Tour Series Round 2: Downing wins as Rapha Condor move up the standings

Tour Series 2009 – Round 2 – Exeter

Fine weather, a carnival atmosphere and huge crowds greeted the riders for the second round of the Tour Series in Exeter last night. On a classic, compact street circuit of sharp turns, narrowing straights and fans banging the boards, Rapha-Condor rider Dean Downing claimed a great win at the end of a frenetic hour’s racing.

By mid-way through the race a group of a dozen riders, containing Downing, had formed. The break, also containing Olympian Ed Clancy, stayed away until Rapha-Condor rider Downing attacked in the last 200 metres to take the win. After his slightly disappointing race at the Milton Keynes round last week, Downing was obviously out to put things right in Exeter, and his finishing kick showed just why the 2008 National Circuit Champion is one of the UK’s best exponents of this type of racing.

Rapha-Condor won the team prize on the night, with Downing, Tom Southam and Kristian House making up the winning trio coming home in 7th and 10th places respectively. After two races of the 10-round Tour Series Candi TV – Marshalls Pasta hold on to the overall team leaders’ jerseys - after a solid team performance with last week's winner Graham Briggs bagging 4th and Simon Holt 8th home of the top 10. Rapha-Condor are in second in the team standings and Plowman Craven in third.

Individual Results – Tour Series Round 2 – Exeter 28.05.09

1. Dean Downing RAPHA-CONDOR
2. Jeroen Janssen PLOWMAN CRAVEN - MADISON
3. Rob Hayles HALFORDS-BIKEHUT
4. Graham Briggs CANDI TV – MARSHALLS PASTA
5. Yanto Barker SIGMA SPORT SPECIALIZED SPORTFUL
6. Andy Tennant HALFORDS - BIKEHUT
7. Tom Southam RAPHA-CONDOR
8. Simon Holt CANDI TV – MARSHALLS PASTA
9. Matthew Higgins TEAM CORLEY CYCLES
10. Kristian House RAPHA-CONDOR

Team Results – Tour Series Round 2 – Exeter 28.05.09

1. Rapha – Condor
2. Team Halfords Bikehut
3. Candi TV – Marshalls Pasta
4. Plowman Craven – Madison
5. Sports Beans – Wilier
6. Sigma Sport Cycling Team
7. Team Corley Cycles
8. BMC UK Racing Team
9. www.cyclingbargains.com
10. Endura Racing

Tour Series Team Standings after Round 2

1. Candi TV – Marshalls Pasta
2. Rapha – Condor
3. Plowman Craven – Madison
4. Team Halfords Bikehut
5. Sports Beans – Wilier
6. BMC UK Racing Team
7. Sigma Sport Cycling Team
8. Team Corley Cycles
9. www.cyclingbargains.com
10. Endura Racing

Full results will be available on the Tour Series website: www.tourseries.co.uk

Tour Series Dates

Round 3 - 2nd June - Woking
Round 4 - 4th June - Peterborough
Round 5 - 9th June - Blackpool
Round 6 - 11th June - Southport
Round 7 - 16th June - Stoke on Trent
Round 8 - 18th June - Colchester
Round 9 - 23rd June - Chester
Round 10 - 25th June - Southend on Sea

Highlights of last night's Tour Series action will be on ITV4 tonight at 7PM.

The race now moves to Woking on Tuesday the 2nd of June, as the Tour Series begins it’s bi-weekly racing. After the Woking event proceedings quickly move to Peterborough for Thursday night’s race.