Ben Swift

Swift was born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, he began cycling with Mossley Cycle Racing Team aged 12. In 2003, he came second to fellow Olympian Steven Burke in the under 16 national scratch race championship. As a junior rider, Swift competed at the Junior Commonwealth Games, taking bronze in the points race, he won two national titles, the junior points race championship in 2004 followed by the junior scratch race in 2005. He also competed in the senior scratch race in 2005, demonstrating his ability by finishing third to take the bronze medal. Swift began competing internationally, winning several madison events. In 2012 he won the World Championship Men's Scratch Race, becoming Great Britain's first ever World Scratch Champion.

He made his professional road debut in August 2007 joining {{UCI team code|BAR|2007}} as a trainee during which time he won the King of the Mountains title in the Tour of Britain.

During 2008 he raced for the British Cycling development team and won his first UCI ranked race. He represented Great Britain in the 2008 Olympic Games road race and at the UCI Road World Championships where he finished fourth in the under 23 race.

After the championships he signed a two-year professional contract with the new Russian {{UCI team code|KAT|2009}}.{{cite web| url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Swift_takes_fourth_with_brave_world_championship_ride_article_268726.html| title=Swift Impresses in his Final Amateur Race at World Championships| author=Stephen Farrand| publisher=Cycling Weekly| date=26 September 2008| access-date=26 September 2008| archive-date=5 December 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205101957/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Swift_takes_fourth_with_brave_world_championship_ride_article_268726.html| url-status=dead}}

In 2009 he was selected to ride the Giro d'Italia, taking a third-place finish in stage 2. He took his first professional win on the seventh stage of the Tour of Britain, leading Katusha teammate Filippo Pozzato in a one-two finish.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2-1/stage-7/results/ |title=Swift's sweet victory in Somerset |last1=McManus |first1=Gerry |date=18 September 2009 |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=16 October 2016}} Swift spoke with Cyclingnews.com in 2009, describing himself as "an allrounder, who can do well in the Classics and win stages. 'My weakness is in the time trial. I don't like doing them and I'm not really that good at them.'"{{cite web| url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/apr09/apr21news2| title=A Swift start to his career| author=Susan Westemeyer| publisher=CyclingNews| date=21 April 2009}}

Swift joined the newly formed British-based {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}} in January 2010. His transfer to Sky from Team Katusha part way through his contract was instrumental in the Union Cycliste Internationale considering new regulations for the transfer of riders between teams.{{cite web| url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/swift-set-to-move-to-team-sky| title=Swift set to move to Team Sky| author=Shane Stokes| publisher=CyclingNews| date=4 January 2010}} During his first season with Sky Swift's most significant result came at the Tour de Picardie, at which he won one stage, the general classification, the points classification and best young rider.

File:2011 TOR Sprint.jpg, where he won the fifth stage.]]

2011 saw Swift win his first stage of a UCI World Tour race, winning stage two of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide. Four days later he also won stage six. Swift won Stage 2 of the Tour of California, and took the lead of the race, after Stage 1 was cancelled due to adverse weather.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cycling-california-idUSTRE74G06620110517 | work=Reuters | title=Swift wins delayed start to Tour of California | date=17 May 2011 | access-date=30 June 2017 | archive-date=24 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153037/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/17/us-cycling-california-idUSTRE74G06620110517 | url-status=live }} Swift was selected for the Tour de France ahead of Greg Henderson,{{cite web|author=Nigel Wynn |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/529006/sky-s-tour-de-france-squad-announced-swift-selected.html |title=Sky's Tour de France squad announced: Swift selected | Latest News |publisher=Cycling Weekly |date=23 June 2011 |access-date=11 July 2012}} and finished 6th on Stage 15.{{cite web|author=Simon MacMichael|url=http://road.cc/content/news/39000-tour-de-france-stage-15-reaction-cav-insists-he-hasnt-secured-green-jersey-jet |title=Tour de France Stage 15 reaction: Cav says green jersey not won yet, Swift feeling better as race goes on | road.cc | Road cycling news, Bike reviews, Commuting, Leisure riding, Sportives and more |publisher=road.cc |date=17 July 2011 |access-date=11 July 2012}}

In 2012 Swift focused on track cycling with a view to representing Great Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games. On 4 April, Swift won the Scratch Race at the World Championships to take the rainbow jersey. He finished second in the points race, and joined forces with Geraint Thomas to take silver in the madison.

Swift was scheduled to ride the Giro d'Italia, but was forced to withdraw after suffering a broken shoulder in a crash during a training ride the week before.{{cite news|author=Cycling |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/9246846/Giro-dItalia-2012-Ben-Swifts-training-injury-disrupts-Team-Skys-preparations-but-their-focus-remains.html |title=Giro d'Italia 2012: Ben Swift's training injury disrupts Team Sky's preparations but their focus remains |publisher=Telegraph |date= 4 May 2012|access-date=11 July 2012 |location=London}} Although he failed to gain selection from the long list for the British Olympic team, he was picked for the Team Sky squad for the Tour de Pologne, winning the second and fifth stages, as well as wearing that Tour's red-and-white points classification jersey{{cite web|author= Cycling Weekly|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/533848/swift-wins-second-stage-of-tour-of-poland.html |title=Ben Swift wins second stage of Tour of Poland |date=11 July 2012 |access-date=11 July 2012}} Swift was selected as Sky's sprinter at the 2012 Vuelta a España, and finished second on Stage 18.

In March 2014, Swift achieved one of his biggest results to date by finishing third in Milan–San Remo.{{cite web |title=Milan-San Remo Results |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/milan-san-remo/results |publisher=Cycling News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320160139/http://www.cyclingnews.com/milan-san-remo/results |archive-date=20 March 2013 |df=dmy }} In April 2015, Swift crashed out of the newly created Tour de Yorkshire, injuring his shoulder.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-yorkshire-favourite-swift-crashes-out|title=Tour de Yorkshire favourite Swift crashes out|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Future plc|date=1 May 2015|access-date=1 May 2015|author=Peter Cossins}}

File:2019 ToB winner best British rider Ben Swift.JPG

On 19 March 2016, Swift finished second in Milan–San Remo, being narrowly outsprinted by Arnaud Démare ({{UCI team code|FDJ|2016}}).{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/ben-swift-on-milan-san-remo-second-is-the-worst-place-217478|title = Ben Swift on Milan-San Remo: 'Second is the worst place'|date = 19 March 2016}}

After seven seasons with Sky, in September 2016 Swift announced that he would join {{UCI team code|LAM|2017a}} on a two-year deal from 2017 in order to seek more opportunities to ride for himself.{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/swift-leaves-team-sky-for-two-year-deal-with-project-tj-sport/ |title=Swift leaves Team Sky for two-year deal with Project TJ Sport|date=26 September 2016 |website=cyclingnews.com |access-date=28 September 2016}}

In October 2018, Swift rejoined {{UCI team code|SKY|2019a}} for the 2019 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/ben-swift-returns-team-sky-2019-season-397804|title=Ben Swift returns to Team Sky for 2019 season|date=22 October 2018|last=Windsor|first=Richard|access-date=7 September 2019}} In June 2019, Swift won the British National Road Race Championships in Norwich, beating team leader Ian Stannard.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/48817440|title=National Road Championships 2019: Ben Swift and Alice Barnes win maiden British titles|date=30 June 2019|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=7 September 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/2019/06/30/comeback-kid-ben-swift-wins-british-national-road-championships/|title=Ben Swift bounces back from ruptured spleen to win National Road Championships, while Alice Barnes takes women's title|date=30 June 2019|last=Cary|first=Tom|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=7 September 2019}} In September 2019, Swift signed a new contract to remain with Team Ineos until the end of the 2021 season. Swift said he had 'found a renewed enthusiasm and motivation for the sport'.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/49605876|title=Ben Swift signs contract to stay with Team Ineos to end of 2021|date=6 September 2019|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=7 September 2019}} As of July 2023 he was still part of the Ineos Grenadiers’ squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.ineosgrenadiers.com/riders/ben-swift|title=Ben Swift|date=6 August 2023|website=ineosgrenadiers.com|access-date=6 August 2023}}

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;2007

: Giro delle Regioni

::1st {{cjersey|polkadot}} Mountains classification

::1st Stage 4

: 1st {{cjersey|red}} Mountains classification, Tour of Britain

: 3rd Milan–Busseto

: 4th Gran Premio della Liberazione

: 5th Road race, UEC European Under-23 Championships

: 7th La Côte Picarde

;2008

: 1st Coppa della Pace

: 1st GP Coppa Romita

: 1st Stage 5 Giro della Valle d'Aosta Mont Blanc

: 4th Road race, UCI World Under-23 Championships

: 4th Road race, UEC European Under-23 Championships

: 6th Gran Premio Industrie del Marmo

: 10th Gran Premio della Liberazione

;2009 (1 pro win)

: 1st Stage 7 Tour of Britain

: 2nd Nokere Koerse

: 8th Gran Premio di Lugano

: 10th Gran Premio dell'Insubria-Lugano

;2010 (2)

: 1st {{cjersey|yellow}} Overall Tour de Picardie

::1st {{cjersey|green}} Points classification

::1st {{cjersey|white}} Young rider classification

::1st Stage 2

;2011 (5)

: 1st Stage 5 Vuelta a Castilla y León

: 1st Stage 5 Tour de Romandie

: 1st Stage 2 Tour of California

: 3rd Overall Tour Down Under

::1st Stages 2 & 6

;2012 (2)

: Tour de Pologne

::1st {{cjersey|white}} Points classification

::1st Stages 2 & 5

: 4th Road race, National Championships

;2013

: 3rd Time trial, National Championships

: 3rd Trofeo Palma de Mallorca

: 5th Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana

: 10th Trofeo Campos–Santanyí–Ses Salines

: 10th RideLondon–Surrey Classic

;2014 (2)

: Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali

::1st {{cjersey|white}} Points classification

::1st Stages 1a & 1b (TTT)

: 1st Stage 5 Tour of the Basque Country

: 2nd Road race, National Championships

: 2nd RideLondon–Surrey Classic

: 2nd Trofeo Ses Salines

: 3rd Trofeo Muro–Port d'Alcúdia

: 3rd Milan–San Remo

: 8th Nokere Koerse

;2015 (1)

: 2nd Overall Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali

::1st {{cjersey|white}} Points classification

::1st Stage 2

: 3rd Trofeo Playa de Palma

: 3rd RideLondon–Surrey Classic

: 7th Trofeo Santanyi–Ses Salines–Campos

: 9th International Road Cycling Challenge

: 9th Japan Cup

;2016

: 1st {{cjersey|blue}} Points classification, Vuelta a Andalucía

: 2nd Milan–San Remo

: 7th Overall Tour du Poitou-Charentes

: 7th Gran Piemonte

: 8th Overall Tour of Britain

: 8th Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race

;2017

: 5th Road race, UCI World Championships

: 5th Road race, National Championships

: 10th Eschborn–Frankfurt

;2019 (1)

: 1st {{cjersey|uk}} Road race, National Championships

;2020

: 8th Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne

: 10th Milano–Torino

;2021 (1)

: 1st {{cjersey|uk}} Road race, National Championships (Lincoln GP)

: 3rd Grand Prix de Denain

;2022

: 8th Milano–Torino

;2025

: 7th Surf Coast Classic

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;2004

: 1st {{cjersey|uk}} Points race, National Junior Championships

;2005

: National Junior Championships

::1st {{cjersey|uk}} Scratch

::3rd Individual pursuit

: 1st Dortmund, UIV Talent Cup (with Geraint Thomas)

: National Championships

::2nd Madison (with Matt Rowe)

::3rd Scratch

;2006

: 2nd Team pursuit, National Championships

;2007

: 1st 20px Team pursuit, UEC European Under-23 Championships

: 2nd Points race, National Championships

: 3rd Team pursuit, UCI World Cup Classics, Manchester

;2009

: 3rd Individual pursuit, National Championships

;2010

: 2nd 15px Team pursuit, UCI World Championships

;2012

: UCI World Championships

::1st 20px Scratch

::2nd 15px Points race

::2nd 15px Madison (with Geraint Thomas)

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{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|Ben Swift}}

• {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20150219135137/http://www.benswift.cc:80/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140103021639/http://www.teamsky.com/profile/0%2C27291%2C17543_9082063%2C00.html Ben Swift profile] at Team Sky
• {{Procyclingstats}}
• {{Cycling Archives|20340}}

{{UCI Track Cycling World Champions – Men's scratch}}

{{Ineos Grenadiers riders}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swift, Ben}}

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:Cyclists from Yorkshire

Category:Cyclists at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic cyclists for Great Britain

Category:Sportspeople from Rotherham

Category:UCI Track Cycling World Champions (men)

Category:English male cyclists

Category:British male cyclists

Category:English track cyclists

Category:British track cyclists

Category:21st-century English sportsmen