Anston’s Swift takes Mallorca podium places for Team Sky

Ben Swift got off to a flying start in his bid to impress Team Sky’s Tour de France selectors.

The Anston professional cyclist was in action at the Mallorca Challenge this week, and took two podium finishes in an excellent display of sprinting.

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He rounded off his week with third place on the final day of racing at the Trofeo Alcudia, Wednesday’s 162km ride.

That followed a second place on day two of the race series, his first on the road since surgery on a shoulder injury that has hindered him over the last few years.

Wednesday’s success came after a fraught finale, as Team Sky tried to put 26-year-old Swift in a position to secure victory.

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“The guys stuck to the plan and did exactly what we talked about,” said Team Sky’s Dan Frost.

“They did a good job to set up Swifty and make the race hard for the other sprinters, but a couple of those other sprinters are really good at climbing.”

“Both Kiry (Vasil Kiryienka) and Brad (Wiggins) did a great job pulling on the flat part and then Eddy did his work in the sprint.”

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“Swifty was where he should be but maybe he opened a touch too early today.”

“It’s always a balancing act in the sprint but I think it was going to be tough to beat Gianni Meersman today. “

Beijing Olympian Swift, who rides for Team Sky in the Tour of Oman starting next Tuesday, was upbeat as he commented via his Twitter account: “Nice to be back on the podium.”

“Shame about the incident in the final though.”

“Team Sky road great together on a windy and nervous day.”

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