Dean Downing: A career in pictures

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.

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