Road Cycling UK

Russell Downing is a British professional cyclist. He was born in Rotherham in August 1978 and is the younger brother of fellow cyclist Dean Downing.

Downing came to wider attention in 1999 on winning the Team Pursuit at the British National Track Championships. Indeed, most of Downing’s early achievements came on the track; 2002 saw him become the 20km Scratch Race National Champion and he took the Points Race and the Madison in the following year.

The rider from Rotherham was no slouch on the road however, and he proved as much in 2005 by winning the British National Road Race. Downing has ridden for a huge roster of domestic teams over his career. He was disappointed by an abortive move to the American outfit Health Net-Maxxis in 2007, which would have been a sizeable progression for the cyclist.

Unperturbed, Downing continued to score notable victories; he was overall first in the British Premier Calendar for 2008, as well as placing second in the Tour of Ireland. He did one better the following season, taking the top spot in the Irish Tour.

2010 was a significant year for the cyclist as he joined the newly created Team Sky for two seasons. He rewarded the selectors belief by taking the second stage at the Criterium International and wining the Tour de Wallonie.

Downing moved to Endura Racing for 2012. He fulfilled a professional goal in 2013 by racing in both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, in which he came 62nd and 115th respectively.