# 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 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.
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, 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. Following the merger of Endura with Team NetApp Downing joined the NetApp–Endura squad for 2013. In September 2013 it was announced that Russell and Dean Downing would join the new NFTO team for 2014. Russell Downing signed for the Cult Energy Pro Cycling team for the 2015 season, but returned to Britain with JLT–Condor 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 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 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 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