THE SHORT ANSWER
Dowsett built an entire World Tour career on the discipline most riders skip — the race of truth. He held the Hour Record in 2015, and he's clear that pacing it is a skill most amateurs can't replicate: the brain wants to surge, the body needs flat power for the full effort. His other recurring point is where amateurs blow it — the first five kilometres. Going out too hard from a standing start wrecks the whole ride before the engine's even settled. And like Bigham, he'll tell you aerodynamics is the cheapest speed amateurs ignore: position and a skinsuit beat power upgrades on flat or rolling terrain for almost everyone. Time trialling rewards the most prepared rider on the line, not the most gifted.
WHO IS ALEX DOWSETT?
Alex Dowsett is the rare WorldTour rider whose entire career was built on aerodynamics, time-trialling, and methodical preparation rather than raw climbing wattage. The 2015 Hour Record (52.937km), six British TT titles, and a Giro d'Italia stage win came from being the most prepared rider on the start line, not the most genetically gifted. He has also been one of cycling's most public haemophilia campaigners, founding Little Bleeders to support kids with bleeding disorders into sport. His post-retirement coaching and content work — including Astana's aero programme — make him a current voice on what amateurs get wrong about position, equipment, and pacing.
DOWSETT ON TIME TRIALLING
Dowsett’s key positions on time trialling.
- Pacing the Hour Record is a discipline most amateurs cannot replicate — the brain wants to surge, the body needs absolutely flat power for sixty minutes.
- Time-trial preparation is a long-arc project — a Hour Record bike, position, and pacing model takes 18+ months to build, not a training block.
- Most amateur TT mistakes happen in the first 5km — going out too hard from a standing start blows the entire effort before the engine has settled.
IN DOWSETT’S OWN WORDS
Verbatim from Alex Dowsett’s appearances on the podcast.
“I have a little on my Garin screen I have a little piece of tape where the power should be and it says 465 Watts because that's the most I ever averaged for a TT just in Mark a pen and it kind of makes me smile during the TT so and then just not knowing I ride it on feel.”
HEAR IT ON THE PODCAST
Episodes where Alex Dowsett covers time trialling and related ground.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
What does Alex Dowsett say about time trialling?
Dowsett built an entire World Tour career on the discipline most riders skip — the race of truth. He held the Hour Record in 2015, and he's clear that pacing it is a skill most amateurs can't replicate: the brain wants to surge, the body needs flat power for the full effort. His other recurring point is where amateurs blow it — the first five kilometres. Going out too hard from a standing start wrecks the whole ride before the engine's even settled. And like Bigham, he'll tell you aerodynamics is the cheapest speed amateurs ignore: position and a skinsuit beat power upgrades on flat or rolling terrain for almost everyone. Time trialling rewards the most prepared rider on the line, not the most gifted.
What is Dowsett's main point on time trialling?
Pacing the Hour Record is a discipline most amateurs cannot replicate — the brain wants to surge, the body needs absolutely flat power for sixty minutes.
Which Roadman Cycling Podcast episodes cover Alex Dowsett on time trialling?
Dowsett discusses time trialling in these episodes: "13 Years of Pro Riding: What Amateurs Don't Know | Dowsett", "Alex Dowsett Opens Up About Benji & Lanterne Rouge | RDMN Clips".