dˈaʊnɪŋ wʌz bˈɔːɹn ˌɪntʊ ɐ bˈaɪk ɹˈeɪsɪŋ fˈæmɪli: æz wˈɛl æz hɪz ˈoʊldɚ bɹˈʌðɚ, hɪz fˈɑːðɚ wʌz ˈɔːlsoʊ ɐ bˈaɪsɪkəl ɹˈeɪsɚ.
Downing was born into a bike racing family: as well as his older brother, his father was also a bicycle racer.