The cut-throat business that is top-level cycling revealed itself in all its glory to Alex Dowsett during his second year on the British Cycling Senior Academy.
Flat-sharing in Manchester with fellow Academy riders, he returned home having been out on a date to find his room trashed, his washbag urinated on and obscenities about his mum written on the whiteboard.
It's one of many eye-opening tales he recounts in his new book, Bloody Minded the title of which could scarcely be more appropriate. Not just as a nod to the haemophilia that has dogged him and shaped him since childhood, but also to the sheer tenacity Dowsett has had to call on throughout his career.
Having his room trashed by those who were, on the face of it, allies, left him "raging", he writes.
But ultimately he decided, "I would put my room straight, never mention it, train like a legend, and not give whoever had done this the satisfaction of a reaction. I'm going to work and win and get a pro contract and never look back."
Sitting in the airy kitchen of his Essex home, a year on from hanging up his wheels, Dowsett reflects on exactly what it takes to reach the top and stay there. And it's not always pretty.
Of his time at the Academy, he says: "It's all just basically teenagers that all think they're God's gift to cycling. You're all having to be team-mates, but you all deep down know that you're fighting against each other for supremacy in the team."
It's a far cry from those innocent early days riding the Maldon '10', his local time trial course.
Esta historia es de la edición November 09, 2023 de Cycling Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 09, 2023 de Cycling Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain