ALEX Dowsett has postponed his attempt on the UCI Hour Record attempt.

The Cock Clarks rider and his Movistar Team made the announcement on Thursday afternoon that the attempt, scheduled for February 27 on the velodrome of London’s Lee Valley VeloPark, had been put back.

Following Dowsett’s crash last Tuesday, his collarbone fracture and the subsequent surgery, the initial recovery program proposed to secure the attempt on the original date has not been fulfilled.

Both rider and squad consider it would not be realistic to carry on with February 27 as a goal.

The Movistar Team also stated that attempting the record would have been a risky decision, compromising the rest of the season for Dowsett and putting extra pressure on his recovery.

Dowsett said: “I’m really gutted this has happened.

“I’ve never worked harder for anything and to make this difficult decision with the team and lose this opportunity is a real blow.

“The positive is that it is a record attempt so we will be attempting it at a later date.

“I cannot thank Movistar, Canyon, Endura and the rest of the team partners enough for their continued support as well as my family and friends.

“But most of all I'd like to thank everyone that’s supported me with words of encouragement both in training pre-crash and words of support and well wishes post-crash, it really was overwhelming.

“I’ll now recover properly and be back to full fitness for the road season and another crack at the ‘perfect hour.’”

Movistar thanked Canyon, Endura, Power2Max, Eurosport, FACE Partnership and Cyclevox for their support, comprehension and full backing of Dowsett and the team’s choice, as well as the media and especially the fans, for their countless heart-warming messages during the last few days.

Once Dowsett is fully recovered, all the parties will re-evaluate the UCI Hour Record process to begin again, in order to find the most suitable date.