RUSSELL DOWNING: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
With a superb performance at the Tour of Ireland, where he only narrowly missed out on the overall win, and the Tour of Britain coming up, cyclingweekly.co.uk took the opportunity to speak to Pinarello rider, Russell Downing.
Downing?s win on the fourth stage of the Irish race propelled him into the race lead, where he stayed until being outgunned by a rampant Columbia team on the final stage.
?I was gutted when I didn?t win, but [Marco] Pinotti [the eventual winner] is world class. Columbia had more cards to play [than I did]?.
That performance in addition to his domination of the Premier Calendar this season, has earned him a place on the Great Britain short-list for the World Championships in Italy. Downing has only represented his country at World Championship level once before, at Salzburg in 2006.
?I didn?t actually know I was on the short-list,? the Yorkshire-man admitted when he spoke to cyclingweekly.co.uk. But ?to go out on such a big race, it?s brilliant. Hopefully the Tour of Britain goes well next?.
Asked whether he will be staying with the Pinarello team next season, Downing was not sure. ?We?ll see if anything comes up. But I?ve worked quite closely with Phil [Griffiths ? the team manager] bringing the team up, so I?d be happy to stay on?.
With the Tour of Britain fast approaching, Downing is now Britain?s biggest hope of success.
Any plans? It?ll be the ?same as with the Tour of Ireland where I went in aiming for a stage win. But if you?re going for stage wins every day it harms your chances for the overall. I?ve got really good form at the moment, so I want to do well?.
Despite not having the strongest team in the race, the Yorkshire-man will certainly be a force to reckoned with in next week?s Tour of Britain.
TOUR OF BRITAIN 2008 LINKS |
STAGE REPORTS
NEWS
Behind the scenes at the Tour of Britain
No Cavendish at Tour of Britain
Tour of Britain on TV
GUIDE
Tour of Britain 2008 preview
Tour of Britain 2008 start list
EXTERNAL LINK
Tour of Britain official website: www.tourofbritain.co.uk.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
-
Dr Hutch: The aesthetics of the 'chest-fairing' is a funny hill to want to die on
The earnest buffoonery of budget aero hacks may rile TT diehards, but Cycling Weekly's columnist salutes the cut-price cunning of their innovations
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Why am I so tired? New AI tool promises to answer this and more from your wrist - tech round up
From a coach on your wrist to no-sealant in your tires: tech news that piqued our interest this week
By Luke Friend Published