Wright and Georgi take stripes to the Tour de France

New national road champions crowned in North Yorkshire

- Vern Pitt

Fred Wright and Pfeiffer Georgi will both fly the British national champion's colours at the Tour de France in July after impressive wins in the road races of the National Championships on Sunday.

Both the Londoner and Gloucesterborn racer crossed the line solo after launching their attacks on the hilly attritional course around Redcar and Cleveland.

Wright, who had yet to win a professional road race before the weekend, despite numerous close calls, said: "I'll only believe it when I see my kit.

"I've watched the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Steve Cummings at the Tour in the stripes and I'm going to be the next one of those guys. It's so special." Georgi, who held the title in 2021, will be the first British woman to wear the jersey at the modern incarnation of the Tour de France Femmes as 2022 champion Alice Towers didn't go to the Tour last year. Georgi said: "I remember, I was sad that I lost the jersey before [2022], a few weeks before the Tour. Because I think it's going to be pretty special to get to wear it there.

"My mum will love that it'll be easier to spot me on the TV." Asked if he felt getting his maiden pro win would make victory at the Tour de France easier, Wright said: "Definitely.

That's what everyone's been saying to me.

A lot of the messages from people that have helped me in my career, like coaches and team managers have been like, now it gets easier."

He added: "This year has been a success already and I haven't even gone to the Tour yet. So, whatever happens [there] happens, and that's a really positive way to go into any bike race, because it means you're not going with pressure. I feel like I was getting quite desperate for that first win."

He said he thought stages 10, 11 and 12 could all provide him with opportunities for victory.