On Sunday 11th May, the day of the Lincoln Grand Prix, something was wrong. Something was happening that the people of Lincoln weren't used to on Lincoln GP day, and that the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team have become completely unaccustomed to this season. The sun was shining and was going to add to the heat generated by the 148 racers ready to do battle around the centre of Lincoln. Having ridden the course the day before and knowing what they had to do, the full team lined up on Sunday with the cream of British cycling, all fighting to be first to the foot of the fearsome Michaelgate climb. To be armed with the knowledge that you need to be at the foot of the 1 in 6 cobbled climb as close to the front as possible is one thing, but it is no mean feat when the whole field are all trying their hardest to do the same!
Ian Franklin rode strongly at the start and was very close to the front until a lot of riders took advantage of a missing marshall and slipped ahead of him, through some cones on a corner entering Lincoln for the first time. Some hard riding meant that Ian didn't lose too many places and hit the cobbles of Michaelgate about mid bunch, at almost exactly the same time as Daniel Kogan and James Whatling. Dan Patten was one of the riders luckily (and cheekily!) making the most of the marshall's absence and pushed hard up the climb a little closer to the front of the race as it lined out and split through the town. Martin Bryant, already suffering from a bit of a stomach bug, struggled with the early pace of the race and was to pull out soon after the first lap. Ian, never comfortable riding his spare bike, packed on the second lap but had acquitted himself well in early exchanges, just missing out as the race split.
With Dan Patten safely in the bunch, James Whatling and Daniel Kogan got their heads down and dragged themselves up to the safety of the bunch, with James pulling a big turn to get the pair back on just before the descent into Burton Village. With the field lined out chasing a break containing some of the best riders in the race, moving up to the front was getting harder and, as the bunch climbed Michaelgate for the second time, the race split once again. The Dan's found themselves in the chase group as James slipped back into a group riding hard to make contact again but slowly lost ground on the leaders, and his race was over when the commissaire pulled the group out of the race after the sixth ascent of Michaelgate.
The Dan's were both riding strongly in the heat but were unlucky when the race split once again and they found themselves on the wrong side of it. Always driving their group and pushing hard up Michaelgate wasn't enough to make contact with the next group on the road and their race was also ended by the commissaire with just three laps to go. It was a shame to have to stop racing so close to the end but the Dan's can take a lot of positives from their first experience of this tough race, having ridden their hearts out but ultimately being undone by their positioning in the first couple of laps. The Lincoln Grand Prix is a unique race and the experience will benefit them in the years to come.
Up ahead the big guns were firing and on the final lap Simon Richardson (Plowman Craven RT), Russell Downing (Pinarello RT) and Dean Downing (Rapha Condor/Recycling) were away and fighting it out for the win. The Downing brothers were first onto the final climb of Michaelgate, with Russell edging ahead of Dean to take the win in Castle Square.
Results:
1.) Russell Downing: Pinarello RT
2.) Dean Downing: Rapha Condor Recycling
3.) Simon Richardson: Plowman Craven RT
4.) Chris Newton: Rapha Condor Recycling
5.) Kit Gilham: Kinesis UK
6.) Tom Southam: Team Halfords Bike Hut
7.) David McCann: Giant Asia RT
8.) Rob Hayles: Team Halfords Bike Hut
9.) Malcolm Elliott: Pinarello RT
10.) Marcin Bialoblocki: Sports Beans-Wilier
Thanks to Larry Hickmott/British Cycling: www.britishcycling.org.uk and Eddie White/Pearl Izumi RT: www.pearlizumiracingteam.com for the photos.
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