Interview with Connor Swift
The 2018 British road race champion Connor Swift discusses this year’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain, the passion of UK crowds, and how he is keeping his new national jersey immaculately white
Cycling Plus: After winning the national road race in Northumberland, aged just 22, you join a list of champions that includes Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins. Do you now feel more confident racing at this year’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain? Connor Swift: Yeah, it feels pretty good. After crossing the line I saw the swanny (soigneur) from our team Madison-Genesis and he was over the moon, then I sat down and the emotions just came over me. My girlfriend ran over and gave me a big hug. All my teammates and my mum and dad came over. I got that trophy and had a glance at all the names on it and there are some pretty good guys on there. CP: Which race strategies did you get right, which you can now take into the Tour of Britain? CS: Getting across to the main group of the day was the big factor. When I got the opportunity to go back to the team car, get a bottle, or skip a turn here and there, I did. I stayed pretty aero and saved my energy. I also ate every half an hour. I started on bars, then gels, then caffeine gels and I went through eight to 10 bottles. It was a warm day so I also took a bottle to pour over my head to cool down. It all paid off and I felt really good at the end. CP: What are your memories from your first Tour of Britain last year? CS: I got in the breakaway on the first day, which was amazing for my first stage of the Tour of Britain. I went for the points for the first KOM and I got them, which was cool.
It’s such a good race. You go through villages and pass schools and there are so many crowds. You watch the Grand Tours and see the big crowds, so to have a UK race with similar walls of crowds makes you feel great. Last year I looked around and (2012 world road race champion) Philippe Gilbert was on one side. You see these guys on TV and then they are in the peloton next to you. They are human beings just like me, but it is still pretty bonkers. CP: What do you think of this year’s route? CS: Personally, I think the team time trial (stage five) takes something away from the domestic and continental teams in the UK. If any domestic rider is up there on the GC, it will be hard to stay there as the WorldTour teams will smash it. The good news is this could be a year when a few breaks stay away, so the stages will be more hotly contested. CP: What is the biggest difference when you face WorldTour teams at the Tour of Britain? CS: The WorldTour teams decide when they’ve had enough of people attacking, so you know within a few minutes if the road will get shut down. In the Tour of Britain there will be attacks from the start, and the riding will get progressively faster all day. It is much more controlled and the speed and the finale are more competitive. CP: Are you looking forward to wearing the national jersey in front of so many fans? CS: Yeah, I bought some Daz and Vanish Oxi Action to keep the jersey white. I don’t want my national jerseys going grey!
YOU WATCH THE GRAND TOURS AND SEE THE BIG CROWDS, SO TO HAVE A UK RACE WITH SIMILAR WALLS OF CROWDS MAKES YOU FEEL GREAT Connor Swift