Dean Downing (Rapha Condor) powered to a second consecutive win in the Tour Series, as the team criterium event reached round three in Woking.
Downing (pictured) attacked six laps from the finish of the tight circuit, and time trialled remorselessly to finish well clear of the bunch. The ensuing sprint was won by Plowman Craven-Madison’s Tony Gibb, with team mate Stephen Adams in third, and Jeroen Janssen in seventh spot.
Those three placings represented the best team performance on an evening which saw Candi TV’s challenge fall away after Graham Briggs was forced to climb off, having fallen twice.
Rapha-Condor now lead the overall standings, by one point from Plowman Craven-Madison, who are just a point ahead of Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta.
Their leader Malcolm Elliott took the sprint prize, after edging out Stephen Adams, but the night belonged to Downing, who ensured there was to be no repeat of his strange celebrations last week in Exeter where he plucked at his white skinsuit.
“This time I gave it the full crucifix!” said Downing who had flung his arms out in celebration on crossing the line.
However, Rob Hayles and Ed Clancy failed to inspire a lacklustre Halfords Bikehut team, who continue their struggles.
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“We had no legs today,” explained Hayles, who had ridden in the Edinburgh nocturne event and was feeling the effect of the racing and the travelling. His team stand fourth in the table.
The Tour Series now heads into a double-header phase, with Tuesday and Thursday night racing. Round four is on Thursday (June 4) in Peterborough.
You can watch TV coverage of the Tour Series Woking round on ITV4 on Wednesday (June 3) at 7pm.
Photo by Paul Watson
Individual results: Round 3, Woking 1. Dean Downing (Rapha–Condor)
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