The 53rd running of the Lincoln Grand Prix bike race has been won by Russell Downing riding in his new Pinarello Racing Team colours.
For the first time in eight years the classic event did not have to endure its customary downpour but was held in glorious sunshine. Unlike the weather the result was pretty easy to predict with Russell Downing repeating his win of three years ago. It was, again, a family affair with his brother Dean taking second spot having won the race last year riding for Rapha-Condor-Recycling.
Once again the evergreen Malcolm Elliott, 47 later this year, was in the mix until the final lap of the 86 mile race, which has to tackle the fearsome cobbles of Michaelgate hill no fewer than 11 times. Perhaps, the most courageous ride came from Chris Newton who managed to finish fourth in the sweltering heat, only two months after breaking his collarbone following a car door being opened in his path. The accident happened just before the track world championships in Manchester, which he was forced to miss, but Newton battled bravely in Lincoln.
The expected challenge from one of the pre-race favourites, David McCann, didn’t come to much as the three time Irish national road race champion had to settle for seventh place. In a change to previous years the start of the race was brought forward from 11.30am to 10am, a move which caught some of the fans out as they arrived too late to see the early action. Winner Russell Downing won the race in 3:16:05 with his brother coming in three seconds behind.
RESULTS
1 Russell Downing Pinarello Racing Team
2 Dean Downing Rapha-Condor-Recycling
3 Simon Richardson Plowman Craven RT
4 Chris Newton Rapha-Condor-Recycling
5 Kit Gilham Kenesis UK
6 Tom Southam Team Halfords Bike Hut
7 David McCann Giant Asia RT
8 Rob Hayles Team Halfords Bike Hut
9 Malcolm Elliott Pinarello Racing Team
10 Marcin Bialoblocki Sports Beans-Wiler