Harry Sweeny  -  Facepeeters

Who is Harry Sweeny?

Lotto-Soudal

Australian

23 years old

Winner Il Piccolo Lombardia 2020

Made his debut in de the Tour de France with a third place in stage 12

Lotto-Soudal opted for the youth card. Many young talents were given the opportunity to take the step to the World Tour level, such as the Belgian riders Brent van Moer, Viktor Verschaeve and Xandres Vervloesem. The young Australian Harry Sweeny also got his chance with the Belgian team and he immediately grabbed it. In his debut year, he was immediately allowed to go to the Tour de France, where he even attempted to win a stage and attacked under the Eiffel Tower. We got to know the young Australian who dreams of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen.

You used to do triathlons. How did you get into cycling?

I started off in triathlon and I was a triathlete up until 2014 and my first cycling was in 2015. It was because I had an injury from running so I decided to do more cycling and it sort of took off.

You’ve won Il Piccolo Lombardia in 2020. Did you get a lot of offers from big teams after that big win? And why did you go to Lotto-Soudal?

I actually had already signed with Lotto-Soudal before Piccolo Lombardia, so it was really nice in a way that I didn’t have to stress about negotiating contracts with other teams. It was more a surprise for the team that I won Piccolo Lombardia. That I had already signed was more like a bonus for the team and it really just confirms the fact that I deserved to be a pro.

In your first professional year you were immediately allowed to ride the Tour de France. When did you know you could participate? And is this a dream come true?

Getting to race the Tour in my first year is absolutely incredible. I didn't really expect to be racing up until a point where Caleb Ewan and I were joking about it out on a training ride that I should try and make the Tour de France team. 

My first race back after having Covid was the Tro Bro Leon and then I did Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour Of Belgium. Then I had 10 days easy and the Tour started so I really had a quite a heavy program beforehand to make sure that I’ll be able to manage in the Tour.

Lotto-Soudal started the Tour de France with 1 clear goal: winning sprints with Caleb Ewan. How difficult was it to turn the switch after Caleb's crash?

For me personally it wasn’t as hard to switch goals with trying to perform myself in the Tour because I came from the Dauphine where we didn’t have a clear leader in the team so I had my own opportunity there. When Caleb unfortunately crashed out I really had to jump at the opportunity to do so but it was a huge change for the team.

In stage 12 from this Tour you became third. Was there a moment when you thought: I win today?

 I was hoping on the final climb that I would be able to drop them and ride away which sounds a bit silly but that was the moment and the point in the stage that I picked out that I wanted to attack and try and make the race so I gave it my best shot.

How would you evaluate your first Tour de France? What lessons did you learn from this for the future? Is the most important lesson that the wheel of Jan Bakelants isn't the best place to be? 

I would evaluate my first Tour de France as very special. I wouldn’t say that there was any massive lesson I learned for myself but more just confirmation that I have what it takes to perform at the highest level. And of course being in the wheel of Jan Bakelants in the grupetto definitely isn’t a good idea. (Laughing)

“The Tour was the confirmation that I have what it takes to perform at the highest level”