As the new cycling season begins, Lotto Soudal is excited to welcome several newcomers, including Harry Sweeny, a 22-year-old rider from Queensland, Australia. Sweeny reflects on the challenges of leaving behind his home country to pursue his cycling dreams in Europe.
“Leaving Australia behind to pursue your cycling dream sure is tough,” says Sweeny. “It is definitely something that European pros never have to experience, leaving behind your entire family, friends, girlfriend…Sometimes, it is quite difficult and it is something you never get used to. However, it is always in the back of your mind that you are in Europe for a clear purpose.”
The upcoming season, Sweeny will be living and training in Nice, France. He shares his excitement about the ideal training conditions and the resemblance to Australia. “With the beach nearby and the mountains within reach, it just feels perfect. The sun is almost always there, so the training conditions are ideal. Everything’s looking nice for the season ahead,” he says.
Sweeny is not new to Lotto Soudal, having been part of the U23 team last year. He impressed the team by winning Il Piccolo Lombardia, the U23 version of the Tour of Lombardy.
Regarding the transition to the WorldTeam, Sweeny states, “The transition into the WorldTeam has actually been quite smooth. I already knew a lot of the staff members and the equipment is also the same, which makes it easier to integrate with the team. It almost feels like I haven’t really switched teams and to be amongst several guys from the Lotto Soudal U23 team is also really nice.”
Sweeny hopes to become a versatile rider in the future. He aims to contribute to Caleb Ewan’s lead-out but also wants to explore his own abilities. “I think I might do well at the Classics; I think that races like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix will really suit me. But I hope to discover some other races as well, just to know where my ceiling is,” he says.
Starting as a triathlete, Sweeny will embark on his first race as a professional cyclist in the UAE Tour, the first WorldTour race of the season.
Sweeny reflects on his journey to becoming a professional cyclist, saying, “My road to the pros has actually been quite funny. I started off as a triathlete and my first road season was in 2015, where I went straight from triathlon to join the cycling program at my local institute of sports. Since then, it’s really been a case of adding on to my performances each year and building myself into the rider I am now today. I feel like I am ready to be a pro now.”
