Incredible final climb 😲 | Lloyds Tour of Britain Men 2026 Stage 1 Highlights

Hello and welcome to stage one of the Lloyds Tour of Britain, man, a big start and an iconic venue in British cycling. Starting and finishing in Lincoln, one hundred and eighty two and a half kilometres awaited the riders. We started with a moment to reflect and a moment of applause to remember Finn Tarling, who so tragically lost his life a few weeks ago. His teammates in NSN are here and ready to do him justice. They rolled out on the front. Tim Meleer, the Belgian sprinter, just joining the race as they rolled away and the iconic Michael Gatewood await them at the end of the stage. Thirteen hundred and ninety three metres of elevation awaited the riders, and there was a usual flurry of attacks from the start. The lucky sport team from Sweden looking to get in to the early move. The bus was parked across the front of the peloton as the breakaway went clear. And this would be the story of the day. Michael Schurren of United Shipping, Angus Roiberts-Sorensen of VHS, Tim Everson-Heggerberg of Lucky Sport, Adam Lewis of APS, Jonah Killey from Tarteletto, Isurex and Oskar Schempp of the team of BikeAid. First king of the mountains of Wellingham Hill. And there was a huge battle. And it was the man from BikeAid, Oskar Schempp who put out over 1,300 watts to take the sprint. And the big question was, could he replicate that one on the next sprint? It was Schempp from Schurren, Everson and Lewis taking that time to recover. Filip Bugana of Net Company Ineos, one of the big stars of the race. The peloton really weren't keen to give the breakaway too much of an advantage. It was on to king of the mountains, number two. And Lincolnshire is not flat and the riders would find that out. It was the Swede that launched his move for the top, Everson, but a long sprint. It would be Michael Schurren that took maximum points over the top ahead of the Swedish rider with the man from BikeAid, Schempp in third place. On to the intermediate sprint, point three, two and one bonus seconds on offer. And these are big prizes for the riders from the smaller continental teams as this breakaway are through the line. And it was Everson Hegerberg that took the three seconds. I'm sure I'm with Schempp getting up there. The big question today was, as we headed towards the finishing circuit, could the big sprinters like Tim Malir, like Olaf Koi, get over the climb of the Michael Gate? It's short, it's sharp, it's punchy, it's cobbled. It is one of the most iconic venues and of the Rafa Lincoln Grand Prix that takes place every year. The milk race has been here, national championships and huge crowds had come out in force to celebrate the Tour of Britain coming through. Breakaway down to three as they went through with four laps to go. And net company Ineos had lit the fire under the peloton on the first ascent of the Michael Gate and they carried on that effort over the top. It was Matteo Trentino attacked on the next ascent of the Michael Gate and with him went Lewis Askey. There was three bonus seconds on the line that would come with 38.3 kilometers to go. This had a fractured the peloton and there was quite a select group now coming across to the British rider. This move contained Jasper Stuyven along with Tim Wellens, Philippe Organa, Lewis Askey joined there with Paul Wright, Robbie Heast, Kim Heidek, Florian Vermeers, Lick Ploumas, Matteo Trentino, Dana Huller and Elliot Rowe over the Michael Gate. And for the next climb, and it was Tim Wellens that was on the front, the pressure really was on within the breakaway group. Ganna would also try. Rick Ploumas on the penultimate ascent split the group and put some time into those chasers behind. Trentino making a cross as they went through the bell with one lap to go. Despite the tortured look on the faces of the riders at that breakaway coming back together, they knew that it had enough of a gap to go all the way to the finish. Florian Vermeers countered off the back of his teammate Tim Wellens. As everyone looked around, Vermeers would head towards the final ascent of the Michael Gate. But the big question was, would it be enough to take it all the way to the finish? The British rider, Lewis Askey, though, would have other ideas. He would come in to the climb and make a huge move to try and close the gap to Vermeers. This climb is in the DNA of British riders, and Askey launched his move, going supersonic on the steep, cobbled slopes of the Michael Gate. Florian Vermeers was in a world of pain and suffering as Askey, little by little, closed the gap. And as they headed to what is traditionally the finish of the Lincoln Grand Prix, there was still time to be made for Lewis Askey. Could he recover over the top and take it all the way to the finish? Wellens was there, Ganner was also poised and ready. Lewis Askey looked in stupendous form today. He was, though, going to have to be super patient throughout, and that is what he did through the final twists and turns. And it was Philippe Ganner hunting down the British rider. But on the opening day of the Tour of Britain, the victory belongs to the home nation. Lewis Askey took the win ahead of Philippe Ganner and Tim Wellens. Great day for Lewis Askey. And of course, for the team NSN, they started the day with a tribute to teammate Finn Tarling, and I'm sure he rode with him in his heart and mind today, taking the win ahead of Philippe Ganner with Tim Wellens, Hula, Trentin, Stuyvese, Rowe, Ploumers and Wright. Our top ten, just 39 seconds separating them overall.