Russell Downing

Russell Downing
Personal information
Full name	Russell Downing
Born	23 August 1978 (age 46); Rotherham, England
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Weight	64 kg (141 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Disciplines	Road; Track;
Role	Rider
Rider type	Sprinter
Amateur teams
1998	Brite Voice
2000	Miche Pena
2001	UVCA Troyes
2019	Giordana Cycling
Professional teams
1999–2001	Linda McCartney On Tour
2002	iTeamNova.com
2003	Time Life Repair
2004–2005	Recycling.co.uk–MG X-Power
2006	Driving Force Logistics
2007	Health Net–Maxxis
2008	Pinarello Racing Team
2009	CandiTV–Marshalls Pasta
2010–2011	Team Sky
2012	Endura Racing
2013	NetApp–Endura
2014	NFTO
2015	Cult Energy Pro Cycling
2016–2017	JLT–Condor
2018	Holdsworth
Major wins
	Stage races Tour of Ireland (2009) Tour de Wallonie (2010) One-day races and Classics National Road Race Championships (2005)

Russell Downing (born 23 August 1978) is an English former professional cyclist, who rode competitively between 1999 and 2019 for numerous teams, such as Team Sky and JLT–Condor. He is the younger brother of fellow cyclist Dean Downing, and both brothers competed largely on the UCI Continental Tour and in British Premier Calendar races.

Career

Downing was born into a bike racing family: as well as his older brother, his father was also a bicycle racer. He was also a talented football player, playing with Rotherham United F.C.'s under-16s team, but Downing was convinced to become a professional cyclist by Milk Race winner Chris Walker, who Downing trained with during his late teens.^[2]

He was the winner of the British National Road Race Championships in 2005.^[3]

In addition to his national championships, he was also successful in some multi-stage races. His biggest victories came in the 2010 Tour de Wallonie, a 2.HC class event, as well as the 2009 Tour of Ireland.^[4]

For 2010 he signed a one-year contract with the new British Professional Team, Team Sky, and became the first Briton to win a stage for the team, picking up a win in the Critérium International. His contract was renewed for a further year, for the 2011 season. In November 2011 it was announced that his contract was not being renewed for a third year and he would join the British Continental Team Endura Racing.^[5] Following the merger of Endura with Team NetApp Downing joined the NetApp–Endura squad for 2013.^[6] In September 2013 it was announced that Russell and Dean Downing would join the new NFTO team for 2014.^[7] Russell Downing signed for the Cult Energy Pro Cycling team for the 2015 season,^[8] but returned to Britain with JLT–Condor for the 2016 season.^[9]

Major results

Road

1997

2nd Road race, National Under-23 Road Championships

1998

Tour du Maroc

1st Stages 7 & 9

1999

3rd Road race, National Road Championships

2002

1st Buggenhout Kermesse

1st Boekhout Kermesse

Tour de Brandenburge

1st

Points classification

1st Stage 1

1st Stage 2 Circuit des Mines

5th Archer Grand Prix

2004

1st Overall Credit Union Ras Mumhan

1st Stages 2, 4 & 5

1st Havant International

1st Colne Grand Prix^[10]

1st Warwick Town Centre Circuit Race^[11]

1st East Yorkshire Classic^[12]

1st Stage 4 Circuit des Mines

1st Stage 1 Circuit des Plages Vendéennes

8th Archer Grand Prix

2005

1st

Road race, National Road Championships

1st Havant International

1st Lincoln Grand Prix

1st Clitheroe Town Centre Grand Prix^[13]

1st Stage 5 Giro del Capo

2nd Overall Circuit des Plages Vendéennes

1st Stage 1

3rd Overall Ruban Granitier Breton

1st Stages 1, 3 & 6

2006

1st Overall Triptyque Ardennais

1st Druivenkoers Overijse

1st Stage 5 Tour de Beauce

7th Omloop der Kempen

9th Overall Tour of Britain

2007

1st Richmond Grand Prix

2nd Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic

3rd Lincoln Grand Prix

2008

1st Overall Premier Calendar

1st Overall Girvan 3-Day

1st Stages 1 & 2

1st Overall Tour of the Reservoir

1st Overall Chas Messenger Stage Race

1st Robert Price International Grand Prix of Wales

1st Tour of Blackpool

1st East Yorkshire Classic

1st Richmond Grand Prix

1st Lincoln Grand Prix^[14]

2nd Overall Tour of Ireland

1st

Points classification

1st Stage 4

4th Rogaland GP

5th East Midlands International CiCLE Classic

8th Overall Cinturón a Mallorca

1st Stages 2, 3 & 4

10th Overall Tour of Britain

2009

1st Overall Premier Calendar

1st

Overall Tour of Ireland

1st

Points classification

1st Stage 1

1st Lincoln Grand Prix

1st Smithfield Nocturne

1st Ryedale Grand Prix

1st Colne Grand Prix^[15]

1st East Yorkshire Classic Circuit Race^[16]

2nd Beaumont Trophy^[17]

5th Overall Tour of Britain

5th Overall Girvan Three Day^[18]

1st Stages 3 & 4^[19]

7th Overall Rás Tailteann

8th East Midlands International CiCLE Classic

9th Overall Cinturón a Mallorca

1st Stage 3

2010

1st

Overall Tour de Wallonie

1st Stage 5

1st Monsal Hill Climb

1st Stage 2 Critérium International

1st Stage 1 (TTT) Tour of Qatar

4th Overall Tour de Picardie

2012

1st Grand Prix de la Ville de Lillers

1st Beaumont Trophy

1st Eddie Soens Memorial Road Race

1st Lincoln Grand Prix

1st Stage 5 Tour of Norway

2nd Overall Circuit des Ardennes

1st

Points classification

1st Stage 1

4th Route Adélie

2013

1st

National Criterium Championships

3rd Monsal Hill Climb^[20]

2014

1st Stockton Grand Prix^[21]

3rd Ryedale Grand Prix^[22]

3rd Circuit of the Fens^[23]

3rd Newport Nocturne

4th Road race, Commonwealth Games

5th Rutland–Melton International CiCLE Classic

10th RideLondon–Surrey Classic

2015

4th Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi

4th Velothon Wales

8th Trofeo Playa de Palma

2016

3rd Overall Tour du Loir-et-Cher

1st Stage 2

2017: 2nd Poreč Trophy; 10th Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic

Track

1999

National Track Championships

1st

Team pursuit

2nd Madison (with Jon Clay)

2002

National Track Championships

1st

Scratch

3rd Points race

2003

National Track Championships

1st

Points race

1st

Madison (with Dean Downing)

2nd Scratch

2004: 1st Team pursuit, UCI Track World Cup, Sydney; 3rd Scratch, National Track Championships
2013: 3rd Madison, National Track Championships (with Jonathan McEvoy)
2014: 2nd Team pursuit, National Track Championships

References

^ "Team Sky profile". Retrieved 24 May 2011.
^ MacLeary, John (10 September 2010). "Russell Downing: Q&A". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
^ Profile
^ "Downing takes Tour of Ireland win". BBC Sport. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
^ "Downing to Endura Racing in 2012". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
^ Fidler, Richard (20 September 2012). "Rotherham's Russ Downing returns to the big time". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
^ Bull, Nick (25 September 2013). "Downing brothers reunited at NFTO for 2014". Cycling Weekly. IPC Media. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
^ Clarke, Stuart (24 November 2014). "Cult Energy Pro Cycling fire manager after just two months in charge". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^ Bull, Nick (12 October 2015). "Russ Downing among nine new JLT-Condor signings for 2016". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
^ "Colne Grand Prix". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^ "Warwick Town Centre Circuit Races". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^ "East Yorkshire Classic". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^ "Clitheroe Town Centre Grand Prix". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^ "Downing Wins Lincoln – But Which One?". Cycling Weekly. 11 May 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
^ Hickmott, Larry (14 June 2014). "Colne Grand Prix". British Cycling. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
^ "East Yorkshire Classic National Circuit Race Championship". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^ Wynn, Nigel (14 June 2009). "Wiggins shows international class with Beaumont Trophy win". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
^ "Marcin Bialoblocki wins the Girvan". Cycling Weekly. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
^ Lawrenson, Carl J. "40the Girvan 3 Day Cycle Race". British Cycling. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
^ "Jack Pullar wins Monsal Hill-Climb". Cycling Weekly. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
^ "Stockton Velo29-Altura Grand Prix". British Cycling. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
^ "The Ryedale Grand Prix inc The Peter Longbottom Memorial". British Cycling. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^ Whitehouse, Andy (27 July 2014). "Adam Blythe (NFTO Pro Cycling) wins the 2014 Vericool for Schools Circuit of the Fens". British Cycling. Retrieved 7 August 2014.

External links

Russell Downing at Cycling Archives (archived)
Russell Downing at ProCyclingStats

[1] "Team Sky profile". Retrieved 24 May 2011.

[2] MacLeary, John (10 September 2010). "Russell Downing: Q&A". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2018.

[3] Profile

[4] "Downing takes Tour of Ireland win". BBC Sport. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.

[Downing_Endura-5] "Downing to Endura Racing in 2012". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.

[6] Fidler, Richard (20 September 2012). "Rotherham's Russ Downing returns to the big time". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 6 October 2013.

[NFTO-7] Bull, Nick (25 September 2013). "Downing brothers reunited at NFTO for 2014". Cycling Weekly. IPC Media. Retrieved 6 October 2013.

[8] Clarke, Stuart (24 November 2014). "Cult Energy Pro Cycling fire manager after just two months in charge". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 6 December 2014.

[9] Bull, Nick (12 October 2015). "Russ Downing among nine new JLT-Condor signings for 2016". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 9 January 2016.

[10] "Colne Grand Prix". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

[11] "Warwick Town Centre Circuit Races". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

[12] "East Yorkshire Classic". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

[13] "Clitheroe Town Centre Grand Prix". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

[14] "Downing Wins Lincoln – But Which One?". Cycling Weekly. 11 May 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2014.

[15] Hickmott, Larry (14 June 2014). "Colne Grand Prix". British Cycling. Retrieved 14 June 2014.

[16] "East Yorkshire Classic National Circuit Race Championship". British Cycling. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

[17] Wynn, Nigel (14 June 2009). "Wiggins shows international class with Beaumont Trophy win". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 11 March 2019.

[18] "Marcin Bialoblocki wins the Girvan". Cycling Weekly. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2016.

[19] Lawrenson, Carl J. "40the Girvan 3 Day Cycle Race". British Cycling. Retrieved 9 October 2016.

[20] "Jack Pullar wins Monsal Hill-Climb". Cycling Weekly. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2016.

[21] "Stockton Velo29-Altura Grand Prix". British Cycling. Retrieved 21 July 2014.

[22] "The Ryedale Grand Prix inc The Peter Longbottom Memorial". British Cycling. Retrieved 7 August 2014.

[23] Whitehouse, Andy (27 July 2014). "Adam Blythe (NFTO Pro Cycling) wins the 2014 Vericool for Schools Circuit of the Fens". British Cycling. Retrieved 7 August 2014.

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v t e British National Road Race Champions (men)
NCU (1938–1958)	Jack Holmes (1938) Jack Fancourt (1939) Reg Braddick (1944) J. A. O'Driscoll (1945) Ernie Clements (1946) Alex Taylor (1947) Bob Maitland (1948) A D Newman (1949) Gordon Thomas (1950) Peter Procter (1951) Graham Vines (1952) Ted Gerrard (1953) B J Sandy (1954) Bernard King (1955) Alan Jackson (1956) Ron Coe (1957 Independent) Stan Brittain (1957 Amateur) Bill Seggar (1958)
BLRC (1943–1958)	Ernie Clements (1943) Percy Stallard (1944) Ernie Clements (1945) George Edwards (1946) E I Upton (1947) R C Ashwin (1948) Dave Bedwell (1949) Ralph Parkin (1950) Charlie Bland (1951) Mike Howarth (1952) Derek Evans (1953) Reg Browne (1954) Des Robinson (1955) Mike England (1956) Charlie Mather (1957) Bill Baty (1958)
BLRC Independent (1946–1958)	A H Clarke (1946) Dennis Jaggard (1947) Harold Johnson (1948) Bob Thom (1949) Leonard West (1950) Dave Bedwell (1951) Ian Steel (1952) Bob Maitland (1953) Arthur Ilsley (1954) Graham Vines (1955) not held in 1956 Ron Coe (1958–1957)
Amateur (1959–1995)	Bill Baty (1959) Bill Bradley (1960–(1961) Keith Butler (1962) Bob Addy (1963) Pete Gordon (1964) Les West (1965) Arthur Metcalfe (1966) Les West (1967) Pete Matthews (1968) Brian Jolly (1969) Dave Rollinson (1970–1971) Doug Dailey (1972) Grant Thomas (1973) William Nickson (1974) Kevin Apter (1975) Doug Dailey (1976) Steve Lawrence (1977) Robert Millar (1978–1979) Steve Lawrence (1980) Mark Bell (1981) Jeff Williams (1982) John Cavanagh (1983) Neil Martin (1984) Paul Watson (1985) Deno Davie (1986) Paul Curran (1987) Neil Hoban (1988) David Cook (1989) Simeon Hempsall (1990) John Hughes (1991) Simon Bray (1992) Rob Harris (1993–1994) Simon Bray (1995)
Professional (1959–1995)	Ron Coe (1959) race was not held in 1960 Dave Bedwell (1961) John Harvey (1962) Albert Hitchen (1963) Keith Butler (1964) Albert Hitchen (1965) Dick Goodman (1966) Colin Lewis (1967–1968) Bill Lawrie (1969) Les West (1970) Danny Horton (1971) Gary Crewe (1972) Brian Jolly (1973) Keith Lambert (1974) Les West (1975) Geoff Wiles (1976) Phil Edwards (1977) Phil Corley (1978) Sid Barras (1979) Keith Lambert (1980) William Nickson (1981) John Herety (1982) Phil Thomas (1983) Steve Joughin (1984) Ian Banbury (1985) Mark Bell (1986) Paul Sherwen (1987) Steve Joughin (1988) Tim Harris (1989) Colin Sturgess (1990) Brian Smith (1991) Sean Yates (1992) Malcolm Elliott (1993) Brian Smith (1994) Robert Millar (1995)
1996–	Dave Rand (1996) Jeremy Hunt (1997) Matt Stephens (1998) John Tanner (1999–2000) Jeremy Hunt (2001) Julian Winn (2002) Roger Hammond (2003–2004) Russell Downing (2005) Hamish Haynes (2006) David Millar (2007) Rob Hayles (2008) Kristian House (2009) Geraint Thomas (2010) Bradley Wiggins (2011) Ian Stannard (2012) Mark Cavendish (2013) Peter Kennaugh (2014–2015) Adam Blythe (2016) Steve Cummings (2017) Connor Swift (2018) Ben Swift (2019) not held in 2020 Ben Swift (2021) Mark Cavendish (2022) Fred Wright (2023) Ethan Hayter (2024)