Stuyven (BEL/SOQ) 9.

5. Daan Hoole (NED/DAT) 9.

- General classification:

1. Lewis Askey (GBR/NSN) 4h02:31.

2. Filippo Ganna (ITA/NCI) at 9.

3. Tim Wellens (BEL/UAE) 11.

4. Daan Hoole (NED/DAT) 20.

5. Mattep Trentin (ITA/TUD) 21.

© 2026 AFP

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