Sheffield’s Ben Swift to look at the option of riding the Omnium for Great Britain at the Rio Olympics
![]() |
News – Ben Swift’s Rio Ambitions
NOTE: Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Interestingly, Team Sky’s Ben Swifth from Sheffield has announced he is throwing his hat intot he ring to ride the track at Rio 2016. Talking to road pros, many have dismissed going for a place on the track due to the amount of time it will take them away from the road but Swift has confirmed that he wants to look into the prospect of riding the track.
Ben Swift having a drag race with Alex Dowsett on the boards of Manchester.
Saying that the road race will be too hilly for him, Swift will talk to the Endurance coach at the Great Britain Cycling Team, Heiko Salzwedel to assess the viablity of making such a bid for a tough event.
“I don’t really want to go down the route of committing to a full-time track programme and it’s how riding the omnium would affect that†he told British Cycling’s Luke Webber.
Swift took part in his first omnium since February 2012 in Portugal and finished fourth. The format for the Omnium was changed before this season’s World Cup season and the Points race, the final event of the six, carries a lot more opportunity to come back from a low points score in the other events.
“The old format was very much around the timed disciplines so you could never really make up for a bad event†Swift says. “Whereas now finishing with the points race makes it a lot more of a racers’ race, which makes it a lot more appealing.â€
Third in Milan San Remo is a career highlight for Ben Swift.
“My full focus for the moment is back on the road, but you’re always planning the next few weeks and months ahead at the same time. The first step was to get the experience of the new omnium format, to get some points on the board and the next step is to do another omnium with a lot more fitness, to be able to race it at 100% and go from there”.
“Obviously the later into the season it is, the fitter I am going to be. I would like to treat an event like that like a mini target in itself. Beyond that, the World championships in London will be massive and it would nice to be a part of that. It’s very likely you’re going to be going to the Olympics if you’re at that event.â€
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Feature Interview: Ian Watson (Brother UK LDN)
- The Way Ahead (domestic road racing): Part 8
- News: Tom Dumoulin Stops Racing
- News: Nottingham Uni Track Team
- Emma Trott & Jenny Gretton join CAMS-Tifosi
- Feature Interview: Tim Elverson (Canyon DHB Sungod)
- News: Wout Van Aert Extends Contract
- News: Star Studded Lineup for UAE Tour
- News: Will Valverde Retire?
- News: Drops to Race on Ribble
- News: GB Team for World CX Championships
- Feature Interview: Imani Pereira-James
- News: Tadej Pogačar to work on his time trial
- News: Fernando Gaviria Hopes for 2021
- News: Julian Alaphilippe to start in Tour de la Provence
- News: Dan Martin Still Learning
- News: Froome after 5th Tour Win
- News: Beeston Race Team
- Team News: Astana – Premier Tech 2021 Goals
- Brits in UCI Teams 2021
- News: British Junior Racing Team Tofauti Everyone Active
- The Way Ahead: Part Seven
- News: Tour of Valencia (3-7 February)
- News: Bernal & the Giro
- News: 2021/22 CX Season British Dates
- News: Fabio Jakobsen Getting Better
- News: Bauke Mollema’s 2021 Season
- News: Tom Pidcock’s aims for 2021
- News: Tim Wellens Focus on Classics
- News: UAE Tour returns in Feb
- News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step Media Day
- Q&A: Lauren Creamer racing for LVIV in 2021
- Feature: Brother UK/LDN Women’s Team
- News: Gilbert uncertain about 2021
- News: Jakob Fuglsang at Ruta del Sol
- Team JRC Shutt Ridley Women’s Team
- Team News: Chris Froome optimistic about 2021
- News: Ambitions for Trek-Segafredo leaders
- News: Tom Dumoulin Programme
- News: Team Bahrain Victorious 2021 Goals
Other News on VeloUK
- Feature Interview: Ian Watson (Brother UK LDN)
- The Way Ahead (domestic road racing): Part 8
- News: Tom Dumoulin Stops Racing
- News: Nottingham Uni Track Team
- Emma Trott & Jenny Gretton join CAMS-Tifosi
- Feature Interview: Tim Elverson (Canyon DHB Sungod)
- News: Wout Van Aert Extends Contract
- News: Star Studded Lineup for UAE Tour
- News: Will Valverde Retire?
- News: Drops to Race on Ribble
- News: GB Team for World CX Championships
- News: Tadej Pogačar to work on his time trial
- News: Fernando Gaviria Hopes for 2021
- News: Julian Alaphilippe to start in Tour de la Provence
- News: Dan Martin Still Learning
- News: Froome after 5th Tour Win
- News: Beeston Race Team
- Team News: Astana – Premier Tech 2021 Goals
- Brits in UCI Teams 2021
- News: British Junior Racing Team Tofauti Everyone Active
- News: Tour of Valencia (3-7 February)
- News: Bernal & the Giro
- News: 2021/22 CX Season British Dates
- News: Fabio Jakobsen Getting Better
- News: Bauke Mollema’s 2021 Season
- News: Tom Pidcock’s aims for 2021
- News: Tim Wellens Focus on Classics
- News: UAE Tour returns in Feb
- News: Deceuninck – Quick-Step Media Day
- News: Gilbert uncertain about 2021
- News: Jakob Fuglsang at Ruta del Sol
- Team JRC Shutt Ridley Women’s Team
- Team News: Chris Froome optimistic about 2021
- News: Ambitions for Trek-Segafredo leaders
- News: Tom Dumoulin Programme
- News: Team Bahrain Victorious 2021 Goals
- News: Busy season ahead for Peter Sagan
- UAE Team Emirates signs Marc Hirschi
- News: WorldTourTeams in Challenge Mallorca
- News: Wout Poels to focus on the Tour de France