CHELMSFORD duo Ian Stannard and Alex Dowsett enjoyed a successful week in the Tour of Britain.
Both Stannard (Sky Procycling) and Dowsett (Movistar) were in the thick of the action as the Tour came to a close on the streets of London, helping their respective teams pick up the major race honours.
Following his fifth place in the time trial Great Baddow's Dowsett was fifth overall after three stages. But selflessly put his own aims behind him and instead concentrated on helping his team-mate Angel Madrazo in his quest for the King of the Mountains jersey.
In fact, so successful was the diminutive Spaniard that, come the 88km city centre race around Whitehall that closed the race – a stage won by the Manx Missile Mark Cavendish – Dowsett was also able to lead Madrazo to win the mid-stage Sprints competition as well.
His unselfishness meant he came in 65th overall.
Chelmsford-born Stannard knew that his role in his home Tour would be to help eventual race winner Sir Bradley Wiggins chase overall honours but that didn't stop him from putting in a storming ride in the third stage time trial that only saw him beaten – by just 36 seconds – by Wiggins who won time trial Olympic gold at last year's London Games.
The whole Tour featured appalling weather that almost veered towards epic proportions in the early stages and huge roadside crowds during every stage.
Despite being on 'Wiggins duty', the 26-year-old was prominent throughout the race, shepherding his team leader through the crowds but also managing to finish seventh to enhance his growing status in the World peloton.
"I've got good form right now but to be honest I think I've been this strong all year," Stannard added. "But whilst in the past I've ridden completely for others such as Froomey [Chris Froome] at the Tour de France, in the Tour of Britain I've also been able to show what I can do as well."
