Russell Downing

Russell Downing (born 23 August 1978) is an English former professional cyclist, who rode competitively between 1999 and 2019 for numerous teams, such as and . 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.

He was the winner of the British National Road Race Championships in 2005.

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.

For 2010 he signed a one-year contract with the new British Professional Team, , 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 . Following the merger of Endura with Team NetApp Downing joined the squad for 2013. In September 2013 it was announced that Russell and Dean Downing would join the new team for 2014. Russell Downing signed for the team for the 2015 season, but returned to Britain with for the 2016 season.

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 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 1st Warwick Town Centre Circuit Race 1st East Yorkshire Classic 1st Stage 4 Circuit des Mines 1st Stage 1 Circuit des Plages Vendéennes 8th Archer Grand Prix 2005

1st Havant International 1st Lincoln Grand Prix 1st Clitheroe Town Centre Grand Prix 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 2nd Overall Tour of Ireland

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 Stage 1 1st Lincoln Grand Prix 1st Smithfield Nocturne 1st Ryedale Grand Prix 1st Colne Grand Prix 1st East Yorkshire Classic Circuit Race 2nd Beaumont Trophy 5th Overall Tour of Britain 5th Overall Girvan Three Day 1st Stages 3 & 4 7th Overall Rás Tailteann 8th East Midlands International CiCLE Classic 9th Overall Cinturón a Mallorca 1st Stage 3 2010

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 Stage 1 4th Route Adélie 2013

3rd Monsal Hill Climb 2014 1st Stockton Grand Prix 3rd Ryedale Grand Prix 3rd Circuit of the Fens 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

2nd Madison (with Jon Clay) 2002 National Track Championships

3rd Points race 2003 National Track Championships

2nd Scratch 2004

3rd Scratch, National Track Championships 2013 3rd Madison, National Track Championships (with Jonathan McEvoy) 2014 2nd Team pursuit, National Track Championships