Hardest effort since September says Russell Downing of Holdsworth on his third at the Roy Thame Cup
 |
Pre-Race Chat: Russell Downing
It’s that time of the year where riders will have done a few race efforts in training but it’s not until you get into a race that you really get to feel what it’s like to be in the hurt locker again as you get a battering from your closest rivals.
A rider having his first race on Saturday last week was Russell Downing, at the Roy Thame Cup, a race in memory of the former manager of the original Holdsworth Team and so an event that meant a lot to the new Holdsworth team.
Speaking before the Jock Wadley, Russell explained “it was good to get a hit out. I got in the breakaway as I needed a good leg opener and that was probably the hardest I have been since last September. It was good for the team though – we tried to get in the race and while I got in the break, the lads got caught behind a crash and then there was a split and so on”.
“The group I was in wasn’t working well so I took my chances and attacked and had Matt Langworthy with me and he was going pretty well. I thought we were going to get away but no, we got caught and then it was cat and mouse. The Tifiso guy was up the road (Rupert Graham, winner) and he was going well. He rode away and everyone was looking at each other and we never saw him again”.
Asked about racing versus training, Russell told me “It is totally different to training. I have started to feel not great in training but have been good the last few weeks but yesterday (Roy Thame Cup) it was hurting and everyone was saying how grippy it was. I need to race back to back though and then relax this week”.
Good luck to Rus in the forthcoming races…
Cycle Division’s New Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Chitterne Road Races
- Result: Sussex Cycle Racing League Circuits #5
- Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races (April)
- Result: Drefach Road Race
- Results: Scottish Youth Tour
- PERTH GRAND PRIX (SCOTLAND)
- TT Result: Blaydon CC 2 Up TTT – N&DCA Team Championship
- TT Result: Sydenham Whs Centenary 10
- TT Result: Stowmarket and District CC 16.2m TT
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 25
- TT Result: Melton Olympic CC 10
- TT Result: Kent CA 10
- TT Result: Exeter Whs CC Sporting 17
- TT Result: Fife Century Road Club 25
- TT Result: Mid Shropshire Wheelers 25
- Result: Bramley Wheelers CC 10
- Result: RTTC National Road Bike Championship
- Race Report: Plymouth Corinthian CC’s Spring RR
- Result: East Cleveland Classic
- April 19: PNE National B Road Race
- Result: Pembrey Circuit races (Tuesday)
- Result: East London Velo Spring Crits 1
- Result: Isle of Man Youth League
- Result: Project 51 Cyclopark 3/4 Stage Race
- TT Result: Paramount CRT Hilly 20
- TT Result: North Lancashire Road Club 50m TT
- BMCR RESULT: PINVIN ROAD RACE
- STARTLIST: East Cleveland Classic
- Result: Project 51 Cyclopark Circuit Race
- TT Result: Vector Racing 25m TT
- TT Result: Vector Racing 10m TT
- Result: West Lothian Grand Prix
- Result: Witham Hall Junior Women’s 2-Day
- Result: Witham Hall Junior Men’s 2-Day
- Result: Scottish Youth Circuit Series R2
- Result: Ennerdale 2025 Season Opener 1
- Result: ARCC Moscow APR
- Result: Velo Bavarian Crit League 4
- Result: West Midlands Youth Series 3
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10
Other News on VeloUK
- PERTH GRAND PRIX (SCOTLAND)
- April 19: PNE National B Road Race
- STARTLIST: East Cleveland Classic
- Startlists: Witham Hall Junior Two Day (Men & Women)
- Startlist: Totnes-Vire Two Day
- STARTLISTS: Cold Dark Capenwray Road Races
- News: CiCLE Classic – Volunteers Wanted
- Startlist: Danum Trophy 2025
- This weekend: National Under 23 Road Series Rd 1
- Road Championships Heading to Wales
- Glasgow Track League Final Standings
- SUNDAY: Dulwich Paragon Wally Gimber Trophy
- NEW: Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix, Rotherham
- Club News: Halesowen Academy 10th Anniversary Teams
- Club News: Edinburgh Road Club Youth Squad 2025
- BIG NEWS! TOUR DE FRANCE GRAND DEPART IN SCOTLAND
- News: Pedal Club Lunch (March)
- News: Merlin Cycles Rivington Brewing Co. Racing Team
- Startlist & Press Release: CiCLE Classic 2025
- West Lothian Grand Prix, biggest ever prize pot
- Pro Gravel Team: Ribble Outliers
- STARTLIST: PEAKS TWO DAY STAGE RACE
- Start Lists: 17th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- Entries: Evesham Vale Road Race 2025
- Events: Tuesday Night Youth Race Series (West Lothian Cycle Circuit)
- TLI Cycling Report: Rhyl CC Races
- BMCR’s TOUR OF THE ABBERLEYS
- Coming Soon: Peaks Two Day (YBC)
- News: Prestigious Award for Cat Ferguson
- Startlist: 41st Jock Wadley Memorial
- Quiz Time: Leon Atkins (Fensham Howes MAS Design)
- Quiz Time! Seth Jackson
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup Race
- Day 3 Report: British Track Championships
- SUNDAY: Clayton Spring Classic Handicap
- Quiz Time! Harrison Dainty (Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team )
- BMCR NEWS: Race dates change & new one
- News: CHS Host Winning Brits in Spain
- News: Pedal Club February Lunch Report
- News: Ribble Cycles to Sponsor Women’s CiCLE Classic
