A new chapter awaits Lewis Askey at Israel – Premier Tech, with the 24-year-old Brit signing a three-year deal through to 2029.
Askey, who turned pro in 2022, has had a standout year in 2025, claiming the first victories of his career in quick succession at the Boucles de l’Aulne – Châteaulin followed by stage 2 of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, but he was already on IPT’s radar says General Manager Kjell Carlström.
“Lewis Askey is a rider we have had our eye on for a while,” explains Carlström. “Having been promoted to the WorldTour at a young age, Lewis already has a wealth of experience and he’s still only 24 years old. His victories this year were confirmation of what we knew he was capable of, and we believe the best is yet to come, so we are excited to see Lewis develop further in IPT over the next three years.
“Lewis will play a key role in our Classics team, taking on an important leadership role at one-day races, while also adding depth to our stage race rosters. Beyond performance potential, one of the biggest things we look at when signing new riders is how they will fit into the team culture, and with Lewis, we have no doubt that he is an excellent signing across the board and will really thrive in our team environment.”
Having spent the last six years with Groupama FDJ, in both the development team and WorldTeam, Askey is ready for a new challenge.
“Groupama FDJ did a lot for me and I’m thankful for my time with them, but it felt like the right time to move on,” Askey explains. “I need some new motivation, new faces, new style, fresh air, and new ways of thinking. I’m at a point in my career where I should be coming into my best years, and I feel like moving somewhere else will give me the extra gear, the motivation to step up and try new things.
“I started speaking with IPT quite early in the season, and then I went on to take my first two wins. That was already a turning point for me, and a lot of people might not realise it happened in that order. It gave me relief and freedom so I could take more risks without the stress of failing. That release, being able to race on instinct and take risks, without the pressure, made a huge difference to my season.”
While Askey spoke to multiple teams, the decision to join Israel – Premier Tech was an easy one when factoring in the performance opportunities and team culture.
“From the beginning of our conversations, everything felt very professional from the start – from the research, training, nutrition, altitude planning, and analysis,” adds Askey. “Secondly, I already know so many people at the team – not just UK riders but others too, close mates I spend a lot of time with. And I’ve learned it makes a huge difference when you’re racing with people you genuinely want to race for, because you’re a team that wants each other to succeed, not just because you’re paid to do it.
“I also felt this environment would give me more chances throughout the year, more opportunities to be in that situation. That combination made it clear this was the right place. You spend a lot of time with your teammates, not just at races but the whole year, and it really affects your quality of life.”
Israel – Premier Tech owner Sylvan Adams echoes Askey’s sentiment, saying: “I’m very pleased that Lewis Askey will be joining IPT next year. He is a young, promising, versatile rider, who will fit in perfectly with our team culture, and moreover, our racing style. From what we’ve seen from his results this year, Lewis is a winner. Welcome to IPT, Lewis. The future looks bright.”