"You're 2% better and all of a sudden things get easier" - Fred Wright almost manages to take breakthrough win at Tour de France

Bahrain - Victorious had cards to play today at the Tour de France, and it was Fred Wright who got himself in the day's breakaway and fought for the stage win in Saint-Étienne.

“I just needed that little bit of extra strength. I nearly did it," Wright told Cyclingweekly at the end of the day. Wright has been having a very strong season with a seventh place at the Tour de Flandres as a highlight. Despite not being a climber, he's finished ninth in Megève showing his current run of form.

In more suiting rolling terrain, the Briton found himself in the day's breakaway, and responded to the attack of Mads Pedersen with 13 kilometers to go. He tried to dislodge his companions towards the end aswell, however without the sufficient power to distance the Dane.

“I needed to attack on the last climb. That tempo was as hard as I could go and as soon as I got over it i was like ‘Damn it’s going to be a sprint and I'm not going to be able to beat him," he detailed.

“It's funny, it's only small percentages, you're 2% better and all of a sudden things get easier. You're just not breathing so hard so you can focus on what tactics to play," Wright explained. “I’m learning every time. I did it better this time than last time and I'll do better next time. Hopefully there will be next time. Maybe not this Tour, but at some point there will be a next time.”