Geraint Thomas is determined to retain his British National Champion's jersey in Northumberland this weekend.

The 25-year-old from Cardiff led a Team Sky podium clean sweep in Lancashire last year to become the first Briton to wear the white jersey with blue and red bands at the Tour de France since Sean Yates in 1992.

Nine Team Sky riders in all will start tomorrow's 196-kilometre race, which centres around Stamfordham, including Thomas' Tour team-mates Bradley Wiggins and Ben Swift.

Only recovering pneumonia victim Steve Cummings is not participating from the British squad.

And Thomas hopes he can emerge triumphant once more.

He said: "Wearing that jersey has been amazing this last year and I'm not going to give it up without a fight.

"It's going to be every man for himself. The main thing's just getting a Sky rider on top."

Mark Cavendish, who will bid to add to his 15 Tour de France stage wins when the race begins on July 2, expects Team Sky to provide the winner.

He said: "I'm just going to get a good day of racing in.

"There's no chance to win with 97 Sky riders there.

"It's the same in Holland with Rabobank. It doesn't happen.

"I'll just go there and have a good day racing. It's good preparation for the Tour."

David Millar (Garmin-Cervelo) will be absent as he focuses on the Tour.

Emma Pooley is the defending champion in the women's race, having triumphed 12 months ago.

The 28-year-old from Cambridge is entering the race after an early part of the season disrupted by a fractured collar bone in April.

As a result Pooley predicts she will struggle to launch a successful defence of her title.

She told Press Association Sport: "I'm far from confident that I'll win it.

"It (the injury) was a bit of a pain because I missed a bit of racing because of it.

"It's a bit different from last year, but nationals are always fun and there should be a lot of people out watching.

"I need a really hard climb to get away and I don't think it will be possible."

If Pooley cannot win, she hopes one of her Garmin-Cervelo team-mates will, with Lizzie Armitstead likely to be Olympic champion Nicole Cooke's fiercest rival for the title.

Pooley has enjoyed wearing the national champion's jersey.

She added: "Every time I've pulled it on it's been absolutely fantastic.

"It's been amazing."

Cooke (MCipollini-Giambenini) is an eight-time national champion and last year accused Lizzie Armitstead, Sharon Laws and Pooley of working together to help the latter win.