FEATURE: Rotherham's new cycling team is ready to roll

ROTHERHAM'S first ever professional cycling team is launching into race action, marking a milestone for the sport in Yorkshire.

ROTHERHAM'S  first ever professional cycling team is launching into race action, marking a milestone for the sport in Yorkshire.

And for Russell and Dean Downing, the town's biking brothers helping steer the operation, the new venture is a dream come true.

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In its famous orange and blue colours, Holdsworth was a prominent name on the racing circuit many years ago, taking teams to the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix, before finally applying the brakes in 1978.

Then, five years ago, the name was bought by Dave Laughran, founder of Rotherham-based retailer Planet X. He did nothing with it until last autumn when the decision was taken to dust it down and get a fully fledged team under the Holdsworth banner up and running again.

In barely 20 weeks, the new kids on the block acquired bikes and equipment, assembled a 13-strong group of riders and conquered all the other logistical challenges associated with bringing a new team to the starting line.

It's been a truly united effort and very apt that the Downings, two former British champions with many decades of racing experience between them, should help lead the way.

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Russell will be out on the roads as captain of the team while Dean, now retired from racing, is team manager.

"Massive investment has gone into it from Planet X," says Russ. "I came on board in the early days with Dave and did a lot of the groundwork with him, getting the team sorted. Dean joined later initially as a coach but slotted into manager role and it's good to all be working on the same page.

"Dave has had teams in the past and wants to put another one on the map and the brand as well.

"It's a Rotherham-based company so why not have two Rotherham-based boys heading it up?

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"We've done a lot for local cycling, myself and Dean. It's two local boys working for a local team so it's a dream come true.

"Also, a lot of top quality riders have come out of Rotherham, Sheffield and Yorkshire over the years, going back to Brian Robinson, Malcolm Elliott and Chris Walker. We have a young lad in the team, Jake Womersley, who is Brian's grandson.

"A lot of riders have come out of this area but no actual pro team, this is the first."

Holdsworth's squad includes riders from Italy, Germany and Ireland as well as domestic riders. 

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"We hand-picked the team a little bit," admits Russ. "It was last minute and some riders had already got teams but we still managed to get a strong one and we've been together on and off over the winter. We're getting there now."

As well as a morale-boosting invite to the Tour de Yorkshire in May, the team's reach will be truly international.

They'll take part in the Tour of Hungary in August and already have a couple of invitations to China.

For Dean, now 43, his role means he can combine together all his behind-the scenes experience he's accumulated on and off the bike in recent years.

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"I've done parts of it before," he says. "I've worked for my own team and Russ's team last year, JLT Condor, as a rider for six years and then as an assistant manager. But this is a big opportunity."

Team selections will be in the hands of the Downings and with the riders competing for a limited number of race places, it won't be easy.

"The first race is simple, it's nine riders for eight places," says Dean. "The second one is more difficult, it's 11 riders into six and the last one is 11 riders into eight. They know that and are all training for the same reasons and races and I sit down to talk with them about their goals.

"I'm busy looking at all the their data and speaking. Every one of our riders is a full-time athlete and it means they have all the time in the world to train."

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Holdsworth have been checking out the Tour of Yorkshire routes. They have race a UCI race down at Melton Mowbray on Sunday and a National Series event at Klondike the following Sunday before the Tour of Yorkshire.

Both Dean and Russ started both started riding at the age of eight and the new venture has given both a new lease of life.

Added Dean: "The people in and around Planet X and even our families are all excited. We can't wait to really get racing."

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