Bowden captured the Town Center Criterium Saturday in Harrisburg, N.C., to go along with victories Thursday (FUZE Criterium) and Friday (NOS Energy Criterium) in the Category III division of the Giordana Crossroads Classic.
Team Type 1 Development Team Director Tim Powell said it was satisfying to see Bowden pull together the fitness he has been building since playing an integral role in Team Type 1’s eight-man squad that won the Race Across America (RAAM) in record time in June.
“But honestly, this was unexpected,” Powell said. “The intention was to go there to try and get a podium (top three) placing. Alex not only got a podium, but he stood on the top step for three days in a row.
“After he didn’t finish on the first day, he called me. I told him his legs were going to turn on and that he was going to deliver. And boy, did he ever deliver.”
About the only thing the 19-year-old didn’t come away with was the omnium competition of the five-day series in North Carolina. Bowden finished third behind Daniel Londono (Team Aerospace) and Madison Siegrist (Clemmons Bicycle Racing).
But on Thursday and Saturday, he won by sprinting out of the last corner and never looking back. Friday night, he sent chills through the crowd in Statesville, N.C., by single-handedly chasing down a solo rider on the final lap of the NOS Energy Criterium and winning in a photo finish.
His three victories pushed his win total to four on the year and the development team’s tally to six.
Bowden said the fast turnaround between Friday night’s race and Saturday’s series finale – which had a mid-day start – forced him to carefully monitor his blood sugar using his FreeStyle Navigator? Continuous Glucose Monitoring System.
“I was nervous today because we got back to the house pretty late and I didn’t get to sleep until 1:30 in the morning,” he said. “Then I had to be up and ready to race by noon. So it kind of threw off the schedule somewhat.
“My blood sugar was a bit high this morning because we stopped for some food on the way home last night, so I upped my Lantus and Apidra a bit. Going into the race, I was about 155 and then I was trending down after the first couple of laps, so I had some Dex4. I ended up finishing around 160. Last night, I was between 150 and 170 for the entire race.”
His hat trick in North Carolina earns Bowden an upgrade to Category II, meaning he will be able to join development teammates Simon Bennett and Timothy Hargrave in next weekend’s Pro-Am Challenge criterium and the USA Cycling Elite National Criterium Championship in Downers Grove, Ill.
“It was critical (to get his upgrade) because our criteria for the development team next year is to be a Cat. II, so he’s just secured his spot,” Powell said.
