Feature: Connor Swift Signs for Madison Genesis

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A new signing for Madison Genesis in 2017 is Connor Swift who has bounced back from a horrific crash to race with one of the country’s top teams

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Feature: Connor Swift Signs for Madison Genesis

A new signing for Madison Genesis in 2017 is Connor Swift who has bounced back from a horrific crash to race with one of the country’s top teams

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Asked how it felt to be snapped up by such a high profile British team, Connor told VeloUK, “it is great opportunity that I have been given to ride for Madison Genesis being such a well-established and professionally run team.”

“I feel that the team going into 2017 is a really strong line up and I can’t wait to learn and gain experience from my team mates and Mike (Northey, DS) next season. I know the team likes to develop riders by moving them onto the next level and this shows the team has their rider’s best interests at heart and I would like to thank them for this opportunity”.

1. You suffered a bad crash, tells us what happened and how long it took to get back to your normal race speed?
Connor: I was on my way to the local 10 mile time trial; it was going to be the last full gas effort on the TT bike before the Under 23 National TT champs, which I was really looking forward to this year.

Whilst on route, I collided with a stationary parked van. I can’t remember seeing the van, but, I hit it at just shy of 28mph. Being in hospital with the many injuries I had was devastating and a real blow as I was feeling great on the bike. I stayed very optimistic as nothing this major had happened to me before. I told people I would race again before the season had ended.

I stuck by my words and within three weeks I was back on the bike spinning over the legs and managing the pain. I was very lucky and received physiotherapy from HMT hospitals and within six weeks I was back on the road.

Within eight weeks I was back racing at a National B and I managed to take a win at the circuit race in Bath, which I was very happy about. Following that, I raced some cyclo-cross and came away with some good results.

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2. What was the highlight of 2016 for you?
Connor: I wouldn’t say there is a highlight of 2016 but a mixture of being 10th at Chorley GP at the beginning of the season was great. Being in the break and getting really stuck into a prem was an amazing feeling.

To add to this, I was very happy to improve on that result by finishing 6th overall at the Tour of Reservoir which is a brutal race because of the conditions it throws at you. In addition to this, winning the Yorkshire Championships was a great feeling and such a great race. Finally recovering from my crash, getting back racing and winning was a great achievement and I am really lucky and happy to have no long lasting injuries.

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Photo: cadenceimages.com

3. You have a famous cousin in Ben (Swift), does he give you any tips from the world tour and if so, what’s been the most helpful?
Connor: Ben has a busy schedule but when he is around and back home it is great to get out training with him and get extra tips whilst out on the road. I would say the most helpful tip would probably be the diet, recovery, core and conditioning training. When I was away with him on a camp, I learnt a lot about this.

4. What is the best piece of equipment (clothing/bike/gadget) to do with racing you are proud of most that you own?
Connor: It would have to be my Garmin. I have forgotten it a couple of times at races and it was the worst thing ever! I love seeing the information and numbers ticking by.

5. What is your warm up routine for races – rollers or turbo? Music or no music?
Connor: Rollers or a ride on the road prior to a race is the normal warm up routine. Spinning the legs with a few efforts to get me ready for the race. Sometimes I choose to have music, other times I don’t, sometimes it is just too much of a faff with the earphones and getting the right pumped up song on the go.

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6. What’s your favourite discipline on the road; road racing/crits (or time trials) and why!
Connor: I love all three, but in particular I enjoy a good time trial. I think it is just the feeling of pushing as much as you can and being on your absolute limit. I love a 10 mile TT, all of the different equipment and aerodynamics within time trialling really interests me.

7. Will you stay in the UK to prepare for next season during the winter or get in a training camp or two abroad to get in some serious miles?
Connor: Majority of the winter will be spent in the UK however I have booked to go Calpe in January for a 12 day camp. Also, there will be a team camp in February, having those will split up the winter and make it go a little bit faster.

8. Does the famous Yorkshire chain gang slow down or speed up in the winter?
Connor: It all depends on who is out on the day and keen to get it going, however, I would say it definitely speeds up and then it starts to get real fast preparing for the first race of the year being the Tom Simpson Memorial Ride ;-)

9. What comes first in your preparation for 2017 – long steady miles or a mix of miles and efforts?
Connor: First of all, it will be long steady miles, once I have a good base behind me, strength work will be added. The efforts will then start to be included setting me up for the season ahead of me.

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10. Do you use a special winter bike with mudguards etc or using a normal race like training bike?
Connor: I like to use the normal race/training bike all year round. As you may have seen, Dean Downing is trending ‘say no to mudguards’ and only a select few do have mudguards out on the chain gang. Even if I did have mudguards on, without them I would still get as dirty LoL!

11. What are the goals for 2017?
Connor: I would love to get stuck into some stage racing with Madison Genesis for 2017. Races like An Post Ras and Tour of Normandie seem like great races that would suit me. In addition to this, it would be amazing to be selected for the Tour de Yorkshire and Tour of Britain. My main goals are to be there for the team and be consistent, on form and I would love to see some results along the way.

12. Does winter training consist only of riding the bike or running/swimming/gym work (cross training)
Connor: Winter training this year will be different to previous years. I will be riding the bike a lot more and getting the base miles in. However, on top of this I am going swimming once or twice a week. I took up swimming following my crash to help with my neck movement and it helped a lot.

I know swimming has many other benefits so I am going to keep this up within my routine. In addition to this, I do at least three gym sessions a week focusing on building strength and core. It also helps that my girlfriend is a personal trainer and kicks me into shape. Finally, I have also taken up yoga which is surprisingly hard!

Thanks to Connor … We look forward to seeing him in the Madison Genesis colours in 2017!

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