Ben Swift is keeping an open mind this year as his ambitions and Team Sky’s GC objectives move further apart.
The 28-year-old kicked off his 2016 season at the Tour Down Under with an eye on stage success, but his best finish was second behind Simon Gerrans on stage four.
Swift — one of only five riders to have ridden for Sky since the team’s debut 2010 campaign — says he is “happy at the minute” with the team, but that he has observed a divergence in direction.
“In Sky we don’t really have that [lead-out train] anymore. The first couple of years we were all about that, but, quite rightly so, the team has become so dominant in stage racing that that’s very much second now,” Swift said.
No more Sky train
Sky does foster sprinters in Swift, Giro d’Italia stage winner Elia Viviani and new signing Danny Van Poppel, but has become the stage race team of reference with three Tour de France victories among others in recent years. Where that leaves Swift beyond 2016 remains to be seen.
“I’m on my second year and there was an option with a third,” he said of his existing contract. “I need to speak with the team and see where we are at with that and what my options are.”
Nonethless, the team granted the versatile sprinter permission to stay at his South Africa winter base instead of travelling to the normally compulsory December team training camp in Majorca.
“I’ve been there [South Africa] for four years now so I know I can train pretty well there, instead of adding more travel days,” he said. “It’s perfect for what I need — six-seven kilometre climbs, it’s windy, bit of flat, good bit of sun, which you don’t get in Yorkshire or the Isle of Man
in November.”
Swift has identified the Tour de Yorkshire as an early-season objective after crashing out of the opening stage and injuring his shoulder last year.
“Generally, I just want to be consistent, have a good start and get some confidence back.
“Milan-San Remo will definitely be back on the cards again but the cobbled Classics not so much. For me, it’s going back to the weeklong stage races that are lumpy,” he added.
“I enjoy the big bunch sprints but they’re not really my forte. It’s much better when there are 30-40 guys left.”
-
-
Want a new gravel bike but can't find stock? Stayer Cycles could have the answer
British custom frame builder teams up with Ingrid components to offer its Groadinger gravel bikes for pre-order
By Luke Friend •
-
'There was a lot of things in the run-up to Tokyo that wasn't ideal': Laura Kenny opens up on team pursuit disappointment at the Olympics
Kenny's two medals at Tokyo were her first as a mother, and she plans on returning to the Olympic scene in Paris
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Meet Magnus Sheffield: Ineos Grenadiers' teenage American recruit who's not raced a bike much, yet intends on winning in his own fastidious way
A former skier, Sheffield has signed a three-year contract with the British WorldTour team
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
'From the moment I left the team, I had in my head that one day I would come back': Elia Viviani returns to Ineos Grenadiers after four years away
The Italian sprinter has racked up a long list of wins and achievements since leaving the British team at the end of 2017
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Brit Ben Turner joins Ineos Grenadiers for 2022
The young British rider has come through a similar path to Tom Pidcock in cyclocross
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Omar Fraile signs two-year deal with Ineos Grenadiers
The Spaniard is the team's second signing of four rider announcements today
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
Ineos Grenadiers announce signing of German under 23 national road race champion
Kim Heiduk has signed for Ineos Grenadiers for two years
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
Geraint Thomas set to sign new deal with Ineos Grenadiers despite 'tough' negotiations
The Welshman's current contract runs out at the end of 2021
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
Tim Kerrison set to leave Ineos Grenadiers amidst management change
The British WorldTour team parts ways with head coach behind Wiggins, Froome and Thomas' Grand Tour wins
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Sir Dave Brailsford to leave Ineos Grenadiers as Rod Ellingworth to take over team, according to report
Could there be a shake-up at the British WorldTour squad?
By Alex Ballinger •
