Dowsett secures British Road Race Championships second place (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Dowsett secures British Road Race Championships second place

4:42pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in Ryman Division One North

ALEX Dowsett secured second place in the British Road Race Championships.

The Team Sky cyclist, from Cock Clarks, held off the challenge of Rayleigh’s Russell Hampton to secure second spot at Ampleforth, north Yorkshire.

The title was won by Dowsett’s team-mate Ian Stannard in the event on Sunday.

The decisive move went early as the peloton negotiated the first of three 30.4-kilometre laps on heavy rolling roads.

The five-man move included Hampton and his team-mate Graham Briggs along with Oli Beckingsale (Endura MTB), building up a massive advantage over the chasing pack.

The group was eventually whittled down to just three men with Stannard picking his moment to attack on the penultimate 15.3km lap.

The race was another step on Dowsett’s road to regaining top form after suffering a broken elbow riding for Team Sky on the final stage of the Three Days of West Flanders race, in Belgium, at the beginning of March.

Dowsett said: “For me it went the best it was going to go.

“It was good to be part of the winning break.

“I’m sure that I caused that break but Ian came back strongly after that and was attacking really well.

“It was just Ian, Russell and myself.

“It was never really a question if I could beat Ian, he was far stronger.

“I was more concerned with holding on to second place because Russell and I were well matched.”

The course was tough with a number of climbs and the 23-year-old British Time Trial champion knew he would have to ride a tactical race.

He added: “I am not the greatest sprinter and I can’t sprint uphill, so I had to use my head if I was going to hold Russell off.

“I had to jump it when he least expected it.

“I am happy with my performance and it shows that I am coming back to form after my injury.”

Next up for Dowsett is the Tour of Poland which runs from July 10-16.