Ben Swift has raced nine Grand Tours, so is no novice to the difficulty of 21-day racing. However, this year’s Giro d’Italia has been one of the toughest the Yorkshireman has ever raced.
Asked if it’s the hardest, the Ineos rider said: “In terms of weather conditions, yes. It has been a bit of a strange race – we were waiting for it to kick off. It was a bit of a slow burn. The final week was hard.”
Over the first fortnight of the race, days with rain were much more common than days without. Flooding was such in the north of Italy that the Emilia Romagna F1 GP was cancelled. And in all this, a bike race carried on.
“It’s been pretty wet, but I’m from the UK so it’s not so bad,” Swift said. “The weather conditions affect people quite differently, and fortunately I’ve done quite well in it. It’s all about the mood and the atmosphere, and it’s quite depressing before you go out. It’s the same for everyone, and you’ve just got to get on with it.
This story is from the June 01, 2023 edition of Cycling Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 01, 2023 edition of Cycling Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Claud Butler Criterium
A classic British brand ridden by beginners and Olympians alike
Dr Hutch
At what point does a bold show of strength become brazen showboating? The Doc ponders the etiquette of the long solo break
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT...CBD
From reducing pain to promoting relaxation and sleep, myriad are the claims made for cannabidiol but do they stack up? Rob Kemp finds out
Van Rysel D900
Andy Turner discovers whether Decathlon's high-spec, low-price smart trainer can compete with the likes of Wahoo, Tacx and Elite
What prep does my bike need for summer?
Pro bike mechanic Glen Whittington shares his tips for the successful de-hibernation of your bike
2024 GIRO D'ITALIA
Attention turns to Italy and 21 days of Grand Tour action
Pogačar's dominance at the Giro could be dull
While I may have been a little young to understand the full romance of the Tour de France during the Armstrong era, I never understood the sentiment that it was boring just because of Lance's dominance.
Team GB's Paris Olympics track bike launched
BC reveals the bike that it hopes will power riders to medals in Paris this summer
Romandie victory marks Ineos return to stage race success
Carlos Rodríguez wins British team's first WorldTour stage race since 2022, writes Adam Becket
Is pro racing getting more dangerous?
There are many factors that contribute to the perceived greater risks. One that does not get any attention is the greater importance of UCI points and the need to constantly collect them to avoid relegation.