British time trial champion Alex Dowsett says that he ‘couldn’t have done much more’ to improve on his ride in the elite men’s individual time trial at the 2016 UCI Road World Championships in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday.

Dowsett rode to 12th place in the event for Great Britain, coming home two minutes and 11 seconds adrift of winner and new world champion Tony Martin (Germany) on the flat 40km course.

The 28-year-old from Essex said that he had been careful in the heat, which has proved to be an issue for some riders in Qatar.

“It was warm, as expected,” Dowsett said to British Cycling after the event.

“It was all right for me. There was always that concern after seeing the scary moment in the women’s team time trial and some of the others wondering what was going to happen towards the end [of the time trial].”

>>> Tony Martin dominates to win record-equalling fourth World Championships time trial title

“I think I managed myself well and I’m not sure I could have done a lot more.”

Dowsett finished just ten seconds behind one of the pre-race favourites, Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands), who produced a below-expectations ride to finish 11th.

Dowsett had joked before the event “another day, another TT in a desert”.

Britain’s other rider in the race was Steve Cummings, who placed 25th and 2-49 behind Martin.

Martin took his career fourth time trial title, having won in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Defending champion Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus) was second with Jonathan Castroviejo (Spain) in third.