Swift ascent predicted as Tour dates loom large

The ambitious British squad were launched yesterday in London with 22-year-old Rotherham racer Swift among the 26 riders named in the fledgling squad.

Swift had been contracted to Russian outfit Team Katusha for 2010 but told the Yorkshire Post in December he felt his ambitions on both the track and the road would be better served with Brailsford's team.

He has progressed into an all-rounder in his debut year on the professional circuit on the back of a debut in the road race at the Beijing Olympics and being named King of the Mountains at the 2007 Tour of Britain.

And he demonstrated how easily he can adapt to the track at the World Cup meeting at Manchester in November, when Brailsford – who masterminded Great Britain's dominance in Beijing – pinpointed him as a key signing for Team Sky.

"Ben is a real talent and his future looks bright because he ticks all the boxes that it takes to make it in this sport," said Brailsford, who was forced to defend Team Sky's recruitment policy after Swift was last month named in the squad for the Tour Down Under later this month, despite his contractual obligations to Katusha.

"He's extremely serious, skilled on the bike, he can climb and sprint and I really believe he can go far with us.

"We've worked quite some time with him on the track and I think the next years could be a massive breakthrough for him on the road as well."

Swift takes the total of Britons on the team to eight, with triple Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins the marquee name.

Following in the slipstream of Wiggins on the biggest stage of all was one of the main motivations in Swift's decision to join Team Sky.

He said: "I'm massively grateful to Katusha for the opportunities they gave me, but coming to Team Sky feels like coming home.

"Next year I'd like to ride another Grand Tour (he competed in the Giro d'Italia for Katusha) but a big focus for me is the track world championships in March.

"I want to ride the team pursuit at the London Olympics. Then I'll concentrate fully on the road. I will be in the perfect environment to grow as a rider with Team Sky."

Team Sky's start-up cost is reported to be 35m with 26 riders of 12 different nationalities comprising the roster.