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Team Sky’s Ben Swift out of intensive care after last week’s training crashBen Swift (picture credit Team Sky).PNG

Team Sky’s Ben Swift out of intensive care after last week’s training crash

31-year-old ruptured spleen in crash at Tenerife training camp – unclear as yet how it will affect his Spring campaign
by Simon_MacMichael
Sun, Feb 24, 2019 20:46
0

Team Sky’s Ben Swift is out of intensive care following the crash on Tenefire last week that resulted in him being hospitalised with a ruptured spleen and other injuries.

Writing on Twitter yesterday, Swift, who rejoined the British outfit this season after two years at UAE Team Emirates, said: “Making good improvements. Got transferred from ICU last night. Got a TV and a room with a view.

“Had some water for the first time and took a few little steps to the shower. Facial wounds are better than expected.”

The crash happened last Wednesday when Swift clipped a rock while out on a training ride with team-mate and friend Geraint Thomas.

The 31-year-old was taken to the Hospital Universitario de Canarias that afternoon, with Team Sky issuing an update on his condition later that day.

Team doctor Inigo Sarriegui said at the time: “Swifty suffered quite a heavy crash whilst out training. Thankfully though, he didn’t lose consciousness and was aware of the incident afterwards.

“We will continue to monitor him over the coming days, but 24 hours on from the crash he is already feeling better."

Yesterday, Swift was well enough to watch the Wales vs England Guinness 6 Nations match on TV –hopefully, Welshman and huge rugby fan Thomas was gentle with the teasing when his prediction of the result probed wide of the mark.

 

 

There is no indication as yet as to when Swift will return to training, although the injury is a big setback to a spring campaign that most likely have included him being one of Team Sky’s leading hopes for Milan-San Remo.

He has finished on the podium twice of the Italian early season Monument twice, both times in Team Sky’s colours – coming third in 2014, and second two years later.

Ben Swift
Team Sky
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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