After seven years with Team Sky, Yorkshire’s Ben Swift is to join the new team formed by TJ Sport and sponsored by Lampre as well as money from China
News: Ben Swift Leaves Sky
Official news this morning from Lampre that they have signed Yorkshire sprinter Ben Swift who since 2009, has had 14 victories with the highlights being runner-up in the 2016 Milano-Sanremo and third in the same race in 2014.
Ben is the first new rider to sign a deal with project TJ Sport.
The British rider has also enjoyed success on the track, winning gold in the Scratch race at the 2012 World Championships, adding to his tally of three World Championship silver medals. Ben’s profile as rider suits perfectly the goals of the sports group, especially given his future ambitions for the Italian classic Milano-Sanremo say the team.
Swift, who signed for two years, commented: “I am really excited for this new professional opportunity and I look forward to starting a new chapter of my career. I believe it will allow me to develop further as a rider and hopefully enjoy more success in the seasons ahead. I would like to thank Sir Dave Brailsford and everybody at Team Sky who have helped me over the last seven years.â€
“TJ Sports management demonstrated a great confidence in my qualities and I was immediately fascinated by their project. It is founded on a sports group that has been at the top level of the world cycling for 25 years, so I will find in my new team a lot of experience and a very high level of professionalismâ€.
Talking to Will Fotheringham of the Guardian, author of 14 books, Ben told him, “It’s a hard, hard decision leaving Sky. It’s like leaving my family, but it’s now or never if I want to see how good I can be. I don’t really have anything to lose, and I’d like to publicly thank Sky for what they’ve done for me. It’s going to be a culture change but I’ve been comfortable for the last seven years and I need to go outside my comfort zone.â€
For those questioning why, Ben says to the Guardian, “This team will be giving me more freedom and support. There will be various leaders, but they believe in my ability and I can have riders to support me.â€
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