Connor Swift eager to keep Nairo Quintana safe on Tour de France road to Paris

That is the verdict of Connor Swift, a man who can help the Colombian today and tomorrow from Ile d’Oleron to Poiters, but who can only cheer from the sidelines on the race’s penultimate stage on Saturday week.

Doncaster’s Swift is riding his debut Tour as part of an Arkea-Samsic team built around the yellow jersey ambitions of Quintana, a two-time Grand Tour winner who is only missing the Tour de France from his palmares.

One of the primary reasons Swift, 24 – the former British road race champion – is in the French squad is to protect Quintana from the coastal cross winds over the next two days, an unpredictable element that can splinter the peloton and ruin a rider’s race. “The forecast winds don’t seem to be as strong but we’re smack bang by the coast the next two days so it could still be a problem,” said Swift, who was delighted to have made it to the race’s first rest day yesterday.

“So long as we are near the front and avoid any crashes, we should be all right.

“The next two days are going to be interesting.”

Quintana is currently fifth on the general classification, 32 seconds behind race leader Primoz Roglic. This could be his best chance to win the Tour given the penultimate stage is an individual time-trial in the mountains and Quintana is a renowned climber.

“The ideal scenario is we get him close and he gets himself into yellow on that day so we can ride into Paris together,” said Swift.

“It’s been a good start, we’ve got Nairo into fifth place on the GC and everyone is really happy about that. There’s still plenty of tough stages for him to make up the time.

“On a personal note I’m super happy to have made it this far and to be in a position where I’m still feeling good. The first rest day is a good stage to reach

“We set off yesterday and I felt shattered at the start of the race and was really worried I might not make it but I got a bit of life into my legs after about 40 minutes and I was fine.”