Ben Swift admits the prospect of riding in the Tour de Yorkshire will somewhat make up for missing out on a ride at the Tour de France in his home county.
The Rotherham native was left out of Team Sky’s squad for the three week race last July, which generated millions of pounds for the surrounding area.
The 27-year-old, who finished third in the 2014 Milan-San Remo, believes the new three-day race will be another success with the British public.
Swift told the Sheffield Telegraph: “It was disappointing not to make the cut for the Tour de France especially as it was going through roads I trained and grew up on.
“I had mixed feelings watching the Tour de France on TV - I was tired after a long season so it was nice to sit at home, but it was also hard to watch in the knowledge that I was missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“All this makes up for that a bit. It is a follow-on from how successful cycling has become in Britain and with the level it is coming in at it is just going to be a hit straight away.”
The Tour de Yorkshire departs Bridlington on May 1, with stage finishes in Scarborough, York and Leeds.
