ALEX DOWSETT has achieved something most professional cyclists can only dream of by winning a Grand Tour stage.
The 24-year-old stunned everyone, including himself, as he beat the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Cadel Evans to win Saturday's time trial at the Giro d'Italia. As the Chelsmford man said: "Things like this aren't supposed to happen to me".
Dowsett had been brought into the Movistar line-up because of his ability against the clock and, having already put in a leading performance to help the team set the second quickest time in last weekend's team time trial, he had been allowed to hold back a little in the subsequent stages so he could perform at this best in the 55.5km individual time trial between Gabicce Mare and Saltara.
But in setting his stage winning time of 1hr 16mins 27secs, an average speed just a fraction over 43kpm, he took some noticeable scalps including those of London 2012 time trial gold medallist Wiggins, former Tour de France and road racing World Champion Evans, and the new leader of this year's Giro, Italian favourite Vincenzo Nibali.
"I went out super easy and rode into the stage," Dowsett said. "I upped my wattage on the climbs but then kicked back over the top of each climb before building the power again on the descents and then attacking the flat sections. It was really well balanced but most importantly, it worked."
Dowsett also explained how the team had responded to his win. "They are really very, very happy. They've been very good to me in allowing me to hold back a bit in the first week of the race and now I've won the stage I feel I've repaid their faith in me. We had champagne to celebrate my win, they've just all been so great.
"The other guys have also been really made up for me. Bradley came into the changing tent to find me, shook my hand and said 'well done'. Others who I've grown up with like Taylor Phinney and Jesse Sergent, who I rode with in 2010 at Trek-Livestrong, have also been over the moon for me."
In the run up to the Giro, Dowsett knew he was in good shape, but the significance of winning a stage in one of cycling's biggest races just eight days into his Grand Tour career is certainly not lost on him.
"It massive and puts me out there as a rider. It shows I can win stages at the very highest level and takes me up another step as a rider. I was just a neo-Grand Tour rider. I'm now a Grand Tour stage winner and part of a quite a small club."
But there is an even greater significance that is very personal to Dowsett. And that relates to his being able to win a stage of a Grand Tour despite suffering from haemophilia, a condition that rarely sees the sufferer reaching such sporting heights as Dowsett has now achieved.
"My win is continuing to prove to young haemophiliacs and their parents that they don't have to be held back because of their condition. Advances in medication now means that they don't have to be wrapped up in cotton wool. And I certainly hope that my win proves that they don't have to remain inactive."
