
With impending inclement weather, organisers rejigged the competition to hold a major first stage on Monday, and run the rest of the competition yesterday in the mountains of Valise near the Italian border.
The 27-year-old Yeti-Fox Factory Team rider was 1.91sec down on leader Tracy Moseley (GBR) after Monday’s stage.
Swift moved into the lead on stage three after Colombian Florencia Espineira Herreros and Moseley dropped time.
The Kiwi was the fastest rider in three of the remaining six stages and never relinquished the lead.
It was far from plain sailing for Swift with a major flat tyre scare.
She damaged the rear rim in Monday’s stage, and despite a fix, she arrived at the top of the gondola for yesterday’s start with a flat tyre.
"I pumped it up with a CO₂ canister but on the first corner it blew out. I did the whole run with a flat rear and still managed to win by four and a-half seconds," Swift said.
"I got to the pits and the boys swapped it all out and put a tube in. The rim was still damaged but I carried on with a tube in the rear for the rest of the race and survived.
"It hasn’t sunk in yet and it’s pretty emotional. Last year I tried racing a few e-bike races and did the world champs, where I was fifth. I knew I could do better.
"I got a smaller bike and did a lot of training with it and this has shown that the hard work has paid off. This means a lot to me."

The enduro competition is similar to a motor rally, riders negotiating timed downhill stages in the high mountains along with over 20km of liaison riding between stages.
Swift has enjoyed four top-10 finishes in the UCI mountain biking world series but the victory yesterday was by far her most significant achievement in the sport.
Swift won by 8.43sec from Herreros and 9.75sec to Moseley in third.
It proved the highlight for the Kiwi enduro contingent.
There were high hopes for Christchurch rider Charles Murray after his third place in the overall world series for elite men last week.
The Specialised Gravity Team rider was unable to find his usual rhythm and had to be content with seventh place, 38sec behind winner Rich Rude jun, of the United States, who edged Slawomir Lukasik, of Poland, for the title.
Swift and Murray were the best of the Kiwi enduro contingent, talented junior rider Cooper Millwood, runner-up in the world series, suffering a significant injury in Monday’s single stage.
Best of the other Kiwis racing was Iley Nunns, of Wellington, 12th in the junior women.
The world championships comprise several mountain biking disciplines including downhill, enduro, cross-country, marathon and pump.
The action now moves to the start of the downhill competition in nearby Champery, as well as e-racing and pump track competitions. — Allied Media