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.[ Profile]
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 .
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
- 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 Road race, National Road Championships
- 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 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 London 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 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
- 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
- :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
External links
