Russell Downing is new British Road Race Champion

 

 

Sunday, 26th of June, 2005; British Cycling's Larry Hickmott reports

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Steve Cummings (Silver), Russell Downing (Gold) and Yanto Barko on the green outside the stately home in Duncombe Part with the band playing in the background!

 

“I’ve wanted this all my life” was the reaction of an ecstatic Russell Downing moments after winning his first national Road Race title in front of a big crowd in the picturesque grounds of Duncombe Park, near Helmsley in North Yorkshire. Downing just missed out on the national Criterium championship in Otley on Wednesday, but made up for it great style round a tough, undulating course on the South-West fringes of the North York Moors national park, an area ravaged by the storms of last weekend, but once again at its scenic best during a race run off in almost perfect conditions.

 

The race itself was decided in many ways by an early break, when fifteen riders went clear, leaving several of the pre-race favourites stranded in the main bunch. The break managed to build up a reasonable lead before hard work by the main pack, including defending champion Roger Hammond, brought it down to just 15 seconds. However, that was as close as they got and, in that final window of opportunity, only Andrew Jackson managed to get across to the leaders, and Jackson was then one of the main protagonists as a series of attacks threatened to split the leaders. Jonathan Dayus and Steve Cummings were eventually successful and forged a gap, with about 10km to go.

 

However six of the chasers from the original lead group then bridged across to them within the next couple of kilometres, including Russell Downing. Downing then made the race-winning move just 5km from the finish, taking just Steve Cummings with him and the pair of them were soon secure in the knowledge that one or other would be the champion within the next couple of minutes.

 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their relative strengths and weaknesses, it was Downing, a master of the art of clinching race wins in these situations, who edged out Cummings on the line. Yanto Baker won the sprint for third place from Chris Newton, as the rest of the escapees came in just 14 seconds down, with Robin Sharman giving the Recycling team three of the top five places.

 

POST RACE REACTIONS
Russell Downing (Recycling/Litespeed): On the Wednesday before the National Road Race championship, Russell Downing, shrugged his shoulders after finishing second in the National Circuit Race Championships and said "there's always Sunday". Little did we know that he would win that road race championship with so many champions including himself in that race but win he did and in great style. His first reaction when I caught up with him recovering from cramp on the grass of Duncombe Park, was "I messed up on Wednesday and that gave me more determination today to win".

 

"This has got to be my best win and tops off a good year. I had good legs all day, it was just a matter of holding a bit back bit really. I went a bit flat with two hours to go, but that was just after we had ridden hard to get across to the move." A Recycling win though was looking shaky when Jonathon Dayus and Steven Cummings went away with around eight miles to go. As I passed Russell and two other Recycling riders, they were looking pretty tired but they pulled the duo back. "I went after them and tried to get something going, but there was nothing there. Once they had the gap it was really hard, and eventually a few guys came back and we caught them."

 

Talking about the final roll of the dice where Russell attacked and was joined by Steve Cummings, Russell explained that "I attacked on the last steep climb and drilled it. I looked back and Steve Cummings had come with me and I said 'come on Steve, lets just ride' and he was sort of committed but after 130 miles, everyone's legs are knackered."

 

Asked was he confident of beating Cummings, Russell replied "I was but my legs were twinging a bit with cramp so I tried to leave it late and I thought I'm not going to jump too much because my legs were starting to go. I am glad it was Steve and the uphill sprint suits me down to the ground."

 

Steve Cummings (Landbouwkredit / Colnago): When I came alongside Steve Cummings and Jonathon Dayus late in the race and they were clear with no-one in sight behind, I really thought those two would fight out the medals. But, a little further down the road and there was a very select group that had formed out of the remnants of the original break including Dayus and Cummings. "Jonathon was going good on the climbs" Steve told me "and I said before the race it was all or bust and that this was a race I really wanted to win. That break was good because they (Recycling) had three guys and we made them chase us and I think that may be that softened them up."

 

"At the end I was cramping up a bit but congratulations to Russell."

 

About the silver, the former Junior Road Race championship replied "I'm a bit gutted to be honest. Second is nowhere really, it was win or nothing." When I mentioned it was a close call with the bunch getting within 15 seconds of them, Steve explained it was under control and that gap coming down was only due to them (the break) messing about. Asked if the break worked well then, he said ""no break really worked well until the last one when we had three Recycling guys and that was working okay. I think that was because everyone was too tired to attack anymore."

 

Talking about the final kilometres with Russell, he said "We worked well together. I had a little dig with about 5k to go and tried to get ride of him because I knew he would probably have a better chance in the sprint but I couldn't drop him.

 

Yanto Barko (DFL): Like yesterday when I saw Emma Davies struggle with cramp in parts and still come through and win the bronze, the same has to be said of Yanto who I saw struggle at times, or perhaps he was just saving his legs and bluffing a bit but no doubt about the pedigree of his medal, beating no less than Chris Newton in the sprint who was riding so strong all day. "I'm glad I pipped him, it was a bit close. I had a good solid ride today and did everything right. I am actually pleased for the team who rode well. We had a good team meeting last night and everyone had a job to do and they all did it. I think if you can't have Gold, bronze is the next best. Second you tend to be gutted because you're the first loser but I'm happy with bronze".

 

Of his form, he said "I am pleased with my form and I just hope the selectors for the Tour of Britain will recognise the solid team we have got and give us a ride in the Tour of Britain which is the teams objective."

 

I just want to use this report to thank the organiser Bob Howden and the Escort group for carting me about on the two days.Without them, a lot of the pictures would not have been possible. Thanks also to the riders for two exciting races .. roll on 2006! (Larry Hickmott)

 

Results (provisional)

 1. Russell Downing           Recycling.co.uk / MGXPOWER / Litespeed
 2. Steve Cummings            Landbouwkredit / Colnago
 3. Yanto Barker              Team DFL / Trek / Scwalbe                     @ 14s
 4. Chris Newton              Recycling.co.uk /Litespeed 
 5. Robin Sharman             Recycling.co.uk / MGXPOWER/Litespeed
 6. Jonathan Dayus            Arctic Building Services/ Shorter Rochford Cycles
 7. Andrew Jackson            EC St Etienne-Loire/Casino/Credit Agricole/Moser/Look
 8. Daniel Lloyd              Team Flanders
 9. Roy Chamberlain           Team Milton Keynes/Phil Corley Cycles/Trek/Abbeygate Developments
10. Duncan Urquhart           Viner Bikes / Agisko Sports Nutrition
11. Evan Oliphant             Recycling.co.uk / MGXPOWER / Litespeed       @41 seconds
12. Geraint Thomas            Adidas/Science in Sport
13. Neil Coleman              Cycle Europe/Bianchi
14. John Tanner               Planet X/On One
15. Mark Cavendish            Adidas/Science in Sport
16. Roger Hammond             Discovery Channel AMD/Trek
17. Ben Greenwood             Recycling.co.uk / MGXPOWER / Litespeed    
18. Jonathon Rosenbrier       EC St Etienne Loire
19. Phil Dixon                Team DFL
20. Gareth Jones              Team Fuji Bikes
21. Phil Axe                  Rutland CC
22. Mark Wordsworth           JE James Cycles
23. Mike Harrison             www.cyclestore.co.uk
24. Adam Illingworth          Team Milton Keynes
25. David Clarke              Bouygies Telcom Carribean
26. Richard Wilkinson         Angliasport/Condor
27. Chris Daddy               Star Bikes RT
28. Richard Sutcliff          Chalons en Champagne
29. Matthew Brindle           Josan/Mercedes Benz
30. Rob Partridge             Fuji Bikes
31. James Dobbin              Arctic Shorter Rochford
32. Edward Whitehorne         Glendene CC Bike Trx
33. Alex Coutts               Flanders/Braveheart Fund
34. Richard Whitehorne        VC Pontivy
35. Alistair Kay              York Cycle Works
36. Alex Higham               Stilton RT
37. Danny Axford              Arctic Shorter Rochford
38. Daniel Martin             VC La Pomme
39. Hamish Haynes             Cyclingnews.com
40. Tim Dunford               DFL
41. Matthew Higgins           CC Giro
42. Jeremy Hunt               Mr Bookmaker
43. Daniel Fleeman            PS Cruesot
44. Tom Barras                Cyclingnews.com 
45. Kevin Dawson              Planet X
46. Gordon kemp               NB Group Fox Racing
47. Steve Higgins            JE James Cycles
48. Christoper Mark          Biketracks
49. Rob Hayles               Recycling.co.uk / MGXPOWER / Litespeed
50. Jules Birks              CycleEurope
51. Gareth Hewitt            JE James Cycles
52. James Williamson         Tarbes Pyrenees
53. Martin Ford              Team Rochelle
54. Steve Lampier            www.cyclelogic.co.uk
55. Greg Roche               Fuji Bikes
56. Matthew Stephens         Sigma Bikes
57. Rick King                Bannatyne CRT
58. Kristain House           Fuji Bikes
59. Paul Manning             Recycling.co.uk / MGXPOWER / Litespeed
60. Mark Lovatt              Planet X/On One
61. Dale Appleby             Fuji Bikes
62. Dave Coulson             JE James Cycles
63. Chris Belsham            York Cycle Works
64. Keiran Page              AVC Aixois
65. Richard Estham           Anglisport/Condor
66. Paul Rennie              North Beach Dooleys
67. Ben Pochee               Penzance Wheelers 2nd
68. Matt Brammeier           Adidas / Science in Sport Elit
69. Steven Kenny             Kuota / Biemme

 

With a huge crowd watching, Russell Downing just edges out Steven Cummings for the British Road Race Championship for men, 2005.

 

 

Yanto Barker just beats Chris Newton for the bronze medal ....

 

 

Organiser and chief sponsor, Bob Howden in front of the riders as they line up for the off in the magnificent grounds including a castle ruin and too many sheep to count of Duncombe Park...

 

 

 

Paul Manning driving the break along with Ben Hallam.

 

 

Jeremy Hunt and Malcolm Elliot leading the chase from the main peloton.

 

 

Rob Hayles drives the break hard to ensure it doesn't get caught by the main group which got as close as 15 seconds.

 

 

Defending champion Roger Hammond leads the chase from Mark Cavendish.

 

 

There was a period late in the race, where from the back, all I could see was a series of attacks being launched as riders tried to get away and form a smaller more select break.

 

 

Steve Cummings leads Jonathon Dayus as they try and get away from the break with around 15k to go.

 

 

The feedzone was packed with rider's helpers with mussettes and bidons to hand up on a hot day in the saddle for the riders.

 

 

Early in the race on the first circuit and the field is lined out and starting to split before easing up and regrouping.

 

 

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