HAVING linked up with his new teammates for the first time, Alex Dowsett says he's been made to feel right at home at Movistar.
The Great Baddow-based cyclist announced his switch from Team Sky to the Spanish outfit two weeks ago.
And although his contract with the British side doesn't officially run out until January 1 he's been given special dispensation to travel out to Pamplona where his new outfit is based.
"It's a pretty common thing when you move pro teams," he told the Chronicle. "There's lots to do, you've get the medical, photos and videos done and there are various meetings.
"Considering I'm an outsider everyone's been very nice to me and I've really been welcomed in to the team."
At the time of signing the 24-year-old admitted he doesn't speak a word of Spanish but he's ready to learn the lingo.
"I've got to," he said, "I feel really guilty that everyone's speaking Spanish and Italian and are apologising for their English – it's just not right and it's been difficult as the only English rider."
But the move to a European team doesn't mean a permanent move to Europe for the two-time British National Time Trial Champion.
"No," he said, "I'll be riding in a different jersey but that's about it. I'll still be doing a lot of training in Essex. All my mates think I'm moving to Spain but I'm not."
That said, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist will still have to train regularly abroad in order to work on his hill climbing. "The Danbury mountain doesn't quite cut it," he joked, "so, yeah, I've got to find somewhere. Perhaps somewhere with nicer weather."
Although his race programme for next year is yet to be the Maldon-born racer confirmed he is looking to make his debut at the end of January or the start of February.
"I know there's the Tour of Down Under in January but I'm not sure if I'll be quite ready for that," he said.
After a well-earned holiday to Florida the rider returns to the saddle for training from November 24 ahead of his final race for Team Sky in Manchester in December.
ALEX Dowsett's agent who worked on his move is Skylet Andrew. He's the man who engineered Sol Campbell's controversial move from Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal in 2001.
