Ben Swift had his first taste of riding in a major championship event as he braved the searing heat to take part in the 250km Men's Road Race.

The 20-year-old pulled into the pits on the challenging circuit with one lap to go, but showed amazing stamina and focus as the last Brit pedalling in the race.

Proud mum Sandy and the rest of the Swift family met Ben as he arrived in Manchester on Monday.

An exhausted but happy Ben was treated to a slap up meal before he jetted off to Italy for further training.

Sandy said the whole family gathered round the TV in the early hours of Saturday morning to watch the race.

"It was so emotional watching him," she said.

"Your heart goes out for him because you know it's really want he wants to do."

"People have been texting and emailing us ever since to say what a credit he is to the family," she added.

"It's been a great journey watching him develop over the years and he has worked so hard to get a pro contract."

In an interview with British Cycling, Ben said the plan for him was to look after team leader Steve Cummings to enhance his chances.

The team comprised Roger Hammond, Steve Cummings, Ben Swift and Jonny Bellis who, at 19 years of age, was the youngest man in the race.

"The race was good and I had quite good legs from the start," he said. "It just got faster and faster each time up the climb but it was a little disappointing to come so close to finishing the race on such a hard circuit."

Weather conditions were a big factor, judging by the comments from many of the established riders who did not make it to the finishing line.

Ben, who has had a great year with several Italian wins and many top 10 placings, is no stranger to riding in scorching heat, but said the Chinese humidity was the worst hurdle.

"It was hard to breathe at times but once you got used to it and got into a rhythm you could handle it," he said.

"They had a cold shower halfway up the climb and that really helped, along with a bottle of water over your head with each lap."

With the achievements of the Beijing race now firmly under his belt, Ben said the biggest goal of the year is still to come in the Under 23s World Road Championships in Varese, Italy.

He said "The World Championships is about 60-80km shorter than the Olympic road race, and I was feeling really good at that point, so it's all good."

And he added the Olympic experience taught him invaluable tricks which he can take to London 2012 should he go.

"The experience of riding alongside some of the riders was great because normally you only see them on TV and so on, and riding at the side of them."