Swift proud of local link

Ben Swift: Mossley's Olympic hope

OLYMPIC Games-bound Ben Swift has never forgotten his roots and the formative years spent as a member of the Mossley Cycling Racing Team.

The 20-year-old, who will be pedalling for glory for Great Britain in the road race in Beijing, believes the time he spent with MCRT helped shape his career.

Ben, a member of the British Cycling Federation’s Academy, spent two years with MCRT from the age of 11, even though he is from Sheffield.

He said: “I was travelling over a lot to Manchester Velodrome and I found out that Mossley Cycling Racing Team had a good set up for kids.

“And at that age it is about enjoyment and having fun which I had, and the club played a big part in my development.”

Indeed, Ben has always remained in contact and MCRT officials honoured him by inviting him to become president of their club.

Ben continued: “I have always kept close links because it is such a good club, especially as it still does such a lot for kids.

“And it was wonderful to be asked to become president of the club. Whenever my schedule permits, I try to get along to club nights, presentations and I occasionally go out with them for a ride.”

There was one earlier this year when Ben took along Ian Stannard and Adam Blyth, two other British Olympic Development Squad riders, to a club run along with his parents Sandy and Mark who were on their tandem.

MCRT’s Dave Chadderton said: “It was a special day for our current young riders who were able to cycle with three of their heroes.

“And the great thing is that Ben has never forgotten his MCRT roots and visits us whenever he can.”

Ben is unlikely to be a medal winner in Beijing where his job will primarily be as a domestique to assist British No 1 Steve Cummings in his pursuit of glory.

“Steve has the potential to do well and we will all be behind him 100-per-cent, though you can never predict what might happen on the day,” he continued.

Ben was one of three Academy cyclists from the squad of nine to be selected for Beijing and he says selection was a bonus as his main focus is qualifying for 2012.

But after a successful season, Ben was selected as he said: “I had always wanted to be selected for Beijing but when it came it was more of a hopeful surprise.

“I have been improving each year and have had a good year apart from breaking my collar bone in Los Angeles in January when riding home from a track session.

“That kept me out for 15 weeks but since I returned to racing things have gone well.”

Ironically Ben was riding with Oldham-based Chris Newton at the time of the accident, and Chris, too, would later break his collarbone to disrupt his Olympic Games preparations.

Ben, who is based in Italy from March to October and at Manchester Velodrome for the remainder of the year, is looking forward to being one of the first British competitors in the Olympics with the road race scheduled for the day after the opening ceremony.

The race is 245km in length and comprises 80km from Beijing’s Forbidden City to the Great Wall and then seven laps of a hilly circuit which is expected to challenge the riders.

Ben’s only disappointment is that he won’t be able to savour the Olympic experience as two days after his event he heads back to prepare for a number of big road races in Italy.