Talkingshop: Alex Dowsett – GT & Crit Rider!

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From a Grand Tour Stage win to almost winning the London Nocturne again, Alex Dowsett showed he’d lost little form after a break on Saturday

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Interview Laura trott after her win in the Women’s
Results & Photos from a big night in London

from Gordon Wiseman – In the Norglide Elite Criterium for men, Movistar Pro Cycling’s Alex Dowsett was pinning on a race number for the first time since his stage winning debut in this year’s Giro and at the same time, was returning to the London Nocturne for the first time since he lapped the entire field on his own when going on to win the race in 2011.

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Alex gets to spray some champagne about with Tom Scully and Dean Downing. Photo: Antony Edmonds

Joined this time by his team-mate Benat Intxausti, the Movistar Giro stage winning duo were up against the cream of the British based opposition, the majority of whom are at peak crit fitness moving into the final week of this year’s Tour Series.

But that didn’t stop the Essex born rider from putting in a determined ride that, like Laura Trott earlier in the evening, had the huge crowd calling out his name during every lap.

Dowsett was held up slightly when he had to pit to change bikes following a front wheel puncture but from that point onwards, despite racing on his training frame that was more set up to time trial spec, he seemed to more than have the measure of the home based pro’s.

VeloUK – What was it like racing back in England for the first time since returning from Italy?
Alex Dowsett – It’s great. Racing in front of what is effectively my home crowd, the support was phenomenal. My last Nocturne was fantastic and in this year’s race everyone seemed to know me and they were calling out my name. Hearing everyone call out my name and everyone knowing who you are, it’s quite something.

Velo – Last time you won you lapped the entire field on your own. Was the racing harder this year?
AD – Oh yes, for sure. Last time I just got away on my own and got into my own rhythm. This time they weren’t letting me go anywhere. And rightly so. I had to give it absolutely everything tonight to try to get away.

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Photo: Antony Edmonds

Velo – In the last corner you came out in fourth place. What happened then?

AD – It came down to the sprint. I thought ‘let’s go for it, see what happens’. I thought I’d just hold position but the others seemed to get caught up on the right hand side so I went left. Dean Downing hit the barriers. They got tangled up and I threw it at the line as hard as I could. I know they called it as a photo but I knew I’d got second to Tom (Scully, Team Raleigh). There was no shadow of a doubt in my mind where I’d finished.

If someone told me beforehand that it was going to come down to a sprint and I was going to get second, I think I would have believed them as much as someone telling me before I went to Italy I was going to win a stage of the Giro!

Velo – What are your plans now?
AD – Tonight? A few beers with some friends! But seriously I’ve got the Maldon 25 on Tuesday night and then I fly out to the Route de Sud on Wednesday, back to the day job I guess!

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Alex (right) a sprinter now too! Photo: Antony Edmonds

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