Phil Chats with Former Pro Cyclist, Alex Dowsett

Alex Dowsett is a retired British professional cyclist who rode for Great Britain and a number of UCI World Tour teams during his 13-year career at the top of world cycling. Alongside being a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, a former World Hour Record holder, winner of two stages at the Giro d’Italia and six-time National Time Trial Champion, Alex is the only elite professional sportsman to have competed with the condition haemophilia.

Born in Chelmsford, raised in Cock Clarks, educated at KEGS and currently residing in Great Baddow, Alex qualifies as a proper local sporting hero.

Phil: Hello Alex, thank you for taking the time to chat to Over the Edge. I remember following your career from the early days when your performances and emerging talent were regularly reported on the back pages of The Essex Chronicle. What a career it’s been, congratulations.

Tell us a bit about the early days at Maldon & District Cycling Club. What age did you start competing and how soon was your talent and potential noticed? 

Alex: From a young age my parents recognised that I was very competitive and eager to find something I could excel at. I was a member of Chelmsford Swimming Club and I tried other sports including dinghy racing - unsuccessfully. I was introduced to cycling and became a regular at the Maldon 10-mile time trial events and I have very fond memories of it because of just how friendly and low-key it was; I’d liken it to the Park Run vibe. I was consistently doing well and it quickly became apparent that I had a real talent for cycling. I qualified for the National Under 17 Championships at 14, duly won it and my time was faster than the winner of an older age group. At school (KEGS), due to my haemophilia, I was unable to participate in contact sports but a teacher, Mr Bevan, was a competitive cyclist and recognising my potential he offered great support to me and my parents to give me every opportunity. He was also there later to offer reassurance to my parents when it became clear that I would leave school and, instead of university, I would pursue my dream of becoming a professional athlete. 

Phil: You were diagnosed with haemophilia at 18 months. How did that affect your development, participation in sport and you becoming a competitive cyclist?

Alex: It probably sounds strange, but for a number of reasons I’m sure I wouldn’t have become a professional cyclist had it not been for my haemophilia. Let me explain. I have incredibly loving supportive parents and they were committed to giving me an active life – safely - so when participation in some sports was a firm NO they were determined to find what I could do instead. I tried so many sports that I simply wouldn’t have done without the condition. Also, I think children affected by such a condition develop a stubbornness and a determination to show what they can achieve against adversity.

Phil: Whilst at KEGS, legend has it that you sometimes cycled out to Stansted airport for a training ride during your school lunch hour. Any truth in that?

Alex: Yes (laughing) that’s quite true, I did cover some big distances in my lunch break.

Phil: Your career achievements include National TT Championships, Commonwealth Gold, Grand Tour stage victories and the hour record. Which of those are you proudest of, and why?

Alex: Each of them has its place but strangely in many ways it is my second, failed attempt, at the hour record that I’m particularly proud of. Why? I’d held the record in 2015 covering 52.9km but that was a very constrained and technical ride planned to perfection to marginally better Rohan Dennis’s record. When I attempted to regain the record again in 2021 I rode more naturally, giving it absolutely everything and setting a personal best covering 54.5km. Whilst ultimately it wasn’t enough to retake the then record (55.089km) the ride was about so much more than just the record. The £55k raised along with awareness of haemophilia was a huge personal achievement. 

Phil: Not content with what you’ve achieved as a cyclist you established Little Bleeders. Tell us a bit about the charity?

Alex: Little Bleeders www.littlebleeders.com aim is to provide vital support to children who suffer from haemophilia and other blood disorders. Fitness and health are now recognised as important in managing the condition. The charity provides children and their parents with guidance and advice on how to they can lead active healthy lives via access to haemophilia friendly sports and activities and it also provides grants to young haemophiliacs under 18 wanting to participate in sports and mobile activities.    

Phil: It must have been glamorous and exciting to be part of the Pro Tour surrounded by team mates, visiting some stunning locations, riding the best bikes, wearing the best kit and having all your nutritional needs taken care of. What do you miss the most?  

Alex: Traveling globally was always a great privilege and I have raced in most parts of the world but I’m now enjoying being back settled in Essex with my wife and two young daughters.

Phil: As a ‘mature’ cyclist myself I struggle to maintain speeds above 15mph these days. If I ever hit 25mph I get scared! I recall seeing stats from your rides where you were exceeding 60mph on descents. I know that pro cycling is a hard man’s sport but what does it take to develop the grit to cycle at 25-30mph in a peloton all day or the bottle to descend at crazy speeds on 28mm of rubber?

Alex: My speed record is actually 73mph which I set on a descent during a race in Switzerland. Scared? Never, I was always confident descending and I simply never understood why riders would have a sub-conscious speed limit. Basically, if a pro rider is on the brakes too early they’re out of the race. And crashes, you just have to accept they’re part and parcel of racing. Strangely though, while living in Andorra, I learnt to ski and I certainly encountered fear and exercised caution, so there’s definitely a limit to my downhill speed on snow.  

Phil: You retired from pro cycling in 2022. What’s occupying most of your time and effort now and what’s next?

Alex: Two young daughters and family life occupy a lot of my time and I’ve also been busy creating social media content. However, from next year I’ll have the additional demands of a role as Performance Engineer for a pro team.

Phil: Alex, you beat me by 15 minutes at the recent Chelmsford Half Marathon. I get it that you’re a natural athlete blessed with extraordinary power and cardiovascular capacity but how easy has it been to transition from purely cycling to incorporate some running and swimming?

Alex: I’m enjoying the mix of disciplines, I’m running fairly well and a sub-3 hour Marathon is on my ‘to do list’. I’ve also re-joined Chelmsford Swimming Club and train twice a week at the Masters sessions.

Phil: Finally, a question on behalf of all the local weekend cycling enthusiasts. You still hold the Strava KOM (record time) for the climb up Little Baddow’s North Hill. It’s stood for over ten years and quite incredibly you rode it at over 20mph. That’s amazing, as in your book you acknowledge that you’re a $#!* climber! Do you recall that ride and why has nobody got anywhere near to your time?

Alex: Yes, I still remember it. I was in great shape at the time and I attacked it. You have to realise that any ‘poor climber’ at World Tour level is going to be way faster than the best local amateur riders; it’s all relative. At the top level you simply have to be able to climb to stay in races. And actually, I’ve been up North Hill even quicker (about 22mph) than that KOM but I was motor pacing (drafting behind a motorcycle) at the time so it doesn’t count! 

Phil: Thanks again Alex, it’s been really interesting and an absolute pleasure.