Just hours before the start of the Tour of Britain, which kicks off today from Lincoln, Ben Swift announced that he will hang up his bike at the end of the season. "The Tour of Britain is my home race, it was my first race as a Pro and it will be wonderful to race it feeling the affection of the crowd," said the Netcompany Ineos rider.

A world and European track champion, the thirty-eight-year-old athlete from Yorkshire will close his career after eighteen seasons and around fifteen road victories. Not to mention the two podiums he achieved at Milan–Sanremo: third in 2014 behind Kristoff and Cancellara and second in 2016, beaten only by Démare.

"It's been eighteen fantastic years. I never even dreamed I would be able to have such a long and successful career. I grew up wanting to be a cyclist, I never imagined doing anything else. I still love the bike, racing and training, I still feel capable of performing at the highest levels. I've simply decided to stop on my own terms," Swift said in a video published on his social media channels.

A stagiaire in 2007 with Barloworld, a British-based team but with an Italian soul, Swift then defended the colors of Team Sky and for two years those of UAE before returning to Ineos, of which he is one of the "flag bearers".

Very attached to Italy, Ben explained that after the Tour of Britain he will race several events in our country. "Returning to Italy is a bit like closing a circle. I'm very attached to Tuscany and to Quarrata, my cycling journey started right there. I spent my U23 years and my first professional seasons there," said Swift, who was part of the Anglo-Tuscan "Academy" from which Cavendish and many other champions of his generation also emerged.

Ben Swift plans to pin his last race number on his back during the Paris–Tours on October 11th. Then he will step down from the saddle, closing the curtain on a great cycling career.