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
Related:Â
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.
Alex gets to spray some champagne about with Tom Scully and Dean Downing. Photo:Â 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.
Photo:Â 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!
Alex (right) a sprinter now too! Photo:Â Antony Edmonds
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Youth Result: Milton Keynes Youth Development Races
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU Sporting 21
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- TT Result: Knockhill Mountain Time Trial
- Youth Result: Lawford Youth Series
- TT Result: Bristol South CC Hardriders
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club TT
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- TT Result: Orwell Velo 15m TT
- TT Result: Hull Thursday RC Hard Riders 2Up
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly 22m TT
- Youth Result: SCC Youth Races
- Youth Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Crit Result: Not the Portsmouth Easter Circuits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #3
- Crit Results: Spring MK Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #3
- RR Result: NCRA Handicap RR #3
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- RR Result: Primavera Pursuit Road Race
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 8 mile TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team TT
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC 21m TT
- TT Result: Velo Club St Raphael 16.5 TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 13m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Whs Sporting 21.7m TT
- TT Result: Velotik RT 15m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs Hilly 20.2m TT
- TT Result: Hemel Hempstead CC 16m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- Team Report: Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team
- Team Report: CiCLE Classic Junior Men
- RIDER REPORTS – Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)
- GB News: Two World Titles for GB at Para Worlds
- Team News: Alba Development Road Team
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- THIS WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands
- News: RideLondon Classique