Rotherham’s Ben Swift retains his national title and ensures an extended spell in the British stripes

Victory salute: Team Ineos Grenadiers' Ben Swift celebrates winning the Men's Road Race in Lincoln. Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire.

Rotherham’s Ben Swift extended his already long stay in the British national champion’s jersey with victory in the men’s road race after Pfeiffer Georgi claimed her maiden women’s title in Lincoln.

Ben Swift extended his already long stay in the British national champion’s jersey with victory in the men’s road race after Pfeiffer Georgi claimed her maiden women’s title in Lincoln.

After the pandemic saw last year’s championships cancelled and this year’s moved to the end of the season, Swift had already enjoyed 840 days in the British stripes as a result of winning the 2019 title, but had no intention of giving them up yet.

“I had to earn it for the last year,” Swift said. “It was a tough race, but I’m really happy to keep the jersey.”

Lincoln glee: Team Ineos Grenadiers' Ben Swift celebrates winning the Men's Road Race during the British Cycling National Championships Road Race through Lincoln. Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire.

The 33-year-old was active virtually throughout the 166 kilometre race, 13 laps of a circuit built around the famous cobbled climb of Michaelgate to the foot of the city’s medieval Cathedral.

Attacks flew all afternoon as the likes of Mark Cavendish, Matt Walls and Matt Holmes were spat out the back, and by the last lap Swift was left in a much-reduced group alongside Fred Wright, Harry Tanfield and Dan McLay.

As McLay faded, Swift’s Ineos Grenadiers team-mate Ethan Hayter bridged across and would take bronze behind his house-mate Wright.