Wellens wins Tour of Britain as Politt takes final stage

Tim Wellens won the men’s Tour of Britain on September 6, 2026, finishing 42 seconds ahead of Lewis Askey as UAE Team Emirates-XRG also claimed the final stage through Nils Politt.

Wellens entered the deciding stage in Earlston with a 21-second lead. He protected his position through the Scottish Borders and increased his advantage by the finish, according to The Guardian’s race report and the final standings published by his team.

The Belgian had taken the overall lead on September 5 during the stage from Helmsley to Leyburn. The climbs in North Yorkshire enabled him to distance Askey and establish the cushion he carried into the finale.

Crosswinds split the field on the last day, but Wellens had several teammates alongside him near the front. Politt attacked inside the final 10 kilometres and rode clear to win the stage, completing a successful finish to the race for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

The outcome rewarded both parts of the team’s final-day effort: Wellens secured the overall classification while Politt converted his late move into a stage victory.