Dean Downing was one of the most successful domestic pros in the modern era and is now a sought-after coach. Enjoy part one of our serialisation of an in-depth interview with Dean from Brother UK Cycling. You can read the full article on the Brother UK Cycling Blog.
Feature: Dean Downing In-depth
The names Dean and Russell Downing are synonymous with British cycle sport. Dean, the elder of the siblings that dominated domestic road racing in arguably its strongest era, is good conversation, to say the least. The first guest on the new Brother UK Cycling Podcast, he has much to discuss. The decision to extend his interview from one episode to two is soon reached.
Dean’s riding career by itself would justify a broadcast or article: countless domestic victories, a Track World Championships for Team GB, professional qualifications gained at Sheffield Hallam University and a sporting education gained in the all-consuming cycling culture of Flanders.
Dean’s motivations align with Brother UK’s in his embrace of continuous improvement and the value he places on long-term relationships; notably with Russell, but also with former team manager John Herety and his two most successful coaching clients, both of whom he met as juniors.
His work as a coach has already yielded two world championships for Ben Tulett (Alpecin-Fenix) and British elite road and time-trial titles for Alice Barnes (Canyon-SRAM), riders he first met through Ben’s father Alistair. Both are stars of a new era in cycle sport, but Dean’s embrace of modern, data-driven training methods has not come at the expense of the innate will to win obvious to any who watched him race.
“I always had the motto: ‘The finish line is there for a reason. You’ve got to cross it first.’ That’s the aim. Why else would you be there? Yes, racing is great fun, but if you’re a winner, the aim is to cross that finish line first. How you get there is another matter,” he says.
His determination to be the smartest rider in a race, even when he was not the strongest is both evidenced and obscured by the most satisfying triumph of his domestic career: victory in 2007 atop the brutal Michaelgate climb to conclude a savage war of attrition with Gordon McCauley, held in arguably the worst conditions witnessed at the Lincoln Grand Prix. ‘Deano’ hung tough and used all of his wiles to win on that day of days.
He is enthused by the abundance of young British talent and saddened by the demise of the domestic road scene. His analysis of the current malaise is, however, clear-sighted, rather than condemnatory. He identifies a vicious circle in which a steady diminution in the number of top-class races has prompted Britain’s best teams and riders to race abroad.
Our conversation is littered with names from a golden era for domestic cycle sport so recent it can almost be touched, and yet already passed into history; riders, managers, sponsors and races. The future, he hopes, can be brighter still.
Click here to read the full article, or click here to 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 on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.
LINKS
Full article: click here
Apple Podcasts: click here
Google Podcasts: click here
Spotify: click here
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
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Youth Result: Milton Keynes Youth Development Races
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU Sporting 21
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- TT Result: Knockhill Mountain Time Trial
- Youth Result: Lawford Youth Series
- TT Result: Bristol South CC Hardriders
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club TT
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- TT Result: Orwell Velo 15m TT
- TT Result: Hull Thursday RC Hard Riders 2Up
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly 22m TT
- Youth Result: SCC Youth Races
- Youth Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Crit Result: Not the Portsmouth Easter Circuits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #3
- Crit Results: Spring MK Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #3
- RR Result: NCRA Handicap RR #3
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- RR Result: Primavera Pursuit Road Race
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 8 mile TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team TT
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC 21m TT
- TT Result: Velo Club St Raphael 16.5 TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 13m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Whs Sporting 21.7m TT
- TT Result: Velotik RT 15m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs Hilly 20.2m TT
- TT Result: Hemel Hempstead CC 16m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- Team Report: Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team
- Team Report: CiCLE Classic Junior Men
- RIDER REPORTS – Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)
- GB News: Two World Titles for GB at Para Worlds
- Team News: Alba Development Road Team
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- THIS WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands
- News: RideLondon Classique