The 21-year-old Briton held off the challenge of Team Katusha colleague Filippo Pozzato of Italy and overall leader Boasson Hagen, of Team Columbia-HTC, to win a sprint to the line in Yeovil in Somerset after the 159.7 kilometre seventh stage from Hatherleigh in Devon.
 

Boasson Hagen, the Norwegian who will ride for Britain's Team Sky in 2010, had won four successive stages in Gretna Green, Blackpool, Stoke and Bideford, and now holds a 23-second lead ahead of tomorrow's final stage, a 92.5km criterium in London.

Swift's win was the first British victory of the 2009 Tour.

However, it looks unlikely that the Team Sky-bound duo Russell Downing, currently riding for CandiTV-Marshall's Pasta, or Geraint Thomas, competing for Barloworld, who are fifth and sixth respectively, will topple Boasson Hagen on the final day.
 

Swift has been linked with a move to Team Sky despite being under contract with the Russian squad Team Katusha in 2010.

The Rotherham rider was third in the second stage of May's Giro d'Italia behind Mark Cavendish.

Swift said: "With the crowds out it’s fantastic, especially going past the schools. 

"Every village that you go through is just lined out on both sides, it’s really good.
 

"Pozzato was looking after me all day, then he was going to try and get away on the last climb and was looking after me on the finish. 

"Steve [Cummings] did a really good job for G [Geraint Thomas] and then Pozzato took it over coming into the corners, I think there was a bit of a crash in the first corner, but we went round it really quick and opened up a bit of a gap.
 

"Then into the second one we went a bit quick and skidded down the barriers and it just opened up a bit more of a gap and I just came around Pozzato with 150 to go. 

"Pozzato kept on for second so it made it a bit more special."

Boasson Hagen said: "I hope that I can keep it [the lead] tomorrow. 

"The team has been working very hard all week, so I’m really satisfied with four stage wins and the Yellow jersey so far."


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