NFTO Pro Cycling’s Russell Downing has signed a one-year contract with the team CULT Energy Pro Cycling
![]() |
News – Russell Downing joins CULT Energy Pro Cycling
NOTE: Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
CULT Energy Pro Cycling is happy to announce that the British rider Russell Downing has signed a one-year contract with the team. Downing will be the fifth rider to officially join the team.
“Russell is an amazing rider with great talent; He has great experience both at continental level but also at Pro tour level which he gained at Team SKY in 2010-2011. Russell is ready to step up the game together with CULT Energy Pro Cycling in the major UK races in 2015″ Sporting Director Michael Skelde states.
“I’m delighted to be returning to pro continental racing with Cult Energy Pro Cycling for 2015. The team looks very exciting with a great mix of young and experienced riders. I’m Looking forward to joining the squad next yearâ€Â Russell Downing said in the team press release.
The Cult Energy Pro Cycling squad has been racing at a UCI Continental level in recent years but is Pro Continental in 2015 and the Danish team is currently making a number of important signings. Speaking to Russell shortly after the team made the announcement, he explained how signing for the team a few days ago all came about very quickly. “I got a message from Martin Mortensen (also a team rider) who I knew from racing saying the team were looking for British rider and was I interested?â€
‘Fonzy’s new team are looking to get their products known in the UK hence signing a British rider for what is largely a Danish team with a Luxembourg connection. The team apparently have a lot of young riders and will be looking to riders like Russell, 4th in the Commonwealth Games and 10th in RideLondon, to pass on their experience.
The South Yorkshire rider though is as good as ever turning the pedals around if what we saw on the British roads this year. “I’m mega excited to be back in Europe and raring to go†says the Stockton Grand Prix winner who in order to win a record breaking fifth Lincoln GP will have to win the British Road Champs which is on that circuit in 2015.
Dean, now retired, and Russell, going as strong as ever.
Being part of a ProConti team and the silly UCI rules that stops riders in such teams riding British events including UCI 1.2 events, a rule introduced apparently to stop Lance Armstrong dominating US events way back when, means Russell won’t be racing in the UK much in 2015 but he is hoping his team gets a ride in the British UCI events due to be held in Yorkshire, Wales, London and round Britain.
“I am mega relieved to have found a team for next season†he told VeloUK. “I came back to the UK this year for a reason, to ride alongside my brother Dean in his retirement year and then crashed out two days before the Tour Series. So that knackered those plans up. I put that behind me though and was doing mega miles for the Tour of Britain. During that period, I got a last minute call up for the Commy Games and did a ‘ride’ thereâ€.
Saying to Russell he seems as strong as ever on the bike, he explained “I am probably training a little bit different now especially since I broke my collarbone and I have felt really strong and I don’t feel I’m 36 years old. Pro Conti is where I think I should be and it’s great to get the opportunity to do it for another year, maybe longer.â€
Signing pre winter says Russell is very helpful in helping him put 2014 behind him and after a little break, getting stuck in as only Russell can to the winter training to prepare for a cracking season in Europe. Russell will continue to be based in South Yorkshire adding that this does mean spending a lot of time in airports and travelling.
“Where I live is probably one of the best in the country being a UK bike rider with three or four airports within an hour and the area is great for training as well. It isn’t as glamorous as many think but it’s what we love to doâ€.
Russell has a team training camp in December before looking ahead to whatever the race programme is in 2015 and we wish him all the best and hope his race programme is every bit as exciting as he deserves.
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Beverley Town Centre Races
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- Crit Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits 11
- Crit Result: RCR FatCreations Goodwood Summer Special
- UK Armed Forces Inter-services Road Race
- Report: TLI Cycling ‘Belgium Training Series
- BMCR RESULT: The Ron Day MK Bowl Circuit races (July 23rd)
- RR Result: Bath RC Junior National Series Road Race
- Crit Result: West Thames League 15
- Crit Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday Series 15
- Crit Result: Bath CC Mid Summer Series 2
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #17
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team 10m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- Youth Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 14
- TT Result: Verulam Cycling Club 25m TT
- TT Result: Manchester & District Ladies CA 25m TT
- TT Result: Ferryhill Wheelers CC 25m TT
- Crit Result: Banbury Star Crit Series #2
- RR Result: Lakes Road Club Summer Road Race
- National Circuit Series: Colne
- TT Result: Kings Lynn CC 15m TT
- TT Result: ECCA 10 mile Time Trial
- TT Result: Chorley Cycling Club 10m TT
- TT Result: Houghton CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 10m TT
- TT Result: Farnham RC 10m TT
- Crit Result: King&Queen of the Bowl Series #13
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team 10m TT
- Crit Result: Lichfield/Velospeed No Frills at Curborough #7
- TT Result: Swindon RC & Swindon Wh 50m TT
- Crit News: Spatzwear Friday Night Crit Series #6 | YBC
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Crit Result: Thanks Crit it’s Friday 7
- Crit Result: Omega Portsmouth Circuits 6
- Result: BMCR National Road Bike TT Championship
- Crit Result: Ride Revolution Coaching Summer Crits #2
- Crit Result: Shutt Velo Rapide Hitters Crits Rd2
Other News on VeloUK
- 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
- Ribble Redefines Road with launch of Allroad
- BMCR: National Road Bike Time Trial Championship
- SUNDAY: Bath Road Club Junior National Series Road Race
- TLI CYCLING FEATURE: SUPER4SERIES
- NATIONAL CIRCUIT SERIES UPDATE 2024
- News: Josh Tarling Extends Contract at Ineos
- Tour of Britain for Men 2024
- News: Connor Swift Extends Contract with Ineos
- Updated GB Olympic Team News
- Sunday: 2024 Youth Circuit Race Championships (Cyclopark)
- ROBBED BY THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY – National Highways
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Championships E/F/G/H
- OLYMPIC NEWS – Team GB Announces First Riders for Olympics
- News: Alex Richardson Retires
- New Releases from Shutt Velo Rapide
- STARTLIST: Men’s British Road Race Championships
- STARTLIST: 2024 Women’s British Road Race Championships
- Startlist: 2024 CAMS Yorkshire Classic Road Races
- Startlists: 2024 Circuit Race Championships
- Startlist: CAMS Ronde van Wymeswold
- Startlists & 2023 Results: National Time Trial Championships
- NEWS: Star Studded Line Up for National Road Champs
- Riders so far: London Dynamo Summer Road Races
- Women’s Tour of Britain Startlist (provisional)
- News: Lincoln winner hit by car
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Cycles Races
- GB Team Named for Women’s Tour of Britain
- STARTLISTS: NW, Yorkshire & NE Regional RR Championships
- Startlists: East Midlands Road Race Championships
- News: Ribble Rebellion Race USA’s Armed Forces Cycling Classic
- TT Result: Legato Racing Team 10m TT
- Pre-Race Rider Quotes: Ford RideLondon Classique
- STARTLIST: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- Team News: Tour of Britain for Alba Development RT
- Startlist: Totnes Vire 2024
- Starters: NW Junior/U23 360cycling Two Day