BABY NAMED AFTER CHAMP

A NEWBORN baby has been named after Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas.

Just before the Cardiff cycling star secured the historic win, Geraint Wyn Page was born in Carmarthenshire.

Parents Matt and Nia said they both liked the name before Thomas sealed the victory, but that it “just felt right” when Geraint was born on Friday.

Matt took to Twitter to announce the name, saying: “From one very proud Welsh cyclist to another, llongyfarchiadau! (congratulations). I couldn’t ask for a better role model for him.”

Thomas, 32, finished third in Saturday’s 20th stage of the famous race and will ride into Paris to seal the prestigious title on Sunday.

A keen cyclist himself, Matt said he first suggested the name to his wife Nia. Dad-of-two Matt, 33, said: “I’m a big cyclist myself so I used to race professional myself and I’ve been into it for years.

“We were looking for a Welsh name anyway and we didn’t really consider it [Geraint] at first but then we started thinking more about it.

“There can’t be many other big cycling fans out there who have a baby boy when Geraint wins the Tour de France so it felt right.”

Matt said the final decision on their baby’s name was taken after his son was born. Geraint was born on 4.45am on July 27 at Glangwili General Hospital.

Mum Nia, 33, said: “I wasn’t too sure at first but it didn’t take me too long to come around. We didn’t name him Geraint just because he [Thomas] won, but it did make the decision easier.”

Matt was out in France himself watching the race as it went through the Alps, cheering on Thomas and other British contenders, and took part in events himself. A professional racer from 2008 to 2013, Matt now organises professional cycling events.