Downings Destroy Field in Lincoln GP
recycling.co.uk / MG XPower / Litespeed’s Russell and Dean Downing destroyed the field in the 50th edition of the Lincoln Grand Prix yesterday finishing over two and a half minutes in front of their nearest rivals. After his hat trick of wins in France a week ago Russell proved that he is in the form of his life and took the victory ahead of his older brother at the top of the infamous one-in-six Michaelgate climb.
The Downings were part of a strong 16-man group that formed in the early skirmishes of the race when team mate Chris Newton, a winner of this race in 2000, lead the charge up the first accent of Michaelgate to initiate the winning move.
With six laps remaining Russ attacked the lead group closely followed by his brother and Yanto Barker (DFL), with the trio working well together to build up a comfortable lead before Barker was dropped with just two laps to go.
Nothing could stop the Brothers now and the victor was decided on the final accent up to the finish line in the historic castle square with Russell edging ahead of Deano to take the win he had dreamed of as a boy.
The result
1. Downing, Russell Recycling.co.uk 3:55:12
2. Downing, Dean Recycling.co.uk 06
3. Elliott, Malcolm Pinarello RT @02:36
4. Sharman, Rob Recycling.co.uk @ 02:45
5. Ford, Martin Team Rochelle
6. Roche, Andrew Team Rochelle
7. Urquart, Duncan Viner Bikes/Agis
8. Barker, Yanto Team DFL
9. Manning, Paul Recycling.co.uk 3:00
10. Gamble, Scot Ashfield RC 3:12
Roger Hammond rides at Lincoln
Although slightly off the pace in 29th place Roger Hammond continues to recover after his crashes in the Spring classics. Obviously a man to be watched at Lincoln and a late entry at that. He must have had the recycling boys sweating a bit the night before…
Giro Prologue and stage 1
The prologue was always going to be a close thing, but it was only 18 seconds covering the 200 odd riders. Olympic Madison Champion Stuart O’Grady took the track distance straight test to heart and rode a fixed wheel. Top Brit Bradley Wiggins will look to the later TT stages to flex his legs, in the meantime Paolo Bettini took the first stage and the Maglia Rosa. Flat stage today. Petacchi to win perhaps?
Prologue results
1 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare 1.20.958 (51.75 km/h)
2 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 0.01
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
4 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Discovery Channel-Pro Cycling Team
5 Olaf Pollack (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.02
6 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Cofidis-Le Credit Par Telephone
7 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Credit Agricole
8 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Francaise Des Jeux
9 Sergio Escobar Roure (Spa) Illes Balears
10 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
11 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Credit Agricole
