Alex Dowsett (Movistar) – Tour of Britain stage six
Alex Dowsett (Movistar) – Tour of Britain stage six
Despite missing out on selection for the Tour de France, Alex Dowsett bounced back with a vengeance at the end of the year to bag Commonwealth Games gold against the clock in Glasgow.
And the Essex-born ace was not done there, carrying his strong form into the Tour of Britain where a desperately unlucky double puncture denied him a shot at the leader’s jersey early in the race.
Dowsett refused to give up, however, and with fellow Brit Tom Stewart (Madison-Genesis) in tow, alongside Matthias Brandle (IAM Cycling), Dowswett stormed into the race lead after a phenomenal stage-long break.
The power put out by the three was phenomenal, with Stewart’s team manager Roger Hammond keeping them well-informed of the race situation from the team car.
Leaving the peloton with simply no answer to their stunning effort, all three pulled hard on the front, with the two time trial specialists – Dowsett and Brandle, now the hour record holder – putting in some huge shifts.
Brandle was rewarded with the stage but Dowsett took the yellow jersey – which he wore for one stage – and Stewart massively enhanced his growing reputation to make it a great day for the two Brits.