Dowsett finished fourth with an unbranded bike and wheels at the European Championships.
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Great Britain’s Alex Dowsett aboard a blacked-out time trial bike at the 2020 European Championships in Plouay(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Briton also used a POC Tempor helmet, and a Revolver Troika TMD front wheel, which is distinguishable due to its 'Trispoke Mini Disc' centre section(Image credit: Getty Images)
The frame is distinguishable because of its super-low dropped seatstays(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Alex Dowsett aboard the blacked-out Shiv at the 2020 UCI Road World Championships(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Alex Dowsett aboard the blacked-out Shiv at the 2020 UCI Road World Championships(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Ahead of the UCI Road World Championships in Imola, we're looking at Alex Dowsett's set-up as a likely tech talking point of the race. The Briton is well known for paying close attention to aerodynamics and for optimising his equipment, and it is speculated that he will use a similar set-up to his recent choices for the European Time Trial Championships in Plouay.
In that race, Dowsett finished fourth aboard a blacked-out time trial bike, unbranded wheels and a POC Tempor helmet, with its logo covered with a sticker.
With a little digging, we've worked out Dowsett's kit list from that race.
What is Alex Dowsett's blacked-out time trial bike?
Frame: Specialized S-Works Shiv TT
Front wheel: Revolver Troika TMD (Trispoke Mini Disc) tubular disc
Rear wheel: Roval Rapide 321 tubular disc (rumoured to use tubeless in Imola)
Front tyre: Vittoria Corsa Speed tubular
Rear tyre: Vittoria Corsa Speed tubular (rumoured to use Specialized Turbo RapidAir)
Groupset: Dura-Ace Di2 Disc, with Ceramicspeed OSPW
Crankset: Rotor Aldhu
Power meter: Power2Max power meter
Cockpit: Aerocoach Ascalon
Helmet: POC Tempor
Skinsuit: Kalas Brios Aero
Shoes: Custom moulded GB track shoes
Sunglasses: Oakley Flightjacket
Dowsett lines up in Imola for the elite men's time trial on Friday as an outside favourite for the rainbow bands, and in the pursuit of finding every last second available, Cyclingnews understands that Dowsett will turn to non-trade-team tech once again for the flat 32km course.
The UCI Road World Championships are the one event per year in which a rider is permitted to use whatever technology they please as they represent their nation in the pursuit of the title of world champion. Although, while trade team rules technically relax, the pressure from trade teams and sponsors is ever-present, as New Zealand's Linda Villumsen learned when she rode a blacked-out, non-team-issue bike on her way to the world time trial title in 2015, and was nearly sacked by her UnitedHealthcare bosses.
The subject reached boiling point this time last year as Rohan Dennis rode a BMC Teammachine instead of his Bahrain-Merida team-provided Merida Time Warp TT bike. No formal rules were broken by the Australian – who went onto win the race – but it gave the cycling world a rather unsubtle clue of the contract termination news that was to follow shortly after.
The reasons for Dowsett to make such equipment changes are unquestionably in the search for speed. His Israel Start-Up Nation team are sponsored by Factor, whose Slick time trial bike he used at the recent Tirreno Adriatico time trial, where he finished dead last because of mechanical issues.
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The British national time trial champion has British Cycling staff available to him who will be able to provide wind-tunnel testing for various positions and equipment, making recommendations around the fastest equipment choices.
Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
