Movistar Team Englishman becomes Commonwealth Games champion in Glasgow after tight TT contest against Dennis (AUS) and Thomas (WAL), bounces back from dismay of Delhi silver
Getting back to top form after such a big blow as missing out on Tour de France selection due to illness, when the Grande Boucle departs from your home country, and taking out all fury and quality on your legs to achieve another big success. That was the show of quality by Alex Dowsett, Movistar Team rider competing on Thursday for England, in the 40-kilometer Commonwealth Games individual time trial in Glasgow.
Dowsett started off strong and clocked the fastest times in both intermediates at 6km -4″ better than Sergent (NZL)- and 17km, where Aussie Rohan Dennis (7″ down) and Welshman Geraint Thomas already stood out as his main rivals. Both overtook him in the two following references, but as well in the 26km mark as in the 34km one, the Essex-based rider was just five seconds behind virtual gold. Fortunately, and in a marvellous recovery in the final mix of descents and technical sections, Alex crossed the line in 47’42” (more than 48kph average) to win the race by 9″ over Dennis.
It’s Dowsett’s eighth win as pro -arguably the most important after his three British TT titles and the 2013 Giro time trial in Saltara- and his fourth after joining a Movistar Team immensely proud with the Englishman’s success. July is over for the Blues with 26 victories on their season tally so far.
REACTION | Alex Dowsett: “Nobody wanted that more than I did after the disappointment of not making it into the Tour de France selection and the silver in Delhi in 2010. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been able to pull something really big out of the bag when I’m really angry. I spent the whole month fairly angry, not at anyone in particular, just angry at the situation. I had a point to prove to myself. I know I was worthy of that Tour place, I was unlucky in when I got ill. Commonwealth Games was a big target for me anyway but it suddenly became a huge target.
“I was getting time checks the whole way around. I think I was three seconds up at the first, seven seconds up at the second but then I was down at the third check point. I thought it was all over to be honest and I was struggling over the last 10km, but obviously everyone was struggling. Gladly everyone was struggling a little more than I was at the end.
“I can’t describe just how happy I am. It goes a lot deeper than simply winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, it’s like a personal victory for me. It’s a thank you. I’ve been working a lot harder this year and it’s testament to my whole support team, family and coaches, Movistar as well have been massively supportive.“
Cover picture (c): Andy Gerrie – Twitter