Harry Sweeny, a young Australian cyclist, had his debut as a pro rider interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sweeny was looking forward to his first Flemish spring season when he contracted the virus, forcing him to take a break from competition. Despite the setbacks, Sweeny has shown resilience and is determined to make the most of his opportunities.
In an interview, Sweeny reflects on his experience at the UAE Tour, his initial race as a professional cyclist: “It was really nice to turn pro and the UAE Tour was an ideal race to get started and to find my fade a bit before going into some hard races on the calendar… Being part of the lead-out train and Caleb finishing it off at the end was just awesome.”
Sweeny emphasizes that the transition from racing at the U23 level to the WorldTour was not as overwhelming for him compared to other riders: “Actually, I didn’t really notice a big change compared to racing at U23 level, because in previous years, I’ve raced a lot of .1 and .Pro races, so it wasn’t a stand-out step up to the WorldTour as some of the other guys from the Development Team who turned pro might have experienced.”
Unfortunately, Sweeny’s progress was hindered when he contracted COVID-19 just as he was preparing for his first Flemish Classics. Reflecting on this setback, he admits that it was mentally challenging: “It was a massive shame that I got Covid because I was just sort of starting to hit my stride before the Classics… it was really quite difficult to deal with in the beginning… it was really difficult to deal with it mentally.”
Despite the disappointment, Sweeny also sees the positive side of his time off due to the virus. He had the opportunity to spend more time in Nice, where he now resides, and settle into his new life as a professional cyclist: “Despite the disappointment of getting Covid, I think it was also a blessing in disguise… It allowed me to spend more time in Nice, which otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to do… I really feel at ease and happy now, which is really nice.”
Sweeny recently returned to competition at the Tro Bro Leon, a race known for its gravel roads. Although he didn’t achieve the results he had hoped for, he remains positive about his form and looks forward to upcoming races: “The plan for me was to help Philippe Gilbert and John Degenkolb, which went quite well… I’m happy with where my form is at and I’m looking forward to the next races”, concludes Sweeny.
Overall, Sweeny is determined to overcome setbacks and continue pursuing his cycling dreams. With a positive attitude and growing experience, he shows promise as a young rider in the world of professional cycling.
