Brother Cycling’s indepth chat with former crit champion and much more, Dean Downing continues with part 7 of this serialisation – A Question of Confidence
Feature: Dean Downing – A Question of Confidence
Dean Downing was one of the most successful domestic pros in the modern era and is now a sought-after coach. Enjoy part seven of Brother Cycling’s serialisation of an in-depth interview with Dean by Timothy John. You can read the full article on the Brother UK Cycling Blog.
Alice winning the British Road Race Championship in 2019.
Like Dean (and Ben Tulett), Alice is a cycling sibling, sister to Hannah, her team-mate at Canyon-SRAM. The younger Barnes has shown greater versatility, excelling in a host of disciplines, including mountain bike, cyclo-cross and track before focussing on the road. Like her coach, she has won the Lincoln Grand Prix.
Dean was an eye-witness to arguably her greatest success. He rode with Simon and Sue Barnes, Alice’s parents, in the support car that followed her during her triumphant ride to win the 2019 British time-trial championships. He notes the contrast between her performance and impassive response.
“She raced brilliantly. I saw the times she was posting. She was so fast around the course but afterwards was so blasé, having done the ride of her life to become British champion. She’s not super confident all the time, and that’s where a strong relationship between coach and athlete can be valuable. I remind her of everything she’s achieved and encourage her to believe in herself,” he says.
Resiliency, so critical in business, is also an essential characteristic of the successful cyclist. In cycling, as with technology, experts build systems from which their clients can draw the confidence to perform. Dean’s detailed training plans and words of encouragement form part of a wider support network.
“I’m just a very small part of Alice’s journey, but it was pretty cool to see her win the nationals last year. When she won the British time-trial title, she smashed it, but her confidence is not always 100 per cent. She has a lot of people at British Cycling and Canyon-SRAM who support her, but she needed somebody to talk to, who could tell her when to back off, when to chill out, and when to be confident. So, in my opinion, that’s what we’ve achieved together.”
Dean first met his star client through the Tulett family and recalls a diffident character. Years later, they met at the Newport Nocturne, where Alice was supporting her partner Ollie Wood (Canyon-dhb p/b Bloor Homes). She confessed that she didn’t use her power meter; a revelation that further convinced him of her formidable talent.
He describes the younger Barnes variously as a “bloody brilliant bike rider” and a dedicated athlete who “hits all the numbers, comments and gets it done.” The success the pair have enjoyed so far might only be the start of greater things to come.
Click here to read the full article, or listen to Dean in conversation with Aussie Larry, Timothy John and Phil Jones MBE, the Managing Director of Brother UK, on the Brother UK Cycling Podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Sponsor Feature: Food at CHS Ciclismo (Spain)
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- CX Result: Scottish Cyclocross Series 2
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #3
- HC Result: Sid Valley CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: Chelmer CC GP Des Gentlemen
- HC Result: BEC CC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclo-Cross League Rd 3
- CX Result: North West Cyclocross League 4
- HC Result: Scottish Hill Climb Championships 2024
- CX Result: SWCX 3 (Devon)
- HC Result: Lancashire Road Club Hill Climb
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo Cross League 3
- CX Result: Central CycloCross League 5
- CX Result: Houghton Cycling Club Hill Climb
- HC Result: Bolsover And District CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Catford CC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Western CX Round 4 (Upton Cheyney)
- CX Result: CXNE League 2024 Rd 4
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo Cross League Rd 2
- HC Result: Severn RC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclocross League Round 5
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 5 (Southampton)
- HC Result: Tickhill Velo Club Hill Climb
- CX Result: Yorkshire Points CX League 2
- HC Result: East Sussex CA Hill Climb
- HC Result: Huddersfield Star Whs Hill Climb
- HC Result: Beachy Head Cycling Club Hill Climb
- HC Result: Rutland CC Hill Climb (Mam Nick)
- CX Result: Central CX League 4
- CX Result: South West CX League 2
- HC Result: Drighlington Bicycle Club Hill Climb
- Sponsored Feature: Renting your own private retreat in Spain
- HC Result: Welsh CA Hill Climb Champs
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- BMCR Result: Chairman’s Race (Oct 6)
- HC Result: Fibrax Wrexham RC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo-cross League 2
Other News on VeloUK
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- Rider News: Ben Marsh off to France to race
- Report/Result: World Gravel Championships
- This Weekend (Oct 5/6): National Trophy Cyclocross Round 1
- IOM 2024 YOUTH LEAGUE FINAL OVERALL
- Holiday Rentals: Escape to Casa Guadalest (Spain)
- Sponsor News: Custom Clothing from Santini
- News: Ribble launches the Allroad Ti – Crafted for More
- NEWS: The Pedal Club Lunch — September with Jez Cox
- Ultimate Cycling Experience at CHS Ciclismo
- Worlds: Great Britain Riders for 2024 Road Worlds
- Rider Report: Alistair Gardner wins two Kermesses
- EVENTS: Portmore Classic (29th of September, Dorset)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024