Three quarters of the new PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Race Team (Ian was having fun skiing!) decided to blow the Christmas' cobwebs away by racing in the Hillingdon Winter Series on Saturday 29th December. Without anything other than steady miles in their legs and on their winter bikes, the team weren't quite sure how the race would go but knew it would be tough, with 5 events in the series already contested and a very high standard of racing going on every week.
From the gun, the pace was high and Dan Kogan was instantly in the action at the head of the race, making moves and covering any others. James Whatling found his racing legs after a few laps and moved up to help him and hopefully make an early break while James Jackson hid in the pack, ready to take the sprint if it all stayed together. Moves and breaks came and went in the early stages of the race including one with both Dan and James Whatling in it, but without any of the series contenders in it, it was soon hauled back, and the counter attack which followed decided the race.
All of the riders vying for the Winter Series went away together and soon pulled out a 30 second lead. Knowing that if they could pull it back together, James Jackson would be the favourite in the sprint, James Whatling and Dan Kogan took to the front of the bunch and pulled hard, managing to close the gap to 10 seconds. Unfortunately for them though, the breakaway continued to work well together and without much help from the rest of the bunch, Dan and James had their work cut out pulling them back. The break did manage to stay away to contest the finish with Paul Pickup taking the win from Steve Golla (Sigma Sport). As predicted, James Jackson won the bunch kick but it was scant consolation for the team who had hoped for better.
For the first outing of the team there were plenty of positives, from Dan's eagerness to breakaway from the pack, to James Whatling's strength in pulling the bunch along and James Jackson's flying sprint. It never quite came together today but the signs are encouraging and when the races really kick off, the team will be ready.
Results:
1.) Paul Pickup
2.) Steve Golla; Sigma Sport
3.) Chris Moores: Norwood Paragon
4.) Andrew Bye: Sigma Sport
5.) Colin Parry: VC St Raphael
Pictures by Dennis Sackett: www.dgs-photography.co.uk
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