Alex Dowsett: Only a win constitutes time trial success

British champion against the clock Alex Dowsett has set his sights high by aiming for victory in tomorrow's world championships time trial in Florence.

Dowsett, who finished fifth in the Tour of Britain time trial stage last Tuesday despite recovering from illness, will come up against the likes British team-mate Bradley Wiggins and defending champion Tony Martin in Italy.

"The only thing that constitutes a success is a win," Dowsett said. "Whether that's realistic or not remains to be seen.

"If I finish and feel that I've got everything out and given everything that I've got then I've got to be satisfied with any result.

"That's the beauty of a time trial, it's just you and the clock."

The 24-year-old was set to leave the Tour of Britain early to ride in Sunday's world team time trial championships for Movistar, but Great Britain's performance director Dave Brailsford requested he complete the national tour.

"Originally the plan was for me to go to the team time trial world championships but then we got here and the boss reassessed the situation," added Dowsett.

"To be honest, I think for me personally the best scenario was to have a couple of days rest so I can come good for Wednesday.

"It's a shame not to have contributed to the team time trial because it's a discipline that we've shown time and time again that we are competitive in."