Alex Dowsett in the wind tunnel as Hour Record attempt nears

Hour Record hope Alex Dowsett fine-tunes his bike, clothing and position at the Drag2Zero wind tunnel ahead of attempt on May 2

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Alex Dowsett spent Monday in a wind tunnel honing his aerodynamic position ahead of his attempt on the Hour Record in Manchester on Saturday, May 2.

With less than two weeks to go until his crack at the gruelling record, Movistar professional Dowsett visited the Drag2Zero wind tunnel in Brackley, Northamptonshire, which is part of the Mercedes AMG Petronas headquarters.

The purpose of the session was to fine-tune Dowsett’s riding position, Canyon Speedmax bike set-up and clothing before he bids to beat the current Hour Record of 52.491 kilometres set in Switzerland on February 8 by Australian Rohan Dennis (BMC).

Dowsett has now returned home to Essex to continues training before heading to Manchester on Monday, April 27. His previously-scheduled Hour Record attempt in February was postponed after the 26 year old fractured his collarbone in a training accident in mid-January.

With few racing hours under his belt in 2015 due to the injury, Dowsett signalled his return to form at the Circuit de la Sarthe stage race in France at the beginning of April by taking a close second place behind team-mate Adriano Malori in the event’s time trial.

>>> Hour Record: The tangled history of an iconic feat

Alex Dowsett, Hour Record preparations

Alex Dowsett in the Drag2Zero wind tunnel

Alex Dowsett, Hour Record preparations

Dowsett hopes to add his name to the list of Hour Record holders on May 2

Alex Dowsett, Hour Record preparations

After careful measurements, minute adjustments are made to make Dowsett’s position as aerodynamic as possible

Alex Dowsett, Hour Record preparations

Dowsett’s skinsuit is made by British firm Endura

Alex Dowsett, Hour Record preparations

Every aspect of Dowsett’s performance in the wind tunnel is measured and assessed

Alex Dowsett, Hour Record preparations

Selection of Dowsett’s Movistar Catlike aero helmets

Alex Dowsett, Hour Record preparations

Specially adapted Canyon Speedmax bike

Alex Dowsett talks about his Hour Record attempt to Cycling Weekly