Canadian champion Maggie Coles-Lyster scored second place on stage 2 of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women, sprinting to her second WorldTour podium of 2026 at the end of the 110.5 km stage from Clitheroe to Blackpool.
With the stage coming down to a bunch sprint beside England’s North West coast by the Irish Sea, the team placed Coles-Lyster on the wheel of stage winner Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx – Protime), with the 27-year-old diligently following the Dutch sprinter’s line to finish best of the rest.
“I was second, and my boyfriend got to see me race, so all in all, it was a very exciting day for me. Lorena’s a GOAT, of course. A win would’ve been great, but I’m really happy with second.” Coles-Lyster said at the finish. “I’ve never been this consistent through a season. To have this level of consistency and keep getting these great results is really cool, and it just gives me a lot of inspiration to build from here.”
The peloton faced a deluge for much of the day in classically late-summer torrential British conditions. Two climbs at the start threatened to make stage 2 a tough onslaught, but a brief neutralisation due to a road traffic accident on the course took the second QOM out of the race.
“I’d say today was a weird day with all the delays,” said Coles-Lyster. “We had rain. We had some wind at certain points. We had rough road surface. So, having the girls around, especially towards the end, was really important.
Resplendent in the Maple Leaf jersey from Verge and atop the Factor OSTRO VAM aero road bike, Coles-Lyster was backed up by a committed chase from Yurani Blanco, Nina Buijsman, Marta Jaskulska, Marit Raaijmakers, and Petra Stiasny.
“When we realized it was going to be a sprint, they would come and support me and just stay around me, keeping me out of trouble, and keeping me towards the front,” explained Coles-Lyster. “My whole goal was just to be at the front all day. They were able to help me do that, so that was really important.”
Before the neutralization, Jaskulska also had her moment in the sun [ed. well, the clouds], striking out on the first climb with a brief breakaway to take a handful of QOM points. The Pole then slotted back into the lead-out, playing a pivotal role in the finale.
“With about three kilometers to go, we were just behind SD Worx, and I was like, ‘Hey, Marta, switch with me so I can be on Lorena’s wheel, and then cover me from behind,’” explains Coles-Lyster. “I was committed to that wheel and just remained patient. I really fought for her wheel to the end.
Coles-Lyster also heeded the advice of Head of Race Magnus Bäckstedt, who has experience racing into Blackpool.
“Magnus said beforehand, ‘Don’t go too early, and sprint on the right side,’ and that’s what I did.”
The result marks Coles-Lyster’s sixth podium of 2026, continuing her excellent return from surgery in 2025 to combat FLIA (Flow Limitation of the Iliac Artery).
“This level of consistency is in big part thanks to the blood flow in my legs,” she said. “I can now work on my climbing so I can be there at the finale of more reduced groups as well. It feels like the world’s my oyster and, like, what can I do with this now?”
Tomorrow’s stage 3 takes the race to Wales for what could be the most decisive day for the general classification. Finishing atop the Great Orme, a limestone headland just off Llandudno, the final steep climb and its lead-in will break the peloton apart and will suit puncheurs with a fast final kick.
Lloyds Tour of Britain Women stage two results
1 WIEBES Lorena – Team SD Worx – Protime 3:29:26
2 COLES-LYSTER Maggie – Human Powered Health ”
3 LE COURT-PIENAAR Kim – AG Insurance – Soudal Team ”
4 VEENHOVEN Nienke – Team Visma | Lease a Bike ”
5 GILLESPIE Lara – UAE Team L’IMAD ”
6 CONSONNI Chiara – CANYON//SRAM ”
7 COPPONI Clara – Lidl – Trek ”
8 BEEKHUIS Teuntje – Uno-X Mobility ”
9 WOLLASTON Ally – FDJ United – SUEZ ”
10 LONDOÑO Juliana – Team Picnic PostNL ”
Stage Gallery
Photos: SWPix.com, GettySport, and HPHCycling
