Features
King of the Mountains
The Tour of Britain Cycle Race came to Rotherham
Almost 100 riders left the start point in Rother Valley Country Park to cover a route through Wickersley, Maltby and Tickhill. Pride of place was most certainly taken by Anston’s Ben Swift - our very own King of the Mountains winner who is joining the professional ranks with Barloworld.
Great Britain Cycling Team Olympic Academy rider Ben Swift is set to become another of the teams riders to progress to the professional ranks as a stagiaire.
This year has been a momentous season for Ben with a major victory in Italy, many top 10’s and recently 5th place in the European Road Race championships despite not having been on the road a month previous to that event. Ben was also part of the European Championship winning Team Pursuit squad, his first victory as part of the Team Pursuit team.
With the success he has had, going professional was always on the cards and there have been talks with several teams and the GB managers have looked very carefully at the race programmes and other details before deciding on a team for Ben. The end result was that Barloworld was chosen because it has an Italian base and a good race programme.
That is certainly one thing they have had plenty of, hard work, and Ben since the Europeans has been enjoying a well earned break at home.
'I took a week off and tried to relax by putting my feet up. I got back on my bike on Sunday and now I’m thinking about the rest of the season. We have a little training block when we get to Italy to get back into shape'.
Ben is also aware that by going to Barloworld as a stagiaire, he will be close to the Academy riders and coach Rod Ellingworth as well as teammate Geraint Thomas.
'If I had gone to another team we were talking to, I'd have had to move to Spain and be away from everybody so I can definitely relax more knowing the support network we have at GB is close by'.
Good luck to Ben with Barloworld
Special thanks from Rotherham Web to British cycling.org.uk
Ben Swift Biography
From: Anston
D.O.B: 5/11/1987
Website: None
Events: Track Endurance/Road
Club/Team: 100% ME
GB Team: Olympic Academy Programme
GB Debut: Moscow World Cup, 2005
Pro Debut: August 2007, GP Camaiore for Barloworld
RESULTS PROFILE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
2005, Austria (Junior)
5th, Points
6th, Madison
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
2007
Track Cottbus
1st Team Pursuit (U23)
Road Europeans (Bulgaria)
5th, U23 Men's Road Race
2006 Greece (U23)
18th, Scratch Race
22nd, Points Race
UCI WORLD TRACK CUPS
2006/07
Manchester
3rd, Men's team pursuit 4:05.554 (58.642 km/h)
4th, Madison (Jonny Bellis)
Los Angeles
7th Mens Scratch race
2005/2006
Moscow (Nov)
13th, Madison, with Geraint Thomas)
24th, Points, Senior Int. Debut)
BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS
2006 (Senior)
2nd, Team Pursuit
2005
2nd, Madison (with Matt Rowe)
3rd, Scratch Race
1st, Scratch Race
3rd, Ind. Pursuit
2004
1st, Points, British Junior Championships
OTHER MAJOR RESULTS
2007
1st. Final Stage Giro delle Regioni
4th Fourth GP Liberazione (Italy)
7th, La Cote Picarde (France)
2003
3rd, Points, Commonwealth Youth Games
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