Alex Dowsett draws on Tour anger to win Commonwealth Games gold
Snubbed by the Movistar team this year, the Englishman channels his disappointment towards winning the individual time trial
Alex Dowsett said the disappointment of not being selected for the Tour de France spurred him on to claim Commonwealth Games gold in the individual time trial.
The 25-year-old was left inconsolable after being dropped by Spanish team Movistar for this year's event.
However, Dowsett said he channelled the anger he felt at being snubbed to help drive him over the line to claim gold for England in Glasgow.
The day I was not selected by Movistar was the day I tried to turn all that fitness into time-trial-specific stuff
"Not being selected for the Tour was a massive disappointment for me," Dowsett said.
"I kind of spent the whole month fairly angry - not at anyone in particular but just angry at the situation.
"The Commonwealth Games was a big target for me anyway, but it suddenly became a huge target because I really wanted to do something big after the disappointment of the Tour de France.
"I've always been the same since I was a kid and really pull something big out of the bag when I'm really angry.
"The day I was not selected by Movistar was the day I tried to turn all that fitness into time-trial-specific stuff.