News: Connor Swift joins Arkea-Samsic

Madison Genesis delighted to announce that Connor Swift is moving on from the team to join UCI Pro Continental squad Arkea-Samsic

News: Connor Swift joins Arkea-Samsic

Swift will link up with his new team with immediate effect and is expected to make his racing debut at the four days of Dunkerque on 14 May, before moving on to the Tour of Norway.

A winner last Thursday, now a pro conti rider this week – Congrats Connor Swift …

The French team includes two-time Tour de France stage winner Warren Barguil – and most pertinently for Swift – Andre Greipel, for whom the British champion could be tasked to perform lead-out duties.

General manager at Arkea-Samsic, Emmanuel Hubert, said: “We are very happy to welcome this talent in our team. Usually the young riders turn professional in August, but we decided that he would start earlier to prepare for the future right away. We discussed it with Andre Greipel, he is a rider with a lot of potential, he is very fast in the sprints and he knows how to fight for position.

“Robert Wagner, who was supposed to be Andre’s lead-out man, has unfortunately been out of action for several weeks. We had to reinforce the team in that area to be more performant, and now that we have Connor Swift, it’s done.”

Connor Swift: “I’m over the moon with the opportunity that has come around! Things like this don’t happen often and to be able to step up to Pro Continental level with Arkea and go there to be part of a team helping out Greipel will be pretty surreal.”

“I am super thankful to everyone involved to make this happen and of course Madison Genesis for the past two years and allowing me to step up and leave the team mid-season”.

“I’m excited to kick things off with Arkea which seems like a great team and one that also has a really good race programme too. The hard racing on rolling terrain in France will suit me. I’m sure it’s going to develop me more as a rider and I’m keen to learn from the more experienced riders.”

Connor’s Time at Madison Genesis

Madison Genesis team manager Roger Hammond, said: ““I’m really pleased for Conor to get this opportunity, and for that we have to say thanks to everyone at Madison for being so supportive. It’s part of the mission of the team to provide a route through to the highest level of the sport and Connor’s promotion to Arkea Samsic proves that Madison Genesis is on the right track.”

Swift’s Story
Swift joined Madison Genesis in 2017 as a relatively unknown 20-year-old, but quickly made his mark, winning two rounds of the Tour Series and the Leicester Castle Classic. Despite entering 2018 as one of the most talked-about talents in the domestic peloton, few would have predicted Swift going on to win the British road race championships.

Winning before he joined Madison Genesis

A multitude of podiums followed, as did a spell as a stagiaire for Dimension Data. In a tough transfer market however, Swift was unfortunate to miss out on a permanent ride. Re-joining Madison Genesis in 2019, Swift’s full focus remained on reinforcing his previous performances to once again give himself the opportunity to make that step up.

A top-10 at the Tour de Normandie was a solid start to the year, but Swift saved his best to last, with a top-10 at the Tour de Yorkshire, followed-up by winning the opening round of the Tour Series in Redditch last Thursday.

Everyone at Madison Genesis wishes Connor every success in his next challenge, with complete confidence that the best is still to come!

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