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TOUR OF QATAR: ALEX DOWSETT’S DAILY DIARY

MONDAY 8^TH FEBRUARY: STAGE 2

It went ok, was a really weird race.  The first hour and a half was headwind a break of 2 went away built up a lead of 22mins!! we were barely pedalling, my heart rate didn’t go over 100bpm for this leg.  Then we turned into a crosswind and it went crazy, I was really well positioned, nicely tucked away from the wind and well up the front.  One thing led to another though and I got forced off the road into the dirt, got back on and back in ok and carried on, was seeming to cope ok so far but then hit a cateye. No joke the, road is littered with them and I'd hit a fair few but this one managed to blowout my front tub. Waited aged for the team car as it was right at the back of the convoy, got going again but really struggled to make my way back up by this time the bunch had split in 2 then into 3. I eventually got into the 3rd group and stayed there.  Downside is I know I could’ve finished further up but this race is as much about positioning and avoiding stuff thats going to affect you i.e. the cateye as it is about form,. Upside is I had a reasonable 100miles today so should be good for tomorrow. I ate too much before and was bringing it up when I had to push after the puncture so note for tomorrow, its difficult getting back into racing knowing what to do in terms of food/drink/food on the bike etc.  Taylor (Phinney) finished one group ahead, maybe 2-3mins, 2 teammates in my group and 4 in the group behind. Learnt a lot! tomorrow maybe all crosswinds though so it going to be tough. Break did stay away I think but just. Sky had a terrible day, Arvesen broke his collarbone before the race started, Wiggins, Downing and Nordhaug were in my group, Flecha in the group behind. Hagen punctured.  I’m reasonably happy, nothing happened today but I’m not in bad shape for tomorrow.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-qatar-2-1/stage-2/results 

TUES 9^TH FEBRUARY: STAGE 3

Hey,
Today went pretty well, got in the early break of just 3 riders after a couple of k, they went then I jumped across, the bunch held us at about 10-15s for 5km. I did most of the work keeping us away, then they let us go and the gap went up to a min. Thought that was it but there was meant to be a 95k section of crosswind so the bunch got nervous and belted it into the roundabout before this crosswind section for good positioning we got caught then the there was no crosswind so the bunch sat up which was a shame as we should've been out all day.  Either way I had a lot of reporters after me after the stage and Axel was pleased.  I just sat in for the rest of the race. It was an easy day, bunch sprint which I didn’t get involved with, Jesse and I tried to help Justin out but we were getting pushed around by the bigger team so much it wasn’t worth it. I’m feeling pretty good, was going good in the break and in the bunch, apparently there’s not meant to be a lot of wind tomorrow either so could be another easy day, will try and get in the break though, it’s much more fun.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-qatar-2-1/stage-3/results

 Hey, pretty uneventful day today, light winds again so followed a routine format: Break went from the gun, was crazy, 3 guys went then O'grady got to the front and put his hands up to stop everyone as if to say “I’ve decided this is the break” everyone now respects that and lets it go,  which is exactly what happened.  We had Jesse in it so another good show for the team.  Vacansoleil rode on the front all day to keep the break at a safe distance so pace was just decent all day.  Was nuts at times, these guys fight so hard to be at the front for each roundabout and turn  so I got on the front and rode in the wind for him for 5km from 20-15k to go till the biggeer teams took over.  Then just finished in the bunch, 63rd I think.
Feeling good still.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-qatar-2-1/stage-4/results

Not such a good day today. Started off in a crosswind so was very fast and a break just managed to get itself away right at the end of this 25k section. I didn’t get out of my top 2 gears for 25k and the top speed on the flat was 72Kph! We were pretty much over 55Kph the whole time.  I had a few goes at getting away but wasn't to be. In the bunch for the majority of the race. It was run at a decent pace then ramped up at the end, with a crosswind. I helped Taylor out a bit but it was so hectic there wasn’t a lot I could do.  25k to go in a crosswind the bunch split. It’s annoying ‘cos I was too far back by about 5 places and missed it. Was then caught in between the split with 5 other guys and rode flat out to try and get back on. We got caught by the group behind and I was gassed, really gave too much when I was in no mans land. Should have known better here really.  Went out the back of the second group but got into the cars, recovered and made my way back into the second group and finished there.  Another big learning day.  It’s annoying though at the finish. I'm not going to sprint, I feel like I get in the way of the bigger teams who are sprinting so I have no reason to be there. I'd rather just stay out of trouble, yet today staying out of trouble resulted in me getting into all sorts of trouble and it looks bad when I’m in the second group, yet I feel I might have been capable of being in the front group.  Oh well, will see what tomorrow brings.

FRIDAY 12^TH FEBRUARY: STAGE 6 (FINAL STAGE)

Hey Dave
Understand Dad’s been sending you the updates I’ve been sending him, if I'd known I’d have put a bit more time into it and ironed out spelling and grammar mistakes, it is literally throwing it all down on the page whilst I’m still buzzing (or not depending on how the day went) from the stage and pressing send without re reading!  But it seems to be working so here is todays final stage report. It went well, I got 22nd in the bunch sprint on a chaotic seven lap finishing circuit with crosswinds and all sorts.  Ended up 70th overall (Cancellara and Pozzato finished behind me, which will be my claim to fame for evermore!).
 
Today went well, was worried as there was a bit more wind than previous days.  Almost made the break but did a typical me and hesitated that made me sit in no-man’s land for a while and then miss it completely. One of our Ben Kings (Aussie) was in it though so that was good, they stayed away till inside a few km to go so I’d have been gutted had I missed it.  We came into the Doha town centre bit on the coast and did 7 laps of that, was pretty much a motorway width and up and down between 2 roundabouts and one in between if you know what I mean, not technical at all as the roundabouts were huuge.  Anyways I stayed really well positioned throughout. Three of the boys got tailed off on the circuits in the crosswinds, then there was a split right at the end.  I stayed up there right to the finish, the difference between today’s finish and previous days was it was a lot faster, we were hitting 70kph regularly on the straights.  At the finish I just kept the pressure on and was going around a lot of people sitting up from leadouts or not bothering, Taylor included and I wound up 22nd which is pretty good, I thought I may have snuck inside the top 20 if I was lucky but wasn’t to be! Either way it’s opened up my 2010 CV! Also finished 70th overall, just the 13minutes down but with names like Cancellara, Wiggins and Pozzato behind me which again will go on the CV! As a note the whole 700km of the race was run at 44kph, around 27-28mph in English.
 
I've got a day of travelling/rest/an easy spin tomorrow before the Tour of Oman kicks off with a twilight 60km (6pm start) crit, 4 road stages and finishes with a 20km TT on road bikes, normal wheels and normal helmets which will be brutal!
 
Cheers Dave, Saw the site today, looks really professional!
Alex

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-qatar-2-1/stage-6/results

TOUR OF OMAN

MONDAY15th  FEBRUARY: STAGE 2

Alex gets in the break of the day........

 http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/1st-tour-of-oman-2-1/stage-2/results

 http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/442840/dowsett-punching-well-above-weight-in-second-professional-race.html

http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20100215-Alex-Dowsett-Making-His-Mark-0 

TUESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY: STAGE 3

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/1st-tour-of-oman-2-1/stage-3/results

WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY: STAGE 4

 The hardest stage of the race & Alex is in the right part of the bunch when the heads of state decide to give Sky a kicking when Boassen Hagen stops for a pee....

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/1st-tour-of-oman-2-1/stage-4/results

THURSDAY 18th FEBRUARY: STAGE 5

He came home safely tucked in the bunch. Tomorrow should be interesting - a short time trial - something he is particularly strong at......

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/1st-tour-of-oman-2-1/stage-5/results

FRIDAY 19TH FEBRUARY: STAGE 6

It's far easier to write "short time trial" than it is to ride one amongst the very best riders in the world:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/1st-tour-of-oman-2-1/stage-6/results

So ends an absolutely superb two week induction into the top end of the sport. Well done to Alex from all your friends in the Maldon.