Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Maggie Coles-Lyster had one rider in mind when the Tour of Britain Women came down to a sprint in Blackpool for Stage 2.
She followed Lorena Wiebes.
The national champ finished second to the Team SD Worx–Protime sprinter on Thursday’s 110.5-km stage from Clitheroe to Blackpool, using Wiebes’ wheel to take her second WorldTour podium of the season and sixth podium overall in 2026.
A great day at the office
“I was second, and my boyfriend got to see me race, so all in all, it was a very exciting day for me,” Coles-Lyster said. “Lorena’s a GOAT, of course. A win would’ve been great, but I’m really happy with second.”
It was a wet, messy day on the roads of northwest England, with rain falling for much of the stage and wind and rough road surfaces adding to the challenge. Two climbs early in the race threatened to make the day harder, while a road traffic accident forced a brief neutralization and the removal of the second QOM.
A strange stage
“I’d say today was a weird day with all the delays,” Coles-Lyster said. “We had rain. We had some wind at certain points. We had some rough roads. So, having the girls around, especially towards the end, was really important,” she said.
With a bunch sprint becoming increasingly likely, her Human Powered Health teammates made sure to get her to the front.
Wiebes is in a league of her own 🤯
Lorena Wiebes wins Stage 2 at Lloyds Tour of Britain Women by finding a gap and exploding away from her rivals in the final 250m 💪🏼
Lorena Wiebes – Sprint to win stage 2
⏱️ Time: 15“
⚡️Avg power: 930w
💥 Max power: 1200w pic.twitter.com/gXPSpIu7w6
— Velon CC (@VelonCC) August 20, 2026
“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,” she said. “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.”
Finding Wiebes
As the finale approached, Coles-Lyster made her move for Wiebes’ wheel.
“With about three kilometres 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,’” she said.
From there, patience was the key.
“I was committed to that wheel and just remained patient. I really fought for her wheel to the end.”
Coles-Lyster also followed the advice of Human Powered Health head of racing, and former pro Magnus Bäckstedt, who knows the Blackpool finish well.
Timing is everything
“Magnus said beforehand, ‘Don’t go too early, and sprint on the right side,’ and that’s what I did.”
The result continues a fab season for Coles-Lyster after she returned from surgery in 2025 to address 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.”
Coles-Lyster, who has already been on the podium six times this season, said the results have given her confidence that there is more to come.
“I’ve never been this consistent through a season,” she said. “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.”
And she is still figuring out just how far that progress can take her.
“It feels like the world’s my oyster and, like, what can I do with this now?”
Stage 3 of the Tour of Britain went to Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG Insurance – Soudal Team). The Mauritian national champ now leads the overall, with two stages to go.