Tim Merlier returns to celebrate for the first time since last Tour de France, conquering the second stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain 2026, the Boston-Skegness of 181.1 kilometres. In the sprint, the Belgian from Soudal Quick-Step, clever not to be caught off guard by the action that selected just two riders in the peloton just over fifty kilometres from the finish, got the better of Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) and the Pinarello Q36.5 duo Sam Bennett-Matteo Moschetti who could do nothing against the speed of the native of Wortegem-Petegem.

In the general classification, Lewis Askey (NSN), who remained in the group that then went on to fight for victory in the sprint, brilliantly defended his leadership and now commands the standings ahead of Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Matteo Trentin (Tudor), while Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS), sidelined by a mechanical problem at the crucial moment of the stage, was forced to surrender his provisional second place obtained yesterday.

THE RACE

With the breakaway of the day composed of János Pelikán (Team United Shipping), Jonah Killy (Tarteletto – Isorex), Axel Källberg (Lucky Sport Cycling Team) and Lucas Bénéteau (St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93), the stage did not register any particular shocks until about fifty kilometres from the finish when, while Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS) remained dropped due to a mechanical problem, in the group UAE Team Emirates-XRG forced the pace until splitting the peloton in two.

The first group, composed of about forty riders including the general classification leader Askey, caught up with the breakaway riders in no time and, continuing with determination in their action, managed over the kilometres to widen the gap against the chasers who, in this way, passed under the ten-kilometre banner with a deficit of 1'03".

Having thus acquired the certainty of fighting for victory, Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) attacked solo seven kilometres from the finish but, chased hard by the Soudal Quick-Step men, the Belgian was caught just 2000 metres from the line. To decide the outcome of the stage is thus a sprint (rather confused in its approach) that is won decisively by Merlier, quick to surprise Kooij by launching his sprint from the side of the barriers.

Behind them, Bennett and Moschetti share third and fourth place, while the green jersey Askey, finishing without effort in 22nd position, successfully defends the top of the standings where, with Ganna slipping to tenth place due to the 1'43" deficit accumulated in the final, his first pursuers become Wellens (twelve seconds back) and Trentin (nineteen seconds away): both tomorrow, in the Hull-Beverley of 194 kilometres, could nibble away a few seconds from the Englishman between the two intermediate sprints scheduled and the finale that in the last hundreds of metres climbs uphill.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Tim Merlier (BEL/Soudal Quick-Step) - 3:53:55

2. Olav Kooij (NED/Decathlon CMA CGM) - s.t.

3. Sam Bennett (IRL/Pinarello Q36.5) - s.t.

4. Matteo Moschetti (ITA/Pinarello Q36.5) - s.t.

5. Ethan Vernon (GBR/NSN Cycling) - s.t.

6. Riley Pickrell (CAN/Modern Adventure) - s.t.

7. Rick Pluimers (NED/Tudor Pro Cycling) - s.t.

8. Matteo Trentin (ITA/Tudor Pro Cycling) - s.t.

9. Jake Stewart (GBR/NSN Cycling) - s.t.

10. Brody Mcdonald (USA/Modern Adventure) - s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Lewis Askey (GBR/NSN Cycling) - 7:56:25

2. Tim Wellens (BEL/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) at 0:12

3. Matteo Trentin (ITA/Tudor Pro Cycling) at 0:19

4. Daan Hoole (NED/Decathlon CMA CGM) at 0:21

5. Jasper Stuyven (BEL/Soudal Quick-Step) at 0:21

6. Florian Vermeersch (BEL/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) at 0:25

7. Rick Pluimers (NED/Tudor Pro Cycling) at 0:33

8. Elliot Rowe (GBR/Great Britain) at 0:33

9. Paul Wright (NZL/Modern Adventure) at 0:40

10. Filippo Ganna (ITA/Netcompany-Ineos) at 1:53

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points classification: Lewis Askey (GBR/NSN Cycling)

Mountain classification: Michal Schuran (CZE/Team United Shipping)

Best young rider classification: Elliot Rowe (GBR/Great Britain)