‘Fantastic’ Tour experience has Swift seeking further success

A sixth-place finish on a stage of their first Tour de France might be enough to delight most cyclists, but it has left Rotherham’s Ben Swift hungry for more.

The 23-year-old Team Sky rider came home on the back wheel of Mark Cavendish and the best sprinters in the world in Montpellier on Sunday as his debut in the grandest cycling race continued apace. But instead of resting on his laurels as the peloton heads into the Alps, Swift’s strong performance has strengthened his desire to succeed in the final week of the Tour.

“Sixth was good, but you always want that little bit more,” he said.

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“It was the first time I’d been in a bunch sprint this year so it was good to get that first experience of it, especially in the Tour de France.

“The whole race has been a fantastic experience and there’s not long now until we cycle into Paris (this Sunday).”

Today’s 16th stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateux to Gap comes after a rest day, and while Manxman Cavendish is in total control of the green jersey, the battle for the general classification yellow jersey is heating up.

Frenchman Thomas Voeckler wears the famous colour but the big names of the Schleck brothers – Andy and Frank – Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador are ready to pounce.

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“I still don’t think you can count out Contador,” said Swift. “In the Giro d’Italia he showed he is the best climber in the world. But Cadel Evans is looking really cool and calm. It’s hard to look past him.”

Meanwhile, Swift’s team-mate Geraint Thomas has warned a move from Team Sky – even in Olympic year – is not beyond the realms of possibility after his Tour performance attracts admirers from the wider cycling world. The 25-year-old from Cardiff, riding in his third Tour, has been among the race’s main protagonists in the opening 15 stages.

Thomas wore the best young rider’s white jersey for much of the first week, propelled Edvald Boasson Hagen to Team Sky’s first Tour stage success, has achieved top-10 positions on numerous stages, and went off on a breakaway on the first Pyrenean stage to Luz-Ardiden which demonstrated his potential in the mountains.

After stage two’s team time-trial, David Millar told Thomas he should join Garmin-Cervelo, whose team boss Jonathan Vaughters even last year expressed his admiration for the Welshman.

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Thomas is in the second year of a two-year contract with Team Sky.

He said: “There’s definitely been a few teams interested. It’s great for your confidence.

“To have that respect amongst the teams gives you a little buzz.”

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