Fonzy’s Still Top Man

29.04.05: Recycling.co.uk / MG XPower / Litespeed’s Russell ‘Fonzy’ Downing kept his overall lead in the Ruban Granitier Breton Stage Race in Brittany, France today after the race finished in a bunch sprint.

Fonzy finished in 4th place, just missing out on the time bonuses available to the first three across the line, but after three great days and two superb wins he later admitted “I didn’t have great legs today, I was on the front but died with 50 metres to go.”

You can’t ignore the impressive team that Downing has at his disposal in this race; not many teams can boast three world champions in their line-up, and with the entire team controlling the race early on, it was the huge figure of Paul Manning that pulled Russ up to the front when he found himself in the second group at the top of one of the stage’s climbs.

Downing still leads three of the race’s five competitions, the White and Green Jersey as overall leader, the Green Points Jersey and the Pale Blue Combativité Jersey as most aggressive rider. French cycling legend and five times Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault was at hand to present him with his spoils. Cool, or should that be ‘Heyyy!’

Web: www.recyclingteam.co.uk
Read the full race story here