Swift wants consistent rides for next season

The Anston cycle star was disappointed to have his year ended prematurely by injury, and surgery, but the 24-year-old is determined to improve in 2013.

“It was a shame for the season to end like that, but at least it’s given me a bit of a break,” he said.

“I’d really like to push forward this next season and be a lot more consistent.”

“I won two races, and had five second places and four thirds.”

“I’ve been there or thereabouts a lot this year, so hopefully I can push on next season.”

Although the departure of world class sprinter Mark Cavendish to the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team will see Swift bumped up the Team Sky pecking order, the Anston man sees himself as a different operator from the ‘Manx Missile’.

“Cav going opens up the door a little, but I’m not an out and out sprinter,” Swift said. “I prefer the hillier finishes.”

With cycling in the spotlight in the wake of the Lance Armstrong doping revelations, Swift is hopeful that the sport can move on now, particularly in the UK.

“I hope we are doing enough as British riders to move past this,” he said.

“When you look at the amount of people getting out on their bikes, having been inspired by what they have seen from our cyclists, then that is very encouraging and something we want to protect.”

“We’ve had a massive push for cycling in Britain in recent years. In the rankings for national teams this season we finished second, which is unheard of, and even a few years ago something we could never have thought possible.”