Downing completes Smithfield Nocturne and Ryedale double

On Saturday night Russell Downing outsprinted Tony Gibb and Ben Swift to win the Smithfield Nocturne in London. After the Nocturne, he hot-footed it to North Yorkshire for the Ryedale Grand Prix, the latest round of the Premier Calendar.

The race was dominated by an escape group of three who were only caught by a chasing group with four kilometres to go. Downing then beat Halfords Bikehut rider Ian Wilkinson.

The win sees Downing extend his lead in the season long Premier Calendar competition that he won so comfortably last year.

In the continuing saga of the Plowman Craven team, former rider Tom Murray rode as a private member in Yorkshire. Both team owner Simon Barnes and long-term team member Tony Gibb have vowed to work to keep the bulk of the squad together, although they did expect to lose some riders.

See www.cyclingweekly.com for more later.