Feature: Tunnel Vision for Alex Dowsett

The ‘Ten Minutes of Hell’ time trial proved to be just that for anyone trying to beat the course and Alex Dowsett

With each and every competitor giving their all, but only nine managing to break the ten minute barrrier, it was top female time triallist Julia Shaw ripping through the tunnel in 9.59 to win the fastest female prize – £1,000 and a Swift TT frame set. Then, British Time Trial Champion from Team Sky, rider Alex Dowsett, with a staggering finishing time of 8.28 lifted the fastest male prize – £1,000 and Swift TT frame; confirming his superiority with a lightening 4.08 mid point split to also lift the fastest mid point prize – £500 and £3,000 Limited Edition TAG Heuer watch.

The race gave Alex Dowsett a rare chance to wear the champion’s jersey in this unique time trial that ran through Merseyside’s Queensway Tunnel which links the Wirral with Liverpool. Not that his status as time trial champion meant that Dowsett was holding back. “It wasn’t just because it was such a unique event, being run through the tunnel, but the size of the prize fund meant that I knew everyone would be giving it their best and that meant I knew I really had to perform” Dowsett told Gordon Wiseman afterwards.

“I’m glad I managed to cut that short, it hurt enough in the time it took me” Alex later quipped. Although it was very much a case of down one side of the tunnel and back again – all on closed roads – it was a much harder event than Alex anticipated. “It was hillier than I expected and because of that very fast, I was clocked at just under 70kph and my figures show I was really going well”.

Alex returns to Team Sky duties on the road this weekend as he’ll also be riding in the same Belgian double header as Ian Stannard, Het Volk and Kuurne-Brussells-Kuurne. “I was originally only down to ride at Kuurne but plans have now changed. This will be my first time in such big one day races. I’ve ridden on the cobbles before but not at such a level. It’ll be good to see how I can perform but most importantly, to play a role in working for the team”.

RESULTS
1. Alex Dowsett Team Sky 08:28 (Halfway split) 04:08
2. Ryan Mullen Planet X 09:12 (Halfway split) 04:20
3. James Ratcliffe Fred Williams Cycles 09:13 (Halfway split) 04:30
4. Andrew Wilkinson Port Sunlight Wheelers 09:16 (Halfway split) 04:33
5. Ken Buckley Reading Cycling Club 09:20 (Halfway split) 04:35
6. Liam Stones Team Corley Cycles Blue 09:28 (Halfway split) 04:41
7. James Coleman Witham Wheelers CC 09:35 (Halfway split) 04:45
8. Stuart Wells Scunthorpe Poly CC 09:59 (Halfway split) 04:53
9. Julia Shaw Drag2Zero 09:59 (Halfway split) 04:56
10. Roy Sumner Port Sunlight Wheelers 10:03 (Halfway split) 05:01
11. Simon Hodgkinson Club Goldtec 10:10 (Halfway split) 04:58
12. Ian Cox North Lancs Road Club 10:13 (Halfway split) 04:55
13. Simon Smythe Cycling Weekly 10:14 (Halfway split) 05:03
14. Rob Adlard Team Wheel Guru 10:20 (Halfway split) 05:00
15. Rebecca Slack 10:31 (Halfway split) 05:09
16. Dan Ruygrok Mersey Tri 10:35 (Halfway split) 05:14
17. Dominic Smith We Love Mountains Race Team 10:41 (Halfway split) 05:05
18. Graham Thompson Anfield BC 10:52 (Halfway split) 05:14
19. Zack Williamson Mossley CRT 10:54 (Halfway split) 05:12
20. Neil Buckley Port Sunlight Wheelers 10:57 (Halfway split) 05:17
21. Alasdair Wright 11:11 (Halfway split) 05:27
22. Neil O’Brien Manchester Tri Club 11:11 (Halfway split) 05:29
23. Ian Fagan 11:12 (Halfway split) 05:29
24. Gavin Marsden Vita Race Team 11:22 (Halfway split) 05:28
25. Jill Wilkinson Port Sunlight Wheelers 11:32 (Halfway split) 05:43
26. Mark Donnelly 11:32 (Halfway split) 05:42
27. Alan Evans Mersey Tri 11:34 (Halfway split) 05:41
28. Sean Fairhurst Vita Race Team 11:37 (Halfway split) 05:44
29. Anthony Breen Vita Race Team 11:44 (Halfway split) 05:46
30. Dave Zelaskowski Vita Race Team 11:44 (Halfway split) 05:46
31. Sam Mansfield Buxton CC 11:46 (Halfway split) 05:46
32. James Mackie Vita Race Team 12:01 (Halfway split) 05:56
33. Nicola Soden Maxgear RT 12:04 (Halfway split) 06:03
34. Ross James Vita Race Team 12:07 (Halfway split) 05:47
35. Dominique Searle 12:07 (Halfway split) 06:04
36. Alex Caws Vita Cycles 12:12 (Halfway split) 06:03
37. Mark Williams Birkenhead Victoria CC 12:12 (Halfway split) 05:45
38. Mark Scatchard Chevin Cycles 12:14 (Halfway split) 05:56
39. Vicki Wade 12:17 (Halfway split) 06:05
40. Chris White Vita Cycles 12:19 (Halfway split) 06:00
41. Melissa Bury Maxgear RT 12:21 (Halfway split) 06:11
42. Fancis White Champion Systems / Maxgear 12:22 (Halfway split) 06:10
43. David Lindseay Vita Cycles 12:25 (Halfway split) 06:07
44. Dave Connor 12:26 (Halfway split) 05:50
45. Jane Saunders Vita Cycles 12:31 (Halfway split) 06:10
46. Paul Rowley Vita Cycles 12:34 (Halfway split) 06:03
47. Dan Williams Vita Race Team 12:34 (Halfway split) 06:12
48. Jonathan Fairhurst Vita Cycles 12:35 (Halfway split) 06:12
49. Dave Hughes Club Rosio Mona 12:42 (Halfway split) 06:05
50. Matthew Sweeney 12:54 (Halfway split) 06:04
51. Carla Fagan Vita Cycles 13:00 (Halfway split) 06:16
52. Dan Granton Vita Cycles 13:03 (Halfway split) 06:22
53. Robert Lawton Vita Cycles 13:14 (Halfway split) 06:28
54. Nick Fletcher 13:36 (Halfway split) 06:38
55. James Thwaite 13:36 (Halfway split) 06:40
56. David Pye 13:36 (Halfway split) 06:32
57. Andrew Davies 13:49 (Halfway split) 06:44
58. Sean Dalby 14:14 (Halfway split) 06:20
59. Alan Shuttleworth Altrincham Road Club 14:23 (Halfway split) 06:40
60. Dave Badley Vita Cycles 14:40 (Halfway split) 07:13