Downing pipped on the line by Clancy

Graham Briggs (centre) celebrates coming first with second place Dean Downing (right) and third place Matt Cronshaw (left).

Despite the disappointment, the Madison Genesis cyclist was positive about the performance he and his team-mates put in.

“We rode great as a team – always around each other.”

“I had to hit out early in the sprint out of the last tight corner and getting beaten by millimetres is tough, but at least I know my form is good and we as a team are now up to second overall.”

Madison Genesis were third in the team result at Torquay, and sit second in the Tour standings.

Downing was due to return to action on Thursday in Colchester for stage six, and stage seven takes place in Redditch next Tuesday.

Torquay wasn’t the first time Downing has come close to victory in the series.

In week two at Stoke on Trent he picked up second place.

The professional rider said: “I was on Yanto Barker’s wheel for the finish but just didn’t have the kick in the end to come around him in the last 150m.”

“Second, and my first top three finish of this year’s Tour Series is good I suppose, but I was a bit disappointed at not taking the win.”

Following that he took sixth place at Aberystwyth in round four.

He added: “Consistency is normally the key at the tour series rounds, so I think we are doing pretty good.”

“We will keep chipping away for that debut team win, that’s for sure.”

Younger brother Russ finished Bayern-Rundfahrt in 63rd position for Team NetApp-Endura, while Anston’s Ben Swift rode to 20th for Team Sky, having finished second on the opening stage.