Emotional Ben Swift reflects on career after guard of honour at Lloyds Tour of Britain

Emotional Ben Swift reflects on career after guard of honour at Lloyds Tour of Britain Swift started the last stage of his farewell tour on British roads with a guard of honour. View Image Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 06/09/2026 - Cycling - UCI ProSeries - 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Men - Stage 5: Earlston to Earlston (156.1km) - Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling Team) wearing the points jersey Ben Swift admitted to feeling emotional as he received a guard of honour from the peloton before his final British ride. Under leaden skies, the sort of weather the locals in the Scottish Borders call dreich, Swift started the last stage of his farewell tour. ‌ The 38-year-old has ridden through the boom years of British road cycling and is the last active rider from what was then Sky Procycling's first roster in 2010. He'll formally call time after races in Italy and France but admitted this one felt like closure. ‌ "I really didn't expect that. Having all the guys line up at the start was something pretty special," he said. "It was an emotional moment for me and my family and it's the end of what's been a great journey. Someone told me this was my 96th stage in this race, so I didn't quite make a century, but it's all been really special. We spend so much time racing abroad that I always love coming back and racing on home roads at the Tour of Britain. The crowds are always great and it makes you really excited for the Tour de France starting next year in Scotland." ‌ Two-time national road race champion Swift, who represented Team GB at the 2008 Olympics, won the King of the Mountains title in this race 19 years ago and claimed his only stage victory 16 years ago in Torquay. His palmarès includes wins across Europe and a world champion's rainbow jersey in the velodrome from 2012. Connor Swift has never raced without his cousin and Netcompany INEOS team-mate nearby and, while it's not been a perfect week, he enjoyed every moment of his weekend ride across the Yorkshire Dales on the race's Queen Stage. "I felt very proud to be in that guard of honour for Ben because I know what much it would have meant to him," he said. "I'm not sure whether this is our last race together but it's obviously our last time here at home. He should be so proud of everything he's achieved and to be finishing such an amazing career like this – it shows what everyone thinks of him. It's a shame that I won't be racing with him anymore. It's just nice to reflect on all he's achieved, but it's a bit sad at the same time." ‌ Ben Wiggins underlined why a name from cycling's past has a big future. Wiggins, son of Tour de France winner and five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley, mixed it with the best to earn a top-ten finish at the Lloyds Tour of Britain. The 21-year-old got himself in an eight-man breakaway on the final stage around the Scottish Borders, going pedal to pedal with a host of Grand Tour winners and looking every bit the part. He was never bullied, but with the group bossed by five members of the same team, the odds were always against him winning a stage in a race won by his dad 13 years ago. "I was all-in to win the stage but maybe a bit of youth and inexperience came into it," said Wiggins. "It was great to be in the mix with all those big names. I had a moment when the group formed and I was like, 'This is wicked.' It was a mint day out. I didn't expect that to happen at all. Article continues below 'I wouldn't say I learned loads about myself from it. I know I've got the engine to compete with the best — I genuinely feel that. But when those boys are going flat-out, especially on the climbs, it takes some doing. We actually had a completely different plan for me being in the breakaway. It unfolded very differently from what I expected, but I took my chance. I'm currently without a job for next year as well, so hopefully that helps my case." Belgian Tim Wellens took the winner's jersey, with Britain's Lewis Askey 42 seconds behind after a tough day in blustery conditions on roads that will host next year's Tour de France Grand Départ. British Cycling is inspiring riders and fans across the country through the Lloyds Tour of Britain, bringing the sport to life and celebrating the joy of cycling through Britain's biggest free-to-spectate cycling event. Visit britishcycling.org.uk