Bloody Minded

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 - CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Immensely readable and revealing' The Guardian 'A must read' Phil Liggett, MBE 'A story like no other in cycling' Ned Boulting IMAGINE COMPETING IN THE WORLD'S MOST BRUTAL CYCLE RACES, KNOWING THAT A CRASH COULD BE FATAL Alex Dowsett is one of Britain's greatest cyclists. He has ridden Grand Tours and Classics for elite teams including Sky and Movistar and broke the iconic World Hour Record - the ultimate time trial challenge. With humour, insight and honesty, Alex recounts his years as a pro-cyclist and the challenges he has faced in his struggle to reach the top. Alex has achieved all this despite being the only able-bodied elite sportsperson in the world with haemophilia A. He describes how the condition - in which falls can be fatal - both blighted his young sporting life, and boosted his determination to succeed. Every professional cyclist requires courage, but Alex takes fearlessness to another level in a sport where injury and suffering are a given. With an all-star cycling cast, including Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish and Lance Armstrong, this pulsating book lifts the lid on life in the peloton at the world's top level. From his highs - including Giro d'Italia stage victories - to his frustrations at the injustices he faced in the sport, Alex's memoir perfectly chronicles a career in which he was driven equally by love and rage. Combining Alex's personal triumphs with his unique take on being part of the golden age of British cycling, this is an unmissable tale of sporting endeavour. 'A fascinating insight into the mindset of an elite sportsman who overcame great odds to reach the very top' Simon Brotherton 'The humblest super-talent in the peloton, proving nice guys can win. A wonderful book' Carlton Kirby 'An inspiration for anyone who wants to do whatever they're told they can't.' Michael Hutchinson 'Such an inspiring tale. Poignant and moving, and told with forthright honesty' Peter Cossins

Alex Dowsett, professional cyclist of Israel Start Up Nation and Team GB athlete, is a six time national time trial champion and former Hour Record Holder. He's been cycling for over a decade at the world's top level and now he's ready to tell the inside story of elite cycling.

1. Not Horrific, Just Terrible: The Hour Record, 2015 2. The Day My Dad Stopped Whistling: Diagnosis, 1990 3. Freedom: The Commonwealth Games, 2014 4. One Evening, on the River Blackwater: The Beginning, 2001 5. The Hunger Games: The British Academy, 2007-2009 6. The University of Livestrong: Riding for a Legend, 2010 7. On Planet Dave: Team Sky, 2011-2012 8. Treading My Own Path: Team Sky to Movistar, 2011-2013 9. Letting Go of the Bike: The Giro, 2013 10. The Armstrong Comment: The Start Line, Beijing, 2012 11. Growing Up: On the Road with Cavendish, 2013-2015 12. Mummy's Boy: It's All About Love, 2016 13. Heartbreak and Glory: The Olympics and the Commonwealths 14. Mayhem: Katusha-Alpecin, 2018-2019 15. Life Expectancy: The Tour de France 16. An Arm Around My Shoulder: The Worlds, 2019 17. Stage 8: Giro d'Italia, 2020 18. Winners and Losers: The Hour, 2021 19. Born Lucky: Leaving the World Tour, 2022 Acknowledgements Index