View source for Russell Downing

{{short description|British road cyclist}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox cyclist
| name           = Russell Downing
| image          = Russell Downing (Edinburgh).jpg
| fullname       = Russell Downing
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|8|23}}
| birth_place    = [[Rotherham]], England
| height         = {{height|m=1.71}}
| weight         = {{convert|64|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teamsky.com/profile/0,27291,17543_6638019,00.html|title=Team Sky profile|access-date=24 May 2011}}</ref>
| currentteam    = Retired
| disciplines    = {{ubl|Road|Track}}
| role           = Rider
| ridertype      = Sprinter
| amateuryears1  = 1998
| amateurteam1   = Brite Voice
| amateuryears2  = 2000
| amateurteam2   = Miche Pena
| amateuryears3  = 2001
| amateurteam3   = UVCA Troyes
| amateuryears4  = 2019
| amateurteam4   = Giordana Cycling
| proyears1      = 1999–2001
| proteam1       = {{UCI team code|LIN|1999}}
| proyears2      = 2002
| proteam2       = iTeamNova.com
| proyears3      = 2003
| proteam3       = Time Life Repair
| proyears4      = 2004–2005
| proteam4       = {{UCI team code|RCS|2004}}
| proyears5      = 2006
| proteam5       = [[Cinelli–Down Under|Driving Force Logistics]]
| proyears6      = 2007
| proteam6       = {{UCI team code|HNM|2007}}
| proyears7      = 2008
| proteam7       = Pinarello Racing Team
| proyears8      = 2009
| proteam8       = {{UCI team code|MPT|2009}}
| proyears9      = 2010–2011
| proteam9       = {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}
| proyears10     = 2012
| proteam10      = {{UCI team code|EDR|2012}}
| proyears11     = 2013
| proteam11      = {{UCI team code|TNE|2013}}
| proyears12     = 2014
| proteam12      = {{UCI team code|NFT|2014}}
| proyears13     = 2015
| proteam13      = {{UCI team code|CUL|2015}}
| proyears14     = 2016–2017
| proteam14      = {{UCI team code|RCS|2016}}
| proyears15     = 2018
| proteam15      = {{UCI team code|HOL|2018}}
| majorwins      = '''[[Race stage|Stage races]]'''
:[[Tour of Ireland]] (2009)
:[[Tour de Wallonie]] (2010)
'''[[Classic cycle races|One-day races and Classics]]'''
:{{nowrap|[[British National Road Race Championships|National Road Race Championships]] (2005)}}
| medaltemplates =
}}
'''Russell Downing''' (born 23 August 1978) is an English former professional cyclist, who rode competitively between 1999 and 2019 for numerous teams, such as {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}} and {{UCI team code|RCS|2017}}. 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 [[Tour of Britain|Milk Race]] winner [[Chris Walker (cyclist)|Chris Walker]], who Downing trained with during his late teens.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/7974764/Russell-Downing-QandA.html |title=Russell Downing: Q&A |last=MacLeary |first=John |date=10 September 2010 |website=[[telegraph.co.uk]] |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref>

He was the winner of the [[British National Road Race Championships]] in 2005.<ref>[http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Russell_Downing_Rider_Profile_article_273483.html Profile]</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8217026.stm|title=Downing takes Tour of Ireland win |date=23 August 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 August 2009}}</ref>

For 2010 he signed a one-year contract with the new British Professional Team, {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}, 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 {{UCI team code|EDR|2012}}.<ref name="Downing Endura">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/downing-to-endura-racing-in-2012|title=Downing to Endura Racing in 2012|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=15 November 2011|access-date=6 January 2012}}</ref> Following the merger of Endura with Team NetApp Downing joined the {{UCI team code|TNE|2013}} squad for 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/other-sports/rotherham-s-russ-downing-returns-to-the-big-time-1-4941207 |title=Rotherham's Russ Downing returns to the big time |last=Fidler |first=Richard|date=20 September 2012 |website=[[Sheffield Star]]|access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> In September 2013 it was announced that Russell and Dean Downing would join the new {{UCI team code|NFT|2014}} team for 2014.<ref name="NFTO">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/540554/downing-brothers-reunited-at-nfto-for-2014.html|title=Downing brothers reunited at NFTO for 2014|last=Bull|first=Nick|date=25 September 2013|work=[[Cycling Weekly]]|publisher=IPC Media|access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> Russell Downing signed for the {{UCI team code|CUL|2015}} team for the 2015 season,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/cult-energy-pro-cycling-fire-manager-just-two-months-charge-146426 |title=Cult Energy Pro Cycling fire manager after just two months in charge |last1=Clarke |first1=Stuart |date=24 November 2014 |website=[[Cycling Weekly]]|access-date=6 December 2014}}</ref> but returned to Britain with {{UCI team code|RCS|2016}} for the 2016 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/russ-downing-among-nine-new-jlt-condor-signings-for-2016-195195|title=Russ Downing among nine new JLT-Condor signings for 2016|work=Cycling Weekly|first=Nick|last=Bull|date=12 October 2015|access-date=9 January 2016}}</ref>

==Major results==
===Road===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
;1997
: 2nd [[British National Road Race Championships|Road race]], National Under-23 Road Championships
;1998
: [[Tour du Maroc]]
::1st Stages 7 & 9
;1999
: 3rd [[British National Road Race Championships|Road race]], National Road Championships
;2002
: 1st Buggenhout Kermesse
: 1st Boekhout Kermesse
: Tour de Brandenburge
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
::1st Stage 1
: 1st Stage 2 [[Circuit de Lorraine|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<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/3950/Colne-Grand-Prix#results |title=Colne Grand Prix|website=[[British Cycling]] |access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref>
: 1st Warwick Town Centre Circuit Race<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/10441/Warwick-Town-Centre-Circuit-Races#results |title=Warwick Town Centre Circuit Races|website=[[British Cycling]] |access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref>
: 1st East Yorkshire Classic<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/24378/East-Yorkshire-Classic#results |title=East Yorkshire Classic|website=[[British Cycling]] |access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref>
: 1st Stage 4 [[Circuit de Lorraine|Circuit des Mines]]
: 1st Stage 1 Circuit des Plages Vendéennes
: 8th [[Archer Grand Prix]]
;2005
: 1st [[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] [[British National Road Race Championships|Road race]], National Road Championships
: 1st Havant International
: 1st [[Lincoln Grand Prix]]
: 1st Clitheroe Town Centre Grand Prix<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/347/Clitheroe-Town-Centre-Grand-Prix#results |title=Clitheroe Town Centre Grand Prix|website=[[British Cycling]] |access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref>
: 1st Stage 5 [[Giro del Capo]]
: 2nd Overall Circuit des Plages Vendéennes
::1st Stage 1
: 3rd Overall [[Tour de Bretagne|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 [[2006 Tour of Britain|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]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/downing-wins-lincoln-but-which-one-96223 |title=Downing Wins Lincoln&nbsp;– But Which One?|date=11 May 2008 |website=[[Cycling Weekly]] |access-date=16 June 2014}}</ref>
: 2nd Overall [[2008 Tour of Ireland|Tour of Ireland]]
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
::1st Stage 4
: 4th [[Tour des Fjords|Rogaland GP]]
: 5th [[Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic|East Midlands International CiCLE Classic]]
: 8th Overall [[Cinturón a Mallorca]]
::1st Stages 2, 3 & 4
: 10th Overall [[2008 Tour of Britain|Tour of Britain]]
;2009
: 1st Overall [[Premier Calendar]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[2009 Tour of Ireland|Tour of Ireland]]
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
::1st Stage 1
: 1st [[Lincoln Grand Prix]]
: 1st [[London Nocturne|Smithfield Nocturne]]
: 1st Ryedale Grand Prix
: 1st Colne Grand Prix<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20090714-road-Colne-Grand-Prix-Colne-0 |title=Colne Grand Prix |last1=Hickmott |first1=Larry|date=14 June 2014 |website=[[British Cycling]] |access-date=14 June 2014}}</ref>
: 1st East Yorkshire Classic Circuit Race<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/16152/East-Yorkshire-Classic-National-Circuit-Race-Championship#results |title=East Yorkshire Classic National Circuit Race Championship|website=[[British Cycling]] |access-date=17 June 2014}}</ref>
: 2nd [[Beaumont Trophy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/wiggins-shows-international-class-with-beaumont-trophy-win-68416 |title=Wiggins shows international class with Beaumont Trophy win |last=Wynn |first=Nigel |date=14 June 2009 |website=[[Cycling Weekly]] |access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref>
: 5th Overall [[2009 Tour of Britain|Tour of Britain]]
: 5th Overall Girvan Three Day<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/marcin-bialoblocki-wins-the-girvan-69618 |title=Marcin Bialoblocki wins the Girvan|date=13 April 2009 |website=[[Cycling Weekly]] |access-date=9 October 2016}}</ref>
::1st Stages 3 & 4<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20090603-40th-Girvan-3-Day-Cycle-Race-0 |title=40the Girvan 3 Day Cycle Race |last1=Lawrenson |first1=Carl J  |website=[[British Cycling]] |access-date=9 October 2016}}</ref>
: 7th Overall [[2009 FDB Insurance Ras|Rás Tailteann]]
: 8th [[Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic|East Midlands International CiCLE Classic]]
: 9th Overall [[Cinturón a Mallorca]]
::1st Stage 3
;2010
: 1st [[File:Jersey yellow.svg|20px]] Overall [[2010 Tour de Wallonie|Tour de Wallonie]]
::1st Stage 5
: 1st Monsal Hill Climb
: 1st Stage 2 [[Critérium International]]
: 1st Stage 1 ([[Team time trial|TTT]]) [[2010 Tour of Qatar|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 [[2012 Tour of Norway|Tour of Norway]]
: 2nd Overall [[Circuit des Ardennes (cycling)|Circuit des Ardennes]]
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
::1st Stage 1
: 4th [[Route Adélie]]
;2013
: 1st [[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] [[British National Circuit Race Championships|National Criterium Championships]]
: 3rd Monsal Hill Climb<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/british-racing/jack-pullar-wins-monsal-hill-climb-24480 |title=Jack Pullar wins Monsal Hill-Climb|date=6 October 2013 |website=[[Cycling Weekly]] |access-date=22 March 2016}}</ref>
;2014
: 1st Stockton Grand Prix<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/103093/Stockton-Velo29-Altura-Grand-Prix#results |title=Stockton Velo29-Altura Grand Prix|website=[[British Cycling]] |access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref>
: 3rd Ryedale Grand Prix<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/105371/The-Ryedale-Grand-Prix-inc-The-Peter-Longbottom-Memorial#results |title=The Ryedale Grand Prix inc The Peter Longbottom Memorial|website=[[British Cycling]]|access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref>
: 3rd Circuit of the Fens<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20140727-road-Adam-Blythe--NFTO-Pro-Cycling--wins-the-2014-Vericool-for-Schools-Circuit-of-the-Fens-0 |title=Adam Blythe (NFTO Pro Cycling) wins the 2014 Vericool for Schools Circuit of the Fens |last=Whitehouse |first=Andy |date=27 July 2014 |website=[[British Cycling]]|access-date=7 August 2014}}</ref>
: 3rd [[Newport Nocturne]]
: 4th [[Cycling at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – Men's road race|Road race]], [[Cycling at the 2014 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
: 5th [[Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic|Rutland–Melton International CiCLE Classic]]
: 10th [[2014 RideLondon–Surrey Classic|RideLondon–Surrey Classic]]
;2015
: 4th [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]]
: 4th [[Velothon Wales]]
: 8th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Playa de Palma]]
;2016
: 3rd Overall [[Tour du Loir-et-Cher]]
::1st Stage 2
;2017
: 2nd [[Poreč Trophy]]
: 10th [[Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic]]
{{div col end}}

===Track===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
;1999
: [[1999 British National Track Championships|National Track Championships]]
::1st [[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] [[British National Team Pursuit Championships|Team pursuit]]
::2nd [[British National Madison Championships|Madison]] (with [[Jon Clay]])
;2002
: [[2002 British National Track Championships|National Track Championships]]
::1st [[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] [[British National Scratch Championships|Scratch]]
::3rd [[British National Points Championships|Points race]]
;2003
: [[2003 British National Track Championships|National Track Championships]]
::1st [[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] [[British National Points Championships|Points race]]
::1st [[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] [[British National Madison Championships|Madison]] (with [[Dean Downing]])
::2nd [[British National Scratch Championships|Scratch]]
;2004
: 1st [[File:Gold medal blank.svg|15px]] Team pursuit, [[2004 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics|UCI Track World Cup]], [[Sydney]]
: 3rd [[British National Scratch Championships|Scratch]], [[2004 British National Track Championships|National Track Championships]]
;2013
: 3rd [[British National Madison Championships|Madison]], [[British National Track Championships|National Track Championships]] (with [[Jonathan McEvoy]])
;2014
: 2nd [[British National Team Pursuit Championships|Team pursuit]], [[2014 British National Track Championships|National Track Championships]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cycling archives|8329}}
*{{Procyclingstats}}

{{British National Road Race Championships (men)}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Downing, Russell}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Cyclists from Yorkshire]]
[[Category:British cycling road race champions]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Rotherham]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games cyclists for England]]
[[Category:Cyclists at the 2014 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]