Cycling: Downing wins thriller

Apr 2 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

A THRILLING finish saw Russ Downing beat 116 elite cyclists to win the 23rd annual Northumbria Water Tour of the Reservoir road race, writes MARK DOUGLAS.

Downing pipped rival Kristian House by 10 seconds to triumph over the gruelling 84-mile circuit, which starts in the County Durham village of Edmundbyers before finishing with seven laps of the Derwent reservoir.

The triumph represented the perfect start for Downing and his Pinarello team to the eight-race British Cycling road race series, which started on Sunday with the reservoir tour race.

The record field included former Tour de France riders as well as Olympic hopefuls – but it was Downing who took the honours. He formed an early leading group alongside title rival House, while Simon Richardson, Rob Partridge and Tom Southam made up a chasing pack. A second Downing brother, Dean, was also in the hunt for most of the race.

Downing, House and Richardson broke away when the race reached the crucial seven-lap tour of the reservoir, with the Pinarello rider crossing the finish line just ahead of his two rivals.

Co-organiser Mike Hodgson hailed the quality of the field in a race, which he thinks is going from strength to strength.

He said: “These teams are the Manchester Uniteds, Chelseas and Arsenals of the cycling world, and it made for a very good race over a very picturesque track too. This race goes from strength to strength.”