2007 52nd Lincoln Grand Prix Interviews

 

Story posted May 17, 2007
by Larry Hickmott

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The Lincoln Grand Prix was, as it always is, a special race and this year more than most because there were so many riders in the front group who could have won it. In the end, a rider – Dean Downing -- who admitted he was even struggling at one stage,  won the race and if ever there was a win born out of ‘a hunger to win’ it was this. One look at Dean’s face with a lap to go and everyone knew he wanted it, as did another determined rider in Gordon McCauley. British Cycling spoke to the riders on the podium and also a well known face and voice on the race, Roger Hobby.

 

 

Russell Downing (former winner and 3rd in 2007): Pre race we spoke to the former British Road Race champion and also a former winner of the Lincoln Grand Prix. “Although I’d like to be out in the States (Russell is riding for a US based team, Healthnet -- www.teamhealthnet.com), as soon as I knew I wasn’t going to be there, I range the Lincoln organiser to get a spot in the race.”

 

“My working visa for the US is a bit of a tricky situation because I was trying to fly in and out of the country on a travelling visa as the team assured me that would be fine. So I had three trips to the States planned and it was legal as you’re allowed to be there for 90 days and I was going to be coming home for three week periods in between them.”

 

“But when I went to Philadelphia, they just said I can’t come in on that visa anymore. So now I have had to come home and apply for a proper visa and that is a lengthy process. The team have had to fill in forms in the US and I have to wait for them to come here, and then go to the embassy in London and have an interview. Hopefully the forms will be here soon and I can get that all done and fly out straight away around the end of the month.”

 

“The team want me back for Philadelphia week because that was a big objective for us this season and then I’ll be back for the Nationals. I’ve been keeping busy riding my bike, training and I won a race last week, the  John May RR.”

 

“The day I got home, I rang Ian and asked if it was possible to get a ride and it was granted. I rode the Archer this year too and that was frustrating but this is a good race to do for me and not far from home. You have got to know how to ride this race. If it rains, it will be horrendous. I have ridden it once before when it has properly rained and it was just carnage on the cobbles. It’s alright for the first few guys because they get on the slabs at the side”.

 

Talking about the first lap and how crucial it was for him… he says “the first lap is going to be mad with there being 180. Personally, I think that is too many, especially with it being a Premier Calendar and the top race in the country. I think they should lower the field and it would make for a better race. You can’t fit 180 guys up Michaelgate.”

 

“As soon as you have started, you drop down one of the back roads into Burton, a quick S bend and then onto a straight. So the start is pretty crucial. The first half a lap can be where it is won or lost.”

 

Post race, Russell Downing, like the other two on the podium, was shivering with cold and as he walked to get some warm clothing, we caught up with him for a final word on what had been a great day for the Downing family. “It is good for Dean and Rapha to win this being an English team. It was always going to be me or Dean. I went with two to go with Jonny Dayus and I think it was Gordon who brought us back so obviously he was going well and deserved his placing.”

 

“When Dean went over the top, I was a bit gassed, and just monitored the group and watched what happen before taking third. It was a bit of a strange race and everybody was tired. Riders were always attacking but nothing ever stuck. I think with it being only 80 miles, there were a lot of fresh legs to bring things back.”

 

 

Dean Downing gives his fiancée Katy Atkinson a kiss to celebrate a great victory in a great race.

 

Dean Downing “Unbelievable" was Dean Downing’s first reaction. "I am lost for words. The last time up the climb was amazing. All the guys from Rotherham and everywhere shouting my name. I cramped with two laps to go and the last time up there but it worked out okay. Gordon and I worked so hard to the bottom of the climb. We hardly said a word to each other and on a climb like this you have to take it on don't you?"

"I am so, so, so happy!"

 

"I want to thank everyone who supported me in the rain and my team was fantastic. I can't believe I have won the Lincoln Grand Prix. The rain made it very difficult and it was a hard race but quite negative early on and then that big group went and it stayed away. Everyone worked and before we knew it we had three minutes. Rob Hayles was going like a motorbike today."

 

The face says it all -- a lap to go and Downing is giving it full gas and then some on the cobbles in the heart of an historic Lincoln.

 

"Then with four of five to go over the top of the climb, he kept going so hard and I was struggling at the back of the group and it was a hard hard chase all the time. Everyone was getting tired near the end though and when Gordon attacked, I went after him and everybody sat up."

 

“Russell and Jonny Dayus were away and they came back and near the hospital on the flat bit before the climb, one and half to go, Gordon went and everybody watched. I switched to the other side of the road and went after him. A few people chased but it was chaos and people were looking at each other to do the chasing and before you know it we had 50 metres. Going for a victory like this, I was never going to slow down.”

 

“To the finish, both of us just went hard up the climb and I thought he’d come back because I slipped quite a bit on the steep part and then when I got to the tarmac, I had about 20 metres and I thought he won’t catch me now… it was good.”

Gordon  McCauley (right) “I’m second again – that sucks. I didn’t want to have to go to the hill with Russ (Downing) and thought it better to take my chances with Dean because when Russ was punching it up the hill, I couldn’t follow him. I was like in the second best group up there so when Russ was hitting it up the climb, I knew I wouldn’t beat him up there. So I thought better to take my chances with Dean.”

“I lost his wheel a bit halfway up. He hit me and I was clawing it back all the way to the line but it was too late.”

 

Talking about the early stages of the race, he says “I had my team set me up for the first three laps where they rode full speed up the climb to put me in a good position which made my life a lot easier as I could float the climb the first few laps, let people pass me and jump on the back over the top. So my team did a lot of hard work and rode like a true European pro team.”

 

On the rain he said “I love racing in the rain, the ‘sh#ttier’ the better. The cobbles were fine –sit down and pedal.”

 

Overall he said "it was a hard race today, and the rain made it even more difficult," commented the 35 year old McCauley. "Dean deserved his win today. I predicted that the cobbled climbs would be where the race would be won, and despite just loosing out I'm pleased with how I went, especially since I've had a chest infection and been on antibiotics this last week."

Roger Hobby, commentator (right during sunnier days on the race): For as long as I have been going to the Lincoln and for a long time before that, Roger Hobby has a strong link with this race. Last Sunday, he was out judging at the youth events held at the Sports Complex and then stood on the back of the podium truck keeping everyone within earshot of where he was stood near the castle, informed of what was happening in the race, microphone in one hand, a race radio in the other!

 

Afterwards back at headquarters, he had this to say when asked about the race “I think because of the weather particularly, I think people wanted the race to split. There was a lot of pressure early on to make the moves. It needed the right blend of riders to make them stick though and eventually the elastic broke. The racing was really good over those first few laps.”

 

“Chris Newton (a former winner) was very strong and attacking all the time and every lap there was a different guy leading them up the climb each time. When the break finally went, the race settled down before the attacks came again. They are all experienced riders and knew they had to split it and they kept trying and there is an element of luck there although I’m not detracting from Dean’s win in any way.”

 

“Russell Downing and Jonathon Dayus were close to get it sorted and then they lost it and Dean Downing and Gordon McCauley went. That’s what is great about bike racing because you don’t know who is going to win. It’s the man who has a bit of good fortune and judges it right and makes the right move. Somebody once said you have to be the last person to attack or put another way, the first person to attack at the last possible moment. Russell and Jonathon were too early and Dean and Gordon got it spot on.”

 

“The public were great too because they stayed in the rain to watch this race and the presentation and they love it. People come from all over the country to watch it along with ordinary Lincoln people, not just the bike riders. It is a great spectacle, a great advert for young people and bike racing at its best.”