Swift Carbon Pro Cycling enter British Continental ranks
Former KTM team looking to thrive at Britain’s biggest races, reports Paul Knott
Swift Carbon Pro Cycling are the latest domestic team to take the step up to UCI Continental level for the 2019 season, joining Ribble Pro Cycling in making the leap.
Paul Lamb, team manager for the Yorkshire outfit, which is a reconstituted version of KTM from 2018, revealed that stepping up in 2019 was always part of the team’s plan.
“We were looking for a sponsor and we met Swift Carbon at the Cycle Show in September, as they wanted to market their bikes in the UK, and we discussed a collaboration — it was perfect timing,” Lamb said.
The partnership with the Portuguese bike firm, which previously sponsored domestic team NFTO, has coincided with the British scene being rocked by the closure of Jlt-condor and One Pro
Cycling, leaving the opportunity to snap up riders said Lamb. “There are so many riders out there looking for teams for next year, but not enough space to satisfy demand. I’ve spoken to a lot of guys who have decided just to call it day at age 21, 22, and 23. They are the future of the sport and there’s no place for them; it’s pretty sad.”
Lamb’s squad for 2019 isn’t complete just yet, with the opportunity to fill the last few spots with riders who have ridden at Pro Continental level and above. But he already has a raft of respected British riders signed up to call upon. “We’ve got Ed Laverack, who had a good ride at the Tour de Yorkshire last year, as well as Isaac Mundy, who I think was unlucky to lose his place at Madisongenesis, but their loss is our gain,” said Lamb.
Alongside signing elite British riders, Lamb is moulding a squad that has several young talents, including Julian Varley, who
SWIFT CARBON PRO CYCLING 2019 SQUAD Julian Varley Ed Laverack Isaac Mundy Tristan Robbins Stephen Bradbury George Wood Will Fox Jordan Reed Ben Hardy Andy Turner Will Bjergfelt
won the queen stage at the Ras Tailteann for the team this year. Like all domestic teams, gaining an invite to the Tour de Yorkshire and qualification for the Tour of Britain are high up the list of goals.
“I want to give these young riders who have been released by teams at a young age a platform to get back in the spotlight and move on to full pro level. I don’t want to keep riders for years and years; I want to give them the opportunity to step up to the next level,” Lamb said.