“British cyclists are used to riding in the rain,” says Sky’s Yorkshire sprinter
After seeing the Tour of California’s first stage cancelled due to heavy snow, Team Sky sprinter Ben Swift was far more comfortable with the weather conditions on stage two. The heavy rain that began to fall on the peloton as it started the second of three finishing circuits in state capital Sacramento made the roads slick and the corners treacherous. Swift, who hails from Rotherham, in south Yorkshire in the north of England, found that it suited him very well.
“I think everyone was just really motivated to get going again,” he said of the pace of the shortened stage, “but because it was raining, guys respected each other and gave each other enough space.
“The rain actually helped me a little bit because, coming from Britain, you get to experience riding in rain,” he explained. “It puts a fear in some people and helps you control things more. And even with the rain, the circuit was lined with fans which was great to see.”
Although it was his unbeatable burst of speed that took the actual victory, Swift was quick to give credit to those who had delivered him to the point where he could launch it.
“The team was just unreal,” he said, “they were fantastic and I can’t thank them enough. They kept it so cool and delivered me perfectly, it was awesome. I had a pretty long sprint and it felt good.
“The shortened [stage] we raced today meant fresh riders and a quicker finish. It was a pretty long circuit and you needed to ride fast but we were able to come over the top and take control on the final lap. You need to ride together and everyone did the job 100 percent.”
Unsurprisingly, Team Sky’s Sports Director Marcus Ljungqvist was delighted with the stage win, and especially with the performance of the team in black; although he witnessed the whole thing from the team car, a way behind the action.
“That last lap was very, very impressive,” said Ljungqvist. “I didn’t see it myself when it was actually happening but on the radio they were screaming ‘Sky, Sky’ all the time and I had goosebumps listening to it!”
The Swede, who retired as a rider in 2009, was understandably impressed with his sprinter’s victory, but also about the way the team went about achieving it.
“He’s been showing this form right from the beginning of the year and it’s been fantastic to see,” he said of Swift. “And that goes for everyone else too – I think they all step up a little bit when they know they have guys like Swifty as the last man.”