Success for cyclist's first year in gravel racing

Norfolk-based pro-cyclist Sophie Wright has had a successful first year in gravel racing

A professional cyclist who had a major operation seven years ago has been reflecting on a successful first year in gravel racing.

Norfolk-based Sophie Wright claimed victory at the Gravel Suisse, the world's biggest gravel cycling competition - with a seven-minute lead.

Despite a setback in 2018 which saw the 26-year-old undergo a six-hour heart operation, she has bounced back to compete with great success internationally.

"I've had a really outstanding season — it's been much better than I expected," she said.

Sophie Wright made the switch to gravel racing last year

Wright progressed through the British Cycling junior ranks to represent Great Britain at European and World championships at 17 years old.

In 2018, she went professional with Bigla Pro Cycling and went on to ride for WorldTour teams.

After switching her road cycling career for gravel racing in 2024, Wright is now part of the UK's first professional gravel racing team - the Ribble Outliers.

What is gravel racing?

Gravel racing is a mix between road cycling and mountain biking.

Not only are the races longer distance, with her longest race this year stretching to 320km (200 miles) , but the bike set-up is also different.

Where a road bike has 32mm tyres, gravel racing bikes have 45mm tyres to ensure grip on rougher tracks.

The gravel bike has a longer wheelbase, slacker head angle and more gears to help tackle different terrains.

The Ribble Outliers are the UK's first professional gravel racing team

Wright, from Horsford near Norwich, has established herself as one of Britain's leading gravel racers, but her career could have been derailed by a life-threatening health scare.

In 2018, Wright had a heart operation for atrial tachycardia — a condition which causes the heartbeat to spike, sometimes to as high as 250 beats per minute in 10 seconds.

After a successful six-hour procedure at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, Wright was able to continue racing.

"Ever since then, everything's been pretty fine and I can continue my cycling career," she said.

"It was a scare at the time, but I'm so thankful."

Sophie Wright was studying for her A-level exams when she had surgery

Her most recent major victory was at the Gravel Suisse, part of the UCI Gravel World Series, where she won the women's elite category.

Wright finished the 100km race in four hours 25 minutes - more than seven minutes ahead of her nearest rival, Axelle Dubau-Prevot.

Wright was third at the National Gravel Championships in Yorkshire

A mere week after her success at international level, she lined up at the National Gravel Championships in Dalby Forest, coming second in the time trial and third in the Women's Elite race.

For Wright, the race's location in North Yorkshire held particularly fond memories.

"I saw this section of the forest where my dad and I had visited about 13 years ago," she said.

"We came for a mountain bike holiday and I was only a little 10-year-old kid just loving riding her bike and here I am now, 13 years later."

Though she narrowly missed out on the national title, Wright said: "We'll be back next year to fight for those red, white and blue stripes again.

"Now to recover and reset, ready for the European Championships in Italy this Sunday."