Education
Downing was educated at Wales High School and Sheffield Hallam University, where he graduated in 1998 with a degree in Construction Management.
Downing was educated at Wales High School and Sheffield Hallam University, where he graduated in 1998 with a degree in Construction Management.
In 2004, he represented Great Britain at the World Track Championships. Foreign the 2007 season, Downing rode for the original Recycling.co.uk team and focussed on the British Premier Calendar. In 2008 the team became Rapha-Condor-Recycling.co.uk.
After spending six years with the Rapha Condor squad Downing moved to the new Madison-Genesis team for 2013.
In September 2013 it was announced that Russell and Dean Downing would join the new NFTO cycling team for 2014. Downing retired from racing after competing at the 2014 Sheffield Grand Prix, near his hometown of Rotherham.
After retiring he became directeur sportif for the Polypipe Cycling Team in 2015.