Ben Swift in intensive care after crash while training with Geraint Thomas in Tenerife

Ben Swift is in intensive care having suffered an injury to his spleen after a crash while training in Tenerife. Team Sky say he was riding with Geraint Thomas on Wednesday morning when he clipped a rock during a descent.

Swift was one of Team Sky’s founder members in 2010 and returned in October after two seasons with UAE Team Emirates.

The 31-year-old sustained multiple contusions in the crash and an injury to the spleen that caused bleeding.

The team said that a procedure was performed on Wednesday afternoon to reduce the risks of the bleeding starting again and Swift will remain in close observation for the next few days.

Late yesterday, Swift tweeted: “Thanks for the well wishes. I am still in intensive care at the moment. But hopefully move onto a normal ward tomorrow. They have stopped the bleed in the spleen. But just need to keep monitoring it. Along with that I have facial wounds and road rash.”

Team Sky Doctor Inigo Sarriegui said: “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."