Last Saturday turned out a lot better than Alex Dowsett had dared hope. “And relax…. For now…” tweeted the World Hour record holder after Sir Bradley Wiggins had failed to beat his 10-mile competition record.
That was the icing on the cake for Dowsett, who hours earlier that afternoon had scored a one-second victory in the 26.1-kilometre time trial in the Bayern Rundfahrt stage race. It was enough to give him overall victory, the first stage race win of his career.
It was a strange reversal in fortunes with Dowsett winning a top international stage race, while the 2012 Tour de France winner was battling gusty crosswinds on the A63 dual carriageway not far from Hull.
Next round of the Wiggins versus Dowsett contest is in a couple of weeks’ time when Sir Bradley sets his sights on Dowsett’s Hour record, an ongoing rivalry that had Alex joke: “He’ll be after my girlfriend next!”
Wiggo has also entered other 10-mile time trials later in June in an attempt to lift that record from Dowsett, but if the Movistar rider makes his expected Tour de France debut he’ll be able to capitalise on that form to take back anything Wiggins takes from him.
It’s like Chris Boardman versus Graeme Obree all over again, and that can’t be a bad thing.
Robert Garbutt is editor of Cycling Weekly
Thank you for reading 10 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
-
Bradley Wiggins might not be a TV pundit for much longer: 'I just want a normal job really'Tour de France champion says that he doesn't still want to be on Eurosport in 10 years, and he thought about being a social worker
-
CW Live: Chris Froome targets return to 'top level'; UCI tightens ITT rules; Strava responds to price hike criticism; Topless protesters arrested at TDU; Tributes paid to Lieuwe Westra; Scott recalls 'cracking' bikes; Toon Aerts the PE teacher
The latest news in the world of cycling
-
Bradley Wiggins: Abuse contributed to making me a great cyclist
The Tour de France winner is part of a new NSPCC campaign to help people spot the signs of child abuse
-
Is Bradley Wiggins Rubbish on ITV's The Masked Singer? We investigate
The wheely bin character was tipped to be the Olympian by one of the judges on the Saturday night TV show
-
Bradley Wiggins backs NSPCC campaign for safer sports environments for children
Former Tour de France champion has spoken about abuse he received from a coach before
-
British Cycling offers Bradley Wiggins 'full support' after allegations of sexual grooming
The governing body has contacted Wiggins after he alleged he was sexually groomed as a 13-year-old
-
Bradley Wiggins alleges that he was sexually groomed by a coach as a 13-year-old
Former Tour de France winner says that it "impacted" him as an adult after he "buried" it
-
Alex Dowsett analyses Hour Record attempt: 'I’m confident that was everything I had'
Briton's Hour Record attempt raises over £45,000 for charity
