Dean Downing: A career in pictures
CW looks back at the career of the Yorkshireman ahead of his retirement after tomorrow's Sheffield GP.
Dean Downing
NFTO rider Dean Downing will retire from racing after tomorrow's Elite Circuit Series round in Sheffield.
Downing, who was born in nearby Rotherham, has been a mainstay of the British scene for a decade and has won the domestic calendar's biggest races in that period.
Here, Cycling Weekly looks back at the career of the charismatic 39-year-old.
Downing pictured in Rapha Condor-recycling.co.uk colours in early 2007. He was well established on the scene by then, having won the British Circuit Race Championships in 2002, and events such as the Tour of the Reservoir and Newport Nocturne.
Downing outsprinted Gordon McCauley to win the Lincoln GP in 2007. Brother Russ finished third.
Tears after winning the Lincoln.
Posing after winning the overall of the Bikeline Two-Day in 2008.
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On the track at Manchester during a Revolution meeting in Manchester.
Posing for the cameras at the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
Alongside Mark Cavendish at the same event. Cavendish took yellow after winning stage one in Waterford; Downing placed fifth in the sprint.
In the British Circuit Race Champion's jersey, Downing took individual glory in Exeter and Woking during the inaugural Tour Series in 2009. His celebration in Woking (above) was more traditional than the "nipple pinch" pose he opted for in Exeter (below).
Ready to race, Revolution 32, January 2011
Downing and Tom Murray (Sigma Sport-Specialized) tied for victory in the Clayton Velo Handicap, 2011.
A perfect team display at the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic in 2011 was rounded off when Australian Zak Dempster (pictured with Downing, right) took the victory.
Despite their strength, Rapha Condor-Sharp missed out on the overall Tour Series titles in both 2009 and 2010 by five points. However, Downing won in Colchester as John Herety's team dominated the 2011 season. Here he is riding aggresively in Oldham.
After Team Sky opted against re-signing Russ for 2012, the brothers were reunited in the British peloton. Here they are on the startline of the Otley GP.
Downing pictured at London 2012, where he was a guest car driver for the men's and women's road races.
After five seasons in the black, white and pink of Rapha, Downing joined Roger Hammond's Madison-Genesis team for their inaugural 2013 season. He is pictured here during a coffee stop during their Majorcan training camp last February.
Taking on The Tumble during the GP of Wales Premier Calendar last summer.
Downing picked up his first win of 2013 at the Beaumont Trophy, and followed that up with victory in the Sheffield GP (above) just weeks later.
Taking in the applause at the Sheffield GP.
Talking to former team-mate Graham Briggs at the Monsal Hill-climb last year.
Another change of teams for 2014 saw Downing team up with his brother at the fledgling NFTO squad.
Cornering in the wet at this year's Tour Series round in Aberystwyth.
Tour Series director Mick Bennett with Downing in Stoke-on-Trent in 2011.
Dean Downing: key results
2013
Beaumont Trophy
Sheffield GP
2011
An Post Ras; stage one
Tour Series Colchester
2010
Tour of Taiwan, stage five
Dumfries Bikefest Grand Prix
Tour Series, Exeter and Peterborough
2009
Brighouse Circuit Race
Tour Series, Exeter and Woking
Tour of the North, two stages
Blackburn GP
2008
Sachsen Tour, stage
Bikeline Two Day, overall
National Circuit Race Championships
2007
Bikeline, stage
Bikeline, stage
Girvan, stage
Darley Moor Criterium
Tour of Reservoir
Lincoln Grand Prix
Yorkshire Region Road Race Championships
2006
Aaslt st Truiden Interclub
2005
Bermuda Grand Prix, stage
Tour of Reservoir
Stoneleigh Criterium
Milton Keynes Criterium
Metaltek Grand Prix road race
2004
Tour of Munster International, stage
Metaltek Grand Prix
Bungay Criterium
Presten Arena Criterium
Mike Binks memorial
Seacroft Wheelers road race
York Cycle Works road race
Neil Gardner Memorial
2003
Schellebelle Criterium
Ronde van Zuid-Oost Vlaanderen
National Madison Championships
2002
National Circuit Race Championships
Dean Downing and Helen Wyman win Sheffield Grand Prix races
Sheffield Grand Prix 2013: George Atkins takes overall win in British Cycling Elite Circuit Race Series
Dean Downing wins Beaumont Trophy
Dean Downing takes bunch sprint win in Beaumont Trophy as Hannah Barnes continues winning run with Curlew Cup victory
Dean Downing: Rider Profile
Dean Downing - rider profile, biog, results, photos
Dean Downing wins Blackpool nocturne
Two man escape dominates the race as Rapha Condor Sharp take three of the top four places
Dean Downing wins in Taiwan
Rapha-Condor-Sharp rider wins fifth stage in Tour of Taiwan; David McCann leads overall
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Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.