Swift’s opportunity to sprint home for glory

The 24-year-old Rotherham cyclist, who contested the road race in Beijing four years ago, was short-listed to be a part of the five-man team at the London 2012 renewal on The Mall, but with just days to go was informed he had not made the cut.

The team that was supposed to get Mark Cavendish a gold failed, and now Swift – who hopped between track and road in the run up to the home Olympics – has a chance over the next three weeks to make a name for himself.

Swift is one of the nine members of Team Sky contesting the Vuelta Espana, and more pertinently, he is their designated sprinter.

When he completed his Tour de France debut last year he did so merely as a supporting domestique.

He has also contested the Giro d’Italia – the other member of the three grand tours – finishing second on a stage in 2009.

But his two wins at the recent Tour of Poland, when he showed no sign of any disappointment from missing out at the Olympics, proved he was back in form after missing this year’s Giro with a broken shoulder.

Team Sky may be geared towards getting Chris Froome a victory in the general classification, but with six sprint finishes in the Vuelta, Swift has every opportunity to claim a major stage win.

“I’m really excited about being the team’s main sprinter,” said Swift, whose first chance of a win comes tomorrow from Pamplona to Viana.

“There should be plenty of opportunities for me and I’ll be doing my best to get my first Grand Tour stage win.

“We’ve got a strong and well-balanced team going into Spain.

“There are lots of guys there to support Froomey in the mountains and I am expecting him to have a really good race.

“He’s been unbelievable this season and I’m sure he’ll be able to continue that form and challenge for the top step of the podium.”

Froome, who finished second to Bradley Wiggins in the Tour de France and won Olympic bronze in the time-trial, is among the favourites.

Sky’s sports director Nicolas Portal said: “We’ve got every base covered with this line-up. We have Olympic medallists, amazing climbers, some really strong guys on the flat, and a very fast sprinter.

“Every rider knows their role and they will need to be alert from the very first stage as the level of competition is so high.”

Alberto Contador will be the man to beat having missed the Tour de France due to a ban.