Cannock cycling star finishes runner-up in the Tour of Britain

Lewis Askey won the opening stage of the race, while fellow Midlands rider Adam Lewis impressed in the King of the Mountains climbs. Sign up to our Express & Star newsletter Did you know with a Plus subscription to Express and Star you get full access to our award winning journalism for the news that matters to you and more. Cannock's Lewis Askey produced the best British result in the Lloyds Tour of Britain but admitted he wanted more. Askey — who qualifies for Scotland via his father — saw his hopes of matching 1989 winner Robert Millar evaporate in Saturday's stage around the Yorkshire Dales. That meant he came into Sunday's concluding dash around the Scottish Borders with twin ambitions — protecting his narrow advantage in the sprints standings and hanging on to second in the general classification. He missed the first target but hit the second, coming home 42 seconds behind Belgian Tim Wellens, who took overall honours in Earlston. However, Askey still looked a little downbeat, admitting frustration that he and his team allowed the breakaway to form, which cost him the points jersey, won by ten-time Grand Tour stage winner Filippo Ganna. But with that jersey gone, he and fellow Brit Jake Stewart put in a shift to ensure the margin of the lead group didn't cost him his runner-up prize. "It doesn't mean loads to me until I stand on the top step," admitted Askey, who made his second Tour de France appearance earlier this summer and won the opening stage of his home Tour in Lincoln. "I'm here because I enjoy winning races. I always say a second, or a top five, top ten — they're all nice performances, and you're obviously proud of how you've ridden and happy with it. "We were going to prioritise the sprint and I would have enjoyed that, but one mistake, one lack of urgency, and that was gone. I need to say a big thanks to Jake. He kept our group moving and without him there is no way I'd have finished second. "That was actually the hardest day we've had all Tour. The winds were brutal out there. My legs were hurting quite a bit, and I wasn't in the mood, to be honest, for the day we had." The 25-year-old rides for UCI WorldTour team NSN Cycling Team, while his younger brother Ben is also a professional cyclist. But he admits a week battling the best in the peloton has only fuelled his desire for more. "It's been a good week and I'm mixing it with these guys but, also, I'm learning that one mistake is all it takes to cost you," he added. "When you look around and see the strong boys in the race, it doesn't always give you confidence, but I think I've proved what I can do now." Earlier in the tour, fellow Midlands rider Adam Lewis claimed the combativity award on day one. The 31-year-old from Walsall kicked off stage one with an early breakaway in Lincoln with five other riders to hit the iconic cobbled Michaelgate climb in the lead. Despite being caught by the peloton, the group passed three King of the Mountain climbs in the lead, eventually finishing 22nd overall in the KoM standings. Lewis took a stage win in the USA at the Tour of the Gila Men in May, before winning the general classification of the Ronde van Wymeswold national stage race a month later. The latter prepared him well for the home roads of the Lloyds Tour of Britain. 'For a British rider on a continental level, it's the pinnacle of the season,' said Lewis. 'It's the biggest race we'll do this year.' British Cycling is inspiring riders and fans across the country through the Lloyds Tour of Britain, bringing the sport to life and celebrating the joy of cycling through Britain's biggest free-to-spectate cycling event. Visit britishcycling.org.uk Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.