DOWNING WINS CRIT CHAMPS

RAPHA Condor-Recycling ace Dean Downing took victory in the National Criterium Championship in East Yorkshire on Friday evening, and is now targeting victory in the next round of the Premier Calendar, the East Yorkshire Classic, on Sunday.

Downing attacked with two laps remaining of a twisty course around Beverley market, and just managed to hold off the rapidly approaching challenge of Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut) and Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven RT) to take the jersey he last held in 2002.

But after allowing himself a few moments of celebration, his thoughts turned to Sunday?s road race.

?Realistically Russell has won the Premier Calendar series,? he admitted, referring to his brother Russell who leads the series comfortably. ?But I?ve got great form at the moment, so I?ll be going to win the last few remaining events - starting on Sunday.

?I?ve got a great chance to take another win on Sunday because my morale is sky-high and I?ve got the form as well,? added Downing, who won a stage of the UCI 2.1 Sachsen Tour in Germany a week ago while sporting a GB jersey.

Russell Downing crashed heavily during the Criterium on Friday night, and while he escaped relatively unhurt his Pinarello Prince was not so lucky and snapped in two. But he will be back in action on Sunday and will be aiming to secure his sixth victory in this year?s series.

National Criterium Championship (Beverley, East Yorkshire).-
1 Dean Downing (Rapha Condor-Recycling)

2 Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut)

3 Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven RT)

4 Peter Williams (Pinarello RT)

5 Ian Wilkinson (Science in Sport.com)

6 Simon Gaywood (Plowman Craven RT)