Olav Kooij Sprints to Tour of Britain Stage 3 Victory as Lewis Askey Retains GC Lead

The sprint rivalry at the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Men is officially tied. On Friday afternoon, Decathlon CMA CGM's Olav Kooij powered through a chaotic final kilometer in Beverley to win Stage 3, exacting immediate revenge on Soudal Quick-Step's Tim Merlier. The 181.1-kilometer route from Hull culminated in a tense, headwind-heavy sprint where patience proved to be the deciding factor.[1][2]

The stage had been animated by an early six-man breakaway that included mountains classification leader Michal Schuran. Schuran successfully swept maximum points over the day's three categorized climbs at Burton Road, Tire Ewe Hill, and Keepers Hill before the peloton reeled the escapees back in.[2][4]

However, the bunch sprint was not guaranteed. Following the catch, Yorben Lauryssen of Tarteletto-Isorex launched a solo attack, building an advantage of more than two minutes over the peloton. Lauryssen fought valiantly to hold off the chase, maintaining a 1:08 lead into the final 15 kilometers before the combined might of the sprint trains finally swallowed him up with just 6.5 kilometers remaining.[2][4]

As the race entered Beverley, the sprint trains battled for control. Merlier, who had bested Kooij by a bike length in Skegness 24 hours earlier, appeared perfectly positioned behind his lead-out man Jasper Stuyven as the peloton navigated the rapid, technical approach to the final corner.[1][3]

Kooij, meanwhile, found himself briefly boxed in and sheltered from the wind. Relying on his experience from winning in Beverley during the 2023 edition of the race, the Dutchman waited for the exact right moment to launch. "Once I saw 150 [meters to go] I thought, now's the time to go," Kooij explained after the finish, praising his team's ability to control the chaotic run-in.[3][4]

Kooij's acceleration was unmatched, allowing him to comfortably pass Merlier before the line. Axel Källberg of the Lucky Sport Cycling Team delivered the surprise of the day by snagging third place, while Timothy Dupont and Matteo Moschetti rounded out the top five. The victory marks Kooij's eighth career stage win at the Tour of Britain, moving him into a tie for second on the all-time list behind Mark Cavendish's ten wins.[2][4]

While the sprinters traded blows, the general classification remained unchanged. NSN Cycling Team's Lewis Askey finished safely in the bunch in 17th place, retaining the green leader's jersey he captured with a blistering attack on the cobbled Michaelgate climb during Stage 1. Askey holds a narrow 12-second advantage over UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Tim Wellens.[1][5]

Behind Wellens, Tudor Pro Cycling's Matteo Trentin sits in third at 19 seconds back, followed by Daan Hoole at 21 seconds. Notably absent from the top of the leaderboard is Netcompany INEOS powerhouse Filippo Ganna, who tumbled down the standings to 10th place (1:53 back) after suffering a disastrously timed mechanical issue amid crosswinds on Stage 2.[1][6]

The battle for the overall title now shifts from the flat coastal roads to the gruelling climbs of the Yorkshire Dales. Saturday's Stage 4—widely considered the queen stage—features 2,699 meters of elevation gain over 165.8 kilometers from Helmsley to Leyburn. With ascents like Greenhow Bank and Grinton Moor on the menu, Wellens and his UAE squad are expected to launch a fierce assault on Askey's slender lead.[4][5]