Alex Dowsett wins men's individual time trial gold
Gold for Alex Dowsett in Glasgow as he overturns a five second deficit on Rohan Dennis in the final kilometres
After a summer of disappointments including illness, non-selection by Movistar in the Tour de France and a hard-fought third place in the national time trial championship, Alex Dowsett beat a world-class field of time triallists in Glasgow to win gold ahead of Australian Rohan Dennis and Geraint Thomas of Wales. “The moment that I learned that I wasn’t riding the Tour was the point that I thought about converting the form that I had into the Commonwealth Games,” said Dowsett later.
The race - a testing loop which was draggy, then hilly then back into a headwind on open roads - quickly settled into a pattern as the final starters in the field got faster and faster, each rider going quicker than the previous at the first time check - Steve Cummings, Svein Tuft, Geraint Thomas, Trek’s New Zealand Trek Factory racing’s Jesse Sergent at 6.4km, then Dowsett, off second-to-last, fastest at the first split by four seconds. It was very early in the race, but it set the tone. Local and national favourite David Millar was last man off, but he was already eighth fastest at this point - 21 seconds behind Dowsett - and it didn’t get any better for the Scot who would finally finish eighth, 2-14 down.
Dowsett was effectively in a tussle with Garmin pro Dennis - another rider who hadn’t made the Tour de France team - and at the third and final checkpoint Dowsett was actually 11 seconds behind the young Australian. “I was struggling into the wind on the way back,” confessed Dennis, “my power didn’t drop, it was stable enough and although I tried to lift it, I just couldn’t, I couldn’t live with what Alex was doing in the last 10km.”
Third placed Thomas, ‘fresh’ from finishing the Tour de France on Sunday, was happy enough with his ride. “What did I do to lose my second place to Dennis after the final split? Hmm, I didn’t go fast enough I suppose,” quipped the Welshman, clearly in good spirits and anticipating a good ride in Sunday’s road race.
Dowsett was remarkably level headed in his assessment of his Commonwealth title. “It was a massive disappointment not being selected for the Tour - it still is - but this more than makes up for it for me. If I had ridden the Tour I might have been in the same position as (Luke) Durbridge who told me he has been feeling quite tired after the Tour (the Orica Aussie finished the Tour on Sunday and finished ninth behind Dowsett).
It was his first one and it would have been my first one so maybe I would have been feeling it more than G (Thomas) so, really, there are two ways of looking at my non-selection, it allowed me to focus more on this.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
I’m a fat cyclist; these are the top 3 misconceptions people have about bigger riders and why they’re wrong
After my recent 'We're fat cyclists' reel went viral, I realized I had hit a nerve
By Marley Blonsky Published
-
8 pro mechanic set-up hacks inspired by the Spring Classics
Riding the rough stuff? Glen Whittington, our resident pro mechanic, ramps up speed and comfort with hacks from the cobbled classics
By Glen Whittington Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'Losing the plot in public - it's mental' - Geraint Thomas on Patrick Lefevere's criticism of Julian Alaphilippe
Ineos Grenadiers rider says he feels sorry for his peers who are criticised in public by the Soudal Quick-Step boss
By Adam Becket Published
-
Geraint Thomas to race Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in 2024
Welshman will return to the Giro in May before heading to the French Grand Tour as part of the Ineos Grenadiers squad
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
A complete history of Ineos Grenadiers kits, from Adidas to Gobik, via Rapha
The British team switch to Gobik in 2024 after two years with Bioracer
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Opinion: Professional cyclists deserve a life too
Perhaps 12 nights out at the end of the season shouldn't be too bad a thing, really
By Adam Becket Published
-
18-year-old American becomes Ineos Grenadiers first signing for 2024
AJ August will turn pro with British team next season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Geraint Thomas signs two-year contract extension with Ineos Grenadiers, possibly his last
Welsh Tour de France winner will remain with British team until he is 39
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers: 'We hope Geraint Thomas does the Tour de France another couple of times'
The Welshman and his team have opened the door to his Tour return
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published