Askey in line for Tour de France debut

British rider tells Tom Thewlis that his first two pro wins have put him in the frame for July selection

- Tom Thewlis

After a successful spring in which he achieved his first two professional wins, Lewis Askey is in line for a Tour de France debut for Groupama-FDJ.

The 24-year-old from Cannock won twice in May, first at the Boucles de l'Aulne, and then at the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque, to put himself in the frame for the final eight heading to Lille in a few weeks.

“I’m preparing to go to the Tour de France,” he said. “I’ve not definitely been selected yet, so I don’t know for sure that I’m going, but I’m on the long list for it.”

Hopefully I’ve shown what I can do for the team in the best way that I possibly can in the last few weeks. I'll be off to the Tour de Suisse after this, then I'll do the British Nationals, and if I get selected then I'll be at the Tour de France.”

Winning feeling

“I was actually stressing a lot that I was going to go through my whole career and never actually win anything,” he added. “I’ve had a hell of a lot of second places throughout my time as a pro now. Obviously second place is great, but it is absolutely nothing compared to first place.”