Dowsett signs to Movistar team for 2013

British time trial national champion Alex Dowsett has signed with the Spanish Movistar WorldTour team for 2013.

The 24 year old from Essex has spent the past two seasons with British-based Team Sky. Prior to that, Dowsett rode on the American Trek-Livestrong development team alongside Taylor Phinney in 2010.

Dowsett has established himself as a specialist against the clock, having won the 2010 under-23 European time trial title, silver in the 2010 Commonwealth Games time trial and eighth place at this year's time trial World Championships.

Last year he won a stage of the Tour of Britain and a stage of Tour du Poitou-Charentes in France. He placed second in the British road race National Championship behind Ian Stannard in June.

Dowsett's early 2012 season was blighted after he broke his elbow in March at the Three Days of West Flanders.

Grand Tour opportunity

Talking to Cycling Weekly in early September, Dowsett had indicated the bind he was in: "Sky is amazing for rider development; as a young rider progressing, I don't think there is a better place for it.

But it's such a strong team that I could go somewhere else and ride the big races... There's a possibility of the Tour de France next year if I go to another team.

Time-trialling is something some teams really like. Certainly I want to start establishing myself and get some Grand Tours under my belt. It says a lot about a bike rider."

Alex Dowsett factfile

Date of birth: 3/10/1988

From: Essex

Previous teams: Team Sky (2011-2012); Trek-Livestrong (2010); GB Olympic Academy

Related links

Alex Dowsett: Rider profile