Ellington

For half his life, UW sophomore Benny Swedberg dedicated his time to improving as a cyclist. Two years ago, he decided to aim for the professionals.

And now, he’s almost there.

“I think that Benny could be in any race,” said Chris McGovern, his coach. “He has the potential to be a professional … racing in Europe, racing domestically ­— whatever he wants to do. He’s really that strong.”

Swedberg was 9 years old when he first started cycling. He first became involved in sports through his parents — with swimming — but he soon grew tired of it.

“The cycling just came next,” he said.

His family picked up a heavy old road bike at Goodwill, and that’s when the racing began.

“I just got my butt kicked the first race I did,” he said.

But his first race didn’t stop him. One year later, he began racing with a junior team called Rad Racing that he stayed with for 8 years. When he was 18, his last year on the team, he traveled to Europe and Canada to compete on the USA Cycling Junior National Team. That meant missing his last four weeks of high school.

“I didn’t walk [at graduation], didn’t do any of that prom stuff,” Swedberg said. “But hanging out in Europe was pretty cool.”

While he said he feels like he missed out on some of his high-school experiences, such as participating in high-school sports, he values the opportunities racing has given him instead. Swedberg traveled alone even at age 13, which he said helped him gain independence.

“That part really helped me grow up fast,” he said. “Coming to college wasn’t that big a deal ­— kind of been through the motions already.”

Part of competing on the USA Junior National competition was the Junior Nations Cup in Quebec, Canada, which he won. He said that was what really gave him his start, leading him to the team he races on today as he finishes his degree.

“Racing for the USA team, that was very big,” he said. “I think, without that, I wouldn’t be on the team I am now. That was kind of the turning point.”

Swedberg now races with the California Giant, an amateur cycling team based in California, and cycles about 25 hours every week. He took spring quarter off last year to go train with his teammates, and he said it’s likely he will withdraw for one or two years after this year to pursue his racing career.

“With the opportunity, it just makes sense,” Swedberg said. “School will be there, but an opportunity like this is not going to last forever.”

He said his family has been supportive of his decisions all the way, and that his decision to pursue an education is final — he would return, he said, regardless of how long he’ll be gone.

“My mom definitely misses me, but she understands what I’m doing; she gets the picture,” he said.

Despite the high pressure, Swedberg said he doesn’t have a problem with his nerves. With one exception: right before the national championships in Rhode Island.

He was standing at the starting line, and his coach approached him, worried that he looked pale and asked him if he was all right.

“I went over, puked outside of the road and came back, got back on my bike and got in the race,” he said with a smile. “But no, my nerves have never really been a problem.”

What Swedberg really struggles with, he said, are the hills. He is a sprinter, a well-built cyclist who performs best on flat roads. Climbers have smaller builds and have a greater talent for hills.

“He’s a little better at stretching than me, and I’m a little better at climbing than him,” said Chris Stastny, one of Swedberg’s teammates on the California Giant.

Swedberg said when cyclists first start out their careers, they often begin with small jobs that don’t pay or pay approximately $10,000 a year, but once they hit a certain level, they make an average of approximately $100,000 a year.

Swedberg has no problem with the starting salary, and he said it’s common in the cycling community to find support when one first starts trying to launch a professional career. Last summer in California, his coach’s friends allowed him to stay at the family’s home free of rent, and it became a second home to him. He continues to keep in touch with the family while he stays in Seattle.

“I think all cyclists accept that if they’re going to go that path, they might be living on couches,” he said. “I think that’s kind of part of the cycling scene. People understand that, and they’re very willing to help.”

Stastny said jokingly that what he misses the most about Swedberg when he’s not around is his hair.

“He has to grow it out for it to get real crazy,” he said. “I don’t know if he’ll bring it back this year again.”

Swedberg said the team dynamic is important in order to be successful as a racer. Teammates have to be willing to “sacrifice themselves” — to be at the front of the line and go “all out” as they block the wind — in order to allow the last racer to earn the win for the team.

“You get recognition for individualistic results, but without a team, you’re not going to get those results,” Stastny said. “Teamwork is probably the most important thing. And to have good teamwork, you have to have a good bond with your teammates. There’s gotta be chemistry.”

While Swedberg is often used at the end of the race when the finish needs a sprinter, what he enjoys the most is being the sacrifice.

“I have a lot of fun leading out other people,” he said. “You don’t have to save anything, and if he ends up winning, it’s very gratifying.”

Stastny’s view of his teammate is nothing but positive.

“He’s a fun guy to have around,” Stastny said, “and when pressure’s on, he delivers.”

Reach Features Editor Hayat Norimine at features@dailyuw.com.