Welcome to the Hell of the East.

We all love our bikes, (especially us at the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team, as our Isaac Impulse bikes are the best in the peloton!), they’re our pride and joy, we don't want to damage them or risk breaking them in races because we spend a lot of money on them, a lot of time cleaning and maintaining them, making them run as smoothly as possible for riding and racing. Alan Rosner of Heron Cyclesport likes bikes too i'm sure, but he doesn’t care for the way they look, he just likes to test them and their riders to the limit in his exciting, testing and unique races.

The Tour of the Dengie Marshes, held on Sunday 30th March, was the rebirth of a true classic. Narrow, exposed farm roads, just a stones throw from the North Sea, coupled with sections of gravel and farm tracks made for the most challenging and excited race the Eastern Region has seen for many years and was a fitting tribute to Chris Negus, to whose memory the race was dedicated.

The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team fielded a full team for this challenging event and, although some of the team had already experienced the race in it's first edition back on the calendar, this was a new course and promised to be tougher than even before. Thankfully, (although Daniel Kogan might disagree!) heavy rain in the lead up to the event didn't stop the use of the offroad section as this was part of what made the race so special and contributed so much to the overall result. You only had to count the numbers of spectators gathered to watch the riders suffer on the slippery offroad section to know this was a crucial and exciting part of the race, everyone fixated on the riders working hard to reach the end of the section without mishap.

The race went hard from the gun, with riders fighting for the front before the neutralised section had even finished. A lined out field hit the first farm roads and hell was unleashed, with riders fighting for wheels and splits up and down the field. When an early move containing most of the strongest riders in the race forged ahead, including Ben Luckwell and Billy-Joe Whenman (Sport Beans/Wilier), Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport) and Matt Holmes and Darren Barclay (Arctic-Premier RT) they worked well together and managed to establish a lead that was never relinquished.

James Whatling worked hard to get himself into a seven man chase group which included Adam Norris (Heron Cyclesport) Stephen Skuse (Wildside RT) and Ben Thompson (Glendene/Bike Trax) and, although they worked hard, they never quite had the cohesion to catch the leading group.

The leaders came to the finish together and Billy Joe Whenman sprinted to take the win from Martin Smith and Ben Luckwell, a well deserved victory for the young Sport Beans/Wilier rider. Behind them the chase group had splintered, with Stephen Skuse making a fine solo break on the final lap to take 7th place. James Whatling sprinted in for 12th place, a good result for the rider coming back from an Achilles injury.

The rest of the field were split over the course, all covered in mud, all suffering but all loving the experience. Dan Patten was strong but unlucky. He had briefly made it to the leaders and then suffered a puncture and spent the rest of the race charging through the field, always driving the groups he encountered and eventually gaining some reward with a hard riding 15th place.
The rest of team all suffered some misfortune at one point or another but all finished, a credit to them in such harsh conditions.

The whole of the field returned to the HQ to wash off the mud, but all of them with smiles on their faces and plenty to talk about. Whether Alan Rosner made sure everyone had the full Roubaix experience by turning the hot water off in the showers no one will ever know!

The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team’s Isaac Impulse bikes proved themselves in the one of the toughest race environments they will encounter this season. Two riders in the top 15 in such a hard fought race is a fine result for this first year team, and with the team preparing for the East Midlands Cicle Classic, they can be sure that their Isaac bikes are more than up to the task.

Results:

1.) Billy Joe Whenman: Sports Beans/Wilier
2.) Martin Smith: AW Cycles
3.) Ben Luckwell: Sports Beans/Wilier
4.) Andy Lyons: Heron Cyclesport
5.) Matt Holmes: Arctic-Premier RT

12.) James Whatling: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
15.) Dan Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Thanks to Mark Cozens: www.mphotography.co.uk and Neil Rankin for the pictures.

Dan Patten works hard at Dunton.

Fresh from a weekend's hard riding in Belgium, where he was unlucky with a mechanical on Saturday and then forced a break in the closing stages of a kermesse on Sunday to take a creditable 26th, Dan Patten took the more local option on Bank Holiday Monday and competed in the Bill Temme Memorial Criterium at Ford's Dunton Test Track.

Despite a snow storm as the race rolled away, there was a strong field present and all were there to race on a weekend where many races had been cancelled. The attacks went from the gun, with James Jackson (Plowman Craven RT) in particular, trying to shake things up. As ever at Dunton, the bunch were very attentive and it wasn't until the race was 45 minutes old that a move finally stuck, with Dan at the head of things in the company of Heron Cyclesport duo Andy Lyons and Adam Norris. As with many of the day's attacks, the bunch deemed this strong trio too dangerous and hauled them back in, as another pair of riders went on the counter attack. Straight away, Dan Patten attacked in pursuit and, taking Adam Norris and another rider with him, they soon caught the lead duo and set about pulling away from the bunch. Finally it looked like a break was going to stick and, when Andy Lyons bridged across to the escapees and added his considerable strength to the lead group, the gap increased and the bunch began to break up under the pressure of the pursuit.

Dan and Andy Lyons combined forces to ensure the break stuck and, with five laps to go, the break were clear and holding off a three man chase group containing James Jackson and Graham Galvin (Team Economic Energy). Dan then had his work cut out in the finale coping with the experience of Lyons and the sprint of Adam Norris, and with the rest of his breakaway companions unprepared to do the work required to win, Dan had to respond to the moves of the Heron Cyclesport duo alone. As the race reached the final corner, Andy Lyons opened up a gap at the front and, forced to take the initiative or risk seeing him ride away, Dan attacked and pulled up to him, only for the rest of the break to then attack Dan. Adam Norris proved how strong he is in the sprint and took the win, with Dan taking fifth, a great result but not quite what he deserved after all of the work he did in shaping the race.

Results:
1.) Adam Norris: Heron Cyclesport
2.) Joe Skipper: VC Revolution
3.) Matt Carden: Team Quest
4.) Jake Butler: In Gear Development Squad
5.) Dan Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Wild weather at the Surrey League Easter 3 Day.

Easter it might have been, but spring it most certainly wasn't! The Surrey League Easter 3 day turned into the Easter 2 day and those two days took place in some of the worst weather the UK has seen all winter with the riders battling snow, hail, rain and wind....and that was only the first day!

Martin Bryant, Ian Franklin, Dan Kogan and James Whatling were part of an 80 strong field that lined up at Rake in West Sussex for the first stage on Saturday 22nd March and the snow had already started to fall. With 10 laps of a course that included a 25% climb, the stage was always going to be tough, but the increasing snowfall, biting winds and a field containing teams from Arctic Premier, Glendene/Bike Trax and the In Gear Development Squad meant that the racing was going to hard from the off.

As early as the first lap, the 25% ascent of Milland Hill had bitten into the legs of the field and when Matt Talbot (Glendene/Bike Trax CC) attacked hard shortly after, only a few riders could respond and the first break of the race was established. Knowing that he needed to be in the break, the in form Daniel Kogan showed his strength and surged clear of the bunch, bridging up to the escapees and completing a group that worked well and pulled clear of the field.

Back in the main field, another split occured after continued pressure over Milland Hill and the rest of the team were on the wrong side of it. Keen to test himself after injury, James Whatling drove hard leading up to the fifth climb of Milland and forced another split, pulling away with two other riders. They worked well for a lap but the peloton weren't keen on letting anyone else go and reeled them back in, as the heavens opened and a fierce hail storm created a near white out.

Daniel Kogan was feeling the cold in the front group and as the snow started to fall hard across the course, a tree also fell down hard, right across the course! Turning the road race into a cross race, the field were forced to round the tree through the woods and somehow the racing continued despite it being quite obvious the race was over. In the lead group, Matt Talbot attacked leading up to Milland Hill and took the win and the yellow jersey, with Daniel Kogan fighting the cold to cross the line in 9th place, 30 seconds down on GC but within touching distance with two days to go.

The second stage was held at Dunsfold Aerodrome and although the open, flat circuit wasn't an ideal hunting ground for the climber Kogan, he set about defending his position and showed his strength by attacking the field whenever he could. The race was fast and the wind blew strongly around the exposed circuit, making it hard work holding position but Daniel, helped where possible by good teamwork by Ian, Martin and James, was more than up for the task. The speed of the circuit and the vigilance of the teams with riders high on GC meant that any breaks were soon reeled back in, but a small group managed to pull themselves away in the last few laps. Despite a strong chase by the main field, the escapees worked well together and managed to hold the bunch off, with Ben Thompson (Glendene/Bike Trax CC) taking the win from Jerome Walters (Sigma Sport) and Charlie Emery (University of Birmingham). With the bunch keen to keep any time gaps down to a minimum, they followed in less than 20 seconds later, so the overall general classification was unchanged leading into the third, and decisive day in Edenbridge.

The forecast for bank holiday monday was much improved but, unfortunately, they couldn't have been more wrong! As the riders waited to get changed, outside was like a winter wonderland, the snow falling heavily and with no sign of any let up. With the snow settling on top of the hills on the course and a lack of marshalls and lead car, the commissaire had no choice but to make the decision to abandon the race and let the positions on GC stand. Daniel Kogan was a little disappointed, feeling that he could have improved his position on the tough, hilly course, but he went home safe in the knowledge that he rode an strong, attacking race in very difficult conditions and finished in 8th place and the highest placed Under 23 rider on general classification.

Results:

Stage 1:
1.) Matt Talbot: Glendene/Bike Trax CC
2.) Chris Moores: Norwood Paragon
3.) Robert Willcocks: Ajchva Limoux
4.) Darren Barclay: Arctic-Premier RT
5.) Tom Hemnant: London Dynamo

9.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Stage 2:
1.) Ben Thompson: Glendene/Bike Trax CC
2.) Jerome Walters: Sigma Sport
3.) Charlie Emery: University of Birmingham
4.) Darren Barclay: Arctic-Premier RT
5.) Simon Wilson: Arctic-Premier RT

Overall General Classification.
1.) Matt Talbot: Glendene/Bike Trax CC
2.) Chris Moores: Norwood Paragon
3.) Robert Willcocks: Ajchva Limoux
4.) Darren Barclay: Arctic-Premier RT
5.) Tom Hemnant: London Dynamo

8.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Kogan wins the Ed Taylor Memorial!

Daniel Kogan produced a fantastic virtuoso performance to secure his, and the team's, first win of the season in atrocious conditions at the Ed Taylor Memorial Road Race at Thurlow on Sunday 16th March.

The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team fielded Daniel Kogan and Ian Franklin in what is considered an early season classic in the Eastern Counties and, with both riders showing good form in the lead up to the race, confidence was high that the team could secure a good result. The weather decided that any rider that wanted to be victorious in this race would have to battle the elements as well as the course, as the wind blew and the rain fell hard.

With primes every lap and good prize money on offer, the race exploded as soon as the lead car pulled away. Ian Franklin took to the front, driving hard and stringing out the field, with Daniel sitting not far behind, ready to attack. Kicking hard up the first of the circuit's two hills, Daniel managed to take around half a dozen riders with him and they soon opened up a gap.

Keen to get as many primes as possible, Daniel showed his talent for the climbs and rode strongly up the finishing climb to take the points and split the lead group to just him, Digby Symons (Cambridge CC) and Joe Skipper (VC Revolution). These three rode well together for another few laps and increased the gap to just under two minutes, whilst Ian policed the bunch behind to ensure his team mate stayed away. Four laps into the race and Digby Symons' race was over. Whilst riding flat out around a sharp left corner Digby collided with a car which shouldn't have been on the course, putting himself out of the race and into hospital. (Digby has since been diagnosed with a broken collar bone and we wish him well for a speedy recovery). Not having seen the collision, Daniel struck out on his own for the remaining 25 miles with a minute and a half gap to a hard riding chase group of fifteen riders. In full time trial mode, Daniel drove through the wind and the rain, taking the primes as he went and managed to hold off the chase group for his, and the team's, first win of the season. Ian, having worked hard to defend Dan's lead, showed his strength by finishing 14th, another fine performance for the team.

All in all it was a successful day at the Ed Taylor Memorial for the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team with a win, all but one of the primes, a King of the Mountains Prize and a top fifteen placing. Roll on the Surrey League Easter 3 day!

Results:
1.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
2.) Carl Dyson: www.cyclingbargains.com RT
3.) Sean Kilroy: Glade CC
4.) James Cloeman: Witham Wheelers
5.) Will Hedden: Glade CC

14.) Ian Franklin: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Thanks to Mark Cozens for the pictures: www.mphotography.co.uk

We're in Cycling Weekly!

Luke Edwardes-Evans of Cycling Weekly followed the team on one of their training routes around Essex recently, and the article he wrote about the team and the ride is featured in this week's magazine. Luke has graced the team with a wonderful piece outlining the team, it's aims for the season and some interesting little soundbites from Team boss Trevor Maddern and the rider's themselves.

The team would like thank Luke for all of his hard work in producing a well written, informative piece and to Cycling Weekly for the coverage.

Check out the magazine in your local newsagent now!

The Dans get the job done at the Jock Wadley.

For the first time this season the full PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team lined up for the Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race, on Sunday 9th March. It was a chilly but clear morning for this early season classic, with enough wind to make the racing tough as it went through the open reservoir sections. Befitting a race of this stature, the field was full and contained some of the best riders in the country with Rapha/Condor/Recycling fielding four riders and strong teams from Wildside RT, Sigma Sport, Plowman Craven RT and Heron Cyclesport.

It was Rapha/Condor/Recycling who made the opening break of the race, managing to put three men in the opening break, a move that was to prove decisive. Dan Kogan might have got a little bit lost on the way to the race, but once there, he definitely knew his way to the front and pulled away with Graham Briggs, Luke Rowe and Rhys Lloyd (Rapha/Condor/Recycling), Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport), Tom Kirk (Team Corley Cycles) and Bradley Johnston (Sportscover). Instantly the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac racing team moved into position at the front of the chasing bunch to disrupt the chase and allow Dan's group to get away. They made no friends at all but Daniel Patten, James Whatling and Ian Franklin ignored the abuse and stuck to their task. Special mention must go Daniel Patten who was obviously feeling strong and spent laps at the front of the chasing bunch, following wheels and riding a very canny race to allow his team mate to escape.

As the race went on, it became clear the break would stick and the field began to break up as the wind and the pace of the race took it's toll. Daniel Kogan was still riding strongly in the leading group, mixing it with some of the best young riders in the country (minus Rhys Lloyd, who had problems with his shoes and was forced to pull out) and more than holding his own. Seeing his opportunity, as the bunch started to disintegrate, Daniel Patten set off in pursuit and showed his strength by bridging 2km solo up to the next group on the road.

Further down the field, Ian Franklin was feeling the effects of his hard work keeping the break away and his subsequent solo effort to break clear himself and, safe in the knowledge that he had done a good job for the team, called it a day after three hours racing. He was joined by James Whatling, who had just completed his longest (and hardest!) ride for 3 weeks because of injury and didn't have it in his legs to continue.

As the leading group started the bell lap, the Rapha/Condor/Recycling duo of Graham Briggs and Luke Rowe had broken away and Daniel Kogan was pulling hard in the front group to reel them back in. A chasing group was fast approaching and it looked like they would all come come together for the finish, as the heavens opened with hail and rain, making the final lap even harder. As the they riders came to the finish line, Luke Rowe took to the win from his teammate Graham Briggs. A group then sprinted in, with Gary Dodd taking third. Daniel Kogan was a victim of the terrible weather as he couldn't see and lost contact with the group on the last lap but finished 11th, a fantastic result from the first year senior, after having been in the leading break for 140 km. Daniel Patten finished strongly to take 13th place, showing his form is good after having worked hard at the front of the bunch defending and then escaping on his own. Martin Bryant defied the bruises from his crash at the Wally Gimber to finish and will have better days as he recovers from his injuries.

Once again the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team showed themselves that they are becoming a team to watch. With Daniel Kogan making the break of the day, the team worked hard at the front of the bunch and showed what a strong unit they are and how they are prepared to work together to get the results.

Results:
1.) Luke Rowe: Rapha/Condor/Recycling
2.) Graham Briggs: Rapha/Condor/Recycling
3.) Gary Dodd: Sigma Sport
4.) Chris McNamara: Wildside RT
5.) Ben Thompson: Glendene/Bike Trax CC

11.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
13.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

A promising start to the season.

It's finally here, the 2008 Season has begun and the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team started their campaign at the Dulwich Primarvera (Wally Gimber) on Sunday 2nd March.

The team for the race were Martin Bryant, Ian Franklin, Dan Kogan and Daniel Patten, with the injured James Whatling acting as soigneur for the day. Thankful that the day dawned dry and bright, a change from the driving rain of the 2007 edition of the race, everyone was excited to be racing again and although there were some pre-race nerves, the team showed their strength by taking the first line as the riders bunched up for the race briefing.

The dry roads and the favourable wind direction meant that the racing was fast from the start, with the field lined out over the flatter sections of the course. As early as the first lap, attacks were going in and Rob Enslin (AW Cycles) kickstarted proceedings by breaking away on his own as the field neared the end of the first lap. With the field in pursuit, lead by the full Plowman Craven team, the pressure was on and a chase group consisting of Simon Gaywood (Plowman Craven RT), Simon Richardson (Plowman Craven RT), Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles), Chris Mcnamara (Wildside RT) and Richard Sykes Popham (K.F.S) formed and pulled away from the main bunch. Working together well, the group soon caught the lone leader and increased the gap back to the chasing peloton.

Back in the bunch, the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team were putting themselves about, making a few moves and working to pull back the breakaway. Daniel Kogan always looked strong at the front on the climbs and Daniel Patten was especially active, sitting at the front of the bunch, pulling hard and doing his best to ignore the teams trying to disrupt the chase. Ian and Martin were also looking strong and not too fazed by the high standard of racing, despite this being their first road race of 2008.

As the race neared the finale, disaster struck for Martin Bryant. With the pace high and the pressure on, a rider in the bunch hit a hole and went down, leaving Martin with nowhere to go except over him. Martin hit the road hard, making quite a mess of his elbows and hurting his back. His race was over but, like the trouper he is, he'll be back at the Jock Wadley, albeit a little bruised and a bit stiff.

The lead group were never caught, and Simon Gaywood timed his sprint to perfection to take the win from Richard Sykes-Popham and Roy Chamberlain. The bunch hit the final climb and splintered, with Daniel Patten sprinting strongly through the field for 16th place and Ian Franklin and Dan Kogan finishing in the top 30. Barring Martin's crash it would have been almost a perfect start to the season for the team, with some very promising performances and lots to look forward to at next week's Jock Wadley Memorial Race.

Results:
1.) Simon Gaywood: Plowman Craven RT
2.) Richard Sykes-Popham: KFS Special Vehicles
3.) Roy Chamberlain: Team Corley Cycles
4.) Rob Enslin: AW Cycles
5.) Simon Richardson: Plowman Craven RT

16.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

A windy warm up for Franklin at Milton Keynes.

Ian Franklin rode the first of the Milton Keynes Season starter races on Saturday 1st March. Looking to get a bit of race speed into his legs in readiness for the Wally Gimber the following, Ian rode strongly in the wind at the Milton Keynes bowl and, knowing he has bigger fish to fry this season, he wisely decided against a rather frenetic bunch sprint.

With the Wally Gimber signalling the start of the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team's season, things are getting exciting and the team are looking forward to making their mark in the races to come.