Adam Blythe still finding form despite strong Qatar start

New Orica-GreenEdge signing Adam Blythe placed seventh on stage two of the 2015 Tour of Qatar

Adam Blythe, Revolution 2015
(Image credit: Andy Jones)

Despite a strong start to the race, Adam Blythe says he is using the Tour of Qatar to help him build form for the rest of 2015.

Only a late mechanical problem has stopped Blythe from finishing in the small lead groups in the race’s two stages, and he placed seventh yesterday afternoon in the windswept Al Khor Corniche having made the cut in every notable split.

The new Orica-GreenEdge recruit has form in the desert: he placed fourth overall in Qatar in 2013, and 10th a year prior to that.

>>> Adam Blythe joins Orica-GreenEdge

“The main reason I came here and [the Tour of] Oman is to get more in my legs each race and build-up for the next few months,” said the 25-year-old after stage two.

“I’m annoyed with the sprint [yesterday], I wanted to do more but I didn’t have anything in the legs. It was a case of sitting down and carrying on.

Adam Blythe and Bradley Wiggins on stage one of the 2015 Tour of Qatar

Adam Blythe and Bradley Wiggins on stage one of the 2015 Tour of Qatar
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

“Then again, I haven’t done much sprint work this winter – I’ve mainly done base work, as I didn’t race many days last year. I’ve not really done 187km of racing at 50kph for a long time, either.”

Conditions are forecast to be windy for the remaining days of the race, and although Friday’s final stage along Doha’s Corniche traditionally ends in a bunch gallop, Blythe didn’t tip himself for an even more notable result than yesterday’s.

>>> Adam Blythe makes debut for Orica-GreenEdge at Revolution in Manchester

“Doing a sprint like that [yesterday] from a small group is easier than a big bunch sprint when there are lead-outs going,” he added.

“If I rolled in seventh here, I may struggle in the big sprints. It’s something to work on, I guess.”

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Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.