Swift’s rollercoaster at Track World Cup

The Anston cycle star put in a mixed performance in the omnium event, as he attempted to win favour in the eyes of the Team GB selectors, ahead of the World Championships and this year’s Olympics.

“I had a bit of a roller coaster,” he said, after finishing sixth overall in cycling’s multiple race event.

The first two races saw him finish 11th and 13th, much to Swift’s chagrin.

“The flying lap and the points race were very disappointing,” he conceded.

“After the qualification points race I was quite confident, but it turned out to be a nightmare,”

But a top three finish in the elimination race was followed by a fifth-place in the pursuit, boosting his position in the rankings.

He said: “I always enjoy a good devil and it’s a race I like to get stuck into. I just hesitated a little too much on that final elimination, but I was happy to get a good result.”

“Going into the pursuit I wanted to post a good time. I knew I was capable of doing a decent time because of all the team pursuit work I had been doing.”

“It’s just a shame that some guys had catches towards the end other wise I think I would have been second, but that’s the omnium for you.”

Day two brought the scratch race and the kilometre time trial, but Swift had only one goal – which he accomplished, finishing first in the scratch to roars of approval from a partisan crowd inside the Olympic Velodrome.

“After feeling much better on the second day I really wanted to win the scratch race,” he said.

“I knew it was my only opportunity because the kilo was out of the question.”

“I felt really in control and strong in the scratch, and then tried to race like I used to and it paid off.”

“The crowd were exceptional and it was nice to get that much needed win.”

He came 11th in the time trial to end the World Cup in sixth place, and quickly turned his attention to selection for the World Championships.

Swift added: “All in all I enjoyed it, it was great to race in front of such a amazing crowd. Now my focus is back on trying to make that team pursuit team.”