Team News: Ben Swift in Algarve

British road race champion Ben Swift 16th on stage 1 of the Volta ao Algarve “Encouragingly, I felt good on the steep climbs, I was able to move up and into position”

Team News: Ben Swift in Algarve

Ben Swift was upbeat about his early season form following the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve. Swift secured a top 20 finish on the stage which came down to a bunch sprint won by Fabio Jakobsen (Deuceunick-Quickstep), but the 32 year old drew positives from his overall performance which saw him in contention throughout a tough final 30 kilometres on undulating terrain.

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He told TeamINEOS.com: “The actual finish had a headwind and the guys did an amazing job – we’re here for the GC but they gave me this opportunity. We maybe hit the front a bit too early, I tried going in behind some guys once Michal Kwiatkowski had done a really good job and then the guy I tucked in behind pulled off, so with 400m remaining I had to sprint, then sit back, bide my time and try and go again. When you do that, you only really have one effort in you.”

“Encouragingly, I felt good on the steep climbs, I was able to move up and into position, so I’m looking forward to doing my bit and repaying the guys tomorrow and on stage four. It’s amazing, that’s what you get on this team, it doesn’t matter who you are, you all work together.”

The British National champion was led out in the final kilometre by Kwiatkowski, one of Team INEOS’ GC contenders, and a grateful Swift was quick to praise the efforts of his teammates. He beamed: “It’s amazing – that’s what you get on this team, it doesn’t matter who you are, you all work together. “We may only have had one win so far this season, but if we keep on riding the way we are, there will be many more to come.”