Swift is raring to go

The Anston cycle star is racing for defending champions Team Sky in the Glava Tour of Norway, before the Bayern-Rundfahrt next week.

Twenty-five-year-old Swift has been injured since a crash in Spain on 6th February, and he was raring to get back on the bike this week.

He said: “It’s a pretty good feeling, sitting on a plane and heading to a race again, one that I’ve definitely missed of late.”

“After crashing out and spending the last three months recovering and regaining fitness, I am very eager to get going and get on that start line.”

Swift’s job will be to help team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen retain the title he won in Norway last year, and he admits it won’t be a straightforward task.

“Having rode in the tour last year I know it’s a great race to make my return in, though I’m not expecting an easy ride as I will have my work cut out riding for our defending champ and hometown hero Eddy,” he said.

“The race gets progressively harder as it goes on, which should enable me to find my racing rhythm again in the opening stages before we hit the more arduous stages.”

With another tour lined up next week, Swift’s return to action is a busy one – but he says he’s ready for it.

The former St Joseph’s pupil explained: “Following on from Norway I will head directly to Bayern Rundfahrt for another five days of hard racing in Germany.”

“Physically it’s going to be a tough couple of weeks, but I feel confident knowing how much hard work I have put in during my rehab, especially in this last month to get ready for these races.”

“On completion of these two races it will finish off a good block of work and I will come out the other side with a strong physical condition ready to tackle the rest of the season.”

- On day one of the Glava Tour of Norway, Swift and Team Sky delivered Boasson Hagen to a second place finish.

Team Sky Sports Director Servais Knaven said: “Swifty and Boswell are both coming back from injury. Swifty was there on the front at the end, and also Ian was going well.”