Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team

Patten breaks into the big time at Pendle

2008-08-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

I arrived in Pendle the day before the race and an afternoon and evening of heavy rain before the Tour of Pendle did not bode well for the next days racing. However, come the morning of the race it was dry, but very windy but it wasn't to remain dry for long though, as throughout the race there was a succession of heavy showers battering down on the riders.

Like the East Yorkshire Classic, the early pace was high and any bids for freedom were soon brought back. This was to stay that way until a little under half distance, when the decisive move came togther. Matt Stephens (Sigma Sport), Ben Greenwood (Rapha-Condor-Recycling) and Tom Murray (Pinarello RT) were just up the road when myself, Kit Gilham (Kinesis UK) and Will Bjergfelt (Felt Racing) bridged across and were soon joined by Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut) and Graham Briggs (Rapha-Condor-Recycling). We soon worked up a good gap and it looked like this could well be the winning move.

Rob Hayles continued to apply the pressure on the descents and it was on the long descent before going onto the finishing circuit that he made his race winning move. The group were still working hard at the front as there was a strong chasing group within a minute, when Hayles attacked from behind, catching us by surprise and making it impossible to get back onto him as he time trialled his way to victory over the last 8km or so of the course.

As we moved onto the finishing circuit, we were soon joined by Russ Downing (Pinarello RT) who had jumped away from the chase group. He attacked on the climb of the finishing circuit taking Greenwood and Bjergfelt with him. This split the group completely and I jumped across, sensing that the group would not reform again before the finish and made it Just as we went onto the descent. Everyone was playing it cautiously up the final rise until Downing attacked soon after the top. Greenwood was next to go and perhaps I jumped a little late as I never quite made it up to them and finished in 4th place. Will Bjergfelt followed me to take 5th, with the other breakway riders following soon after.

Result:
1.) Robert Hayles: Team Halfords Bikehut
2.) Russ Downing: Pinarello R.T.
3.) Ben Greenwood: Rapha-Condor /Recycling.co.uk
4.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
5.) Will Bjerfelt: Felt Racing

The team finish as they started at Dunton

2008-08-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

The 7th August was the final race of Team Economic Energy's summer series at Ford's Dunton test track and possibly the final race at Dunton, with Hog Hill nearing completion and the team wanted to round off the series with another good result.

Always on the offensive, it was a strong showing by the team with one attack after the other throughout the race. However, the bunch were in negative mood tonight and seemed intent on taking it to the finish as a sprint, with Heron Cyclesport working especially hard to set up the win for Adam Norris.

James Whatling gave it one last dig to try to pull away on the final lap but, as he was again closed down by Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport) it was clear that the final race would end in a bunch sprint. Adam Norris did his job well and took the win from Dominique Gabellini (Rapha-Condor-Recycling) with myself in third. Ian Franklin came in 7th, Martin Bryant 15th, Dan Kogan 18th with James Whatling rounding out the top 20 after his last lap effort.

Result:

1.) Adam Norris: Heron Cyclesport
2.) Dominique Gabellini: Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
3.) Daniel Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
4.) David Bagdan: Glendene CC / Bike Trax
5.) Trevor Burke: Finchley Racing Team

7.) Ian Franklin: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
15.) Martin Bryant: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

The Dans take on the Belgians

2008-08-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

The the 6th August saw me and Daniel Kogan racing togther again, this time in Belgium at the Lokeren Kermesse. This circuit had many sections of pave which saw a huge split in the bunch on the first lap, with 20 or so riders going off the front.

For the rest of the race it was a case of chasing down and trying to catch these riders and I attacked a few times going over a section of pave that led through to the finish line, which helped to split the bunch and get a bit of a chase group going. Not a fan of the cobbles, unfortunately, Daniel Kogan didn't make the split.

Even this chase group was getting whittled down and, as we got further into the race, we started pulling riders back who were in the early break. As we neared the finish the sprint for the line began over the final section of cobbles. I ended up placing 13th, finding out later that we had caught a lot of the riders that were away and the winner was less than a minute up the road come the finish, so what seemed like a race that was all over once such a big move had gone so early, was clearly not come the later part of the race.

Result:

1.) Guy Smet
2.) Adam Gawlik
3.) Bart Heirewegh
4.) Kurt Eeckhout
5.) Jurgen De Deyn

13.) Dan Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

The Dans work hard at the East Yorkshire Classic

2008-08-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

The weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of August saw Daniel Kogan and I travel up to Beverley in East Yorkshire for the National Crit Champs and then the East Yorkshire Classic on the Sunday. It was always going to be a hard race but the first hour was especially tough, with many attacks but nothing really sticking. I went with a lot of moves that on another day may well have gone away but it wasn’t to be today.

When the decisive break did come myself and Dan Kogan were not in the position to get in it. The breakaway contained the likes of Russell Downing (Pinarello RT) and Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor-Recycling) and although the firepower was there to pull away, they remained dangling within a minute for some time, before the bunch finally stopped chasing. Throughout the rest of the race the bunch whittled down as the course and the early pace took its toll on riders.

Attacks out of the bunch came (including some from myself) to try and get away in another chase group, but it wasn’t to be. Still trying to get something out of the race, me and Dan Kogan hit the front and, with the help of one or two other riders, kept a strong pace as we headed back towards Beverley to try and pull the break back. What must have been 25km from the end I had a problem as my rear gear cable snapped and I was left with only the 53 or 39x12 for the remainder of the race.

Onto the two laps of the finishing circuit around Beverley and, as the crowds came out, the attacks started as riders tried to get away from the bunch. Into the last few kilometres and there was a decisve split in the bunch and I was there still in my 53x12. Unfortunately, Dan Kogan, missed the split and settled in with the second part of the bunch. As we came out of the final bend I began to pick off a few riders as I eventually got up to speed, but only enough to place 22nd. A good showing but disappointing result. Daniel Kogan finished soon after in 42nd.

Result:
1.) Russell Downing: Pinarello Racing Team
2.) Kristian House: Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
3.) Dean Downing: Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
4.) Robin Sharman: Sigma Sport, Specialized, Sportful
5.) Marcin Bialoblocki: Sport Beans - Wilier

22.) Dan Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
42.) Daniel Kogan: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

Thanks to Larry Hickmott/British Cycling: www.britishcycling.org.uk for the photos

Patten shines at the National Crit Champs

2008-08-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

I might have dived in at the the deep end, but my first experience of racing an Elite Crit was the National Crit Champs. On what was a nice summer evening in Beverley, and with a good crowd watching, the atmosphere was good and I couldn't wait to start racing.

The speed was high from the start and dominated by the big teams. I rode most of the race at the rear of the lined out bunch watching riders go out the back as they were no longer able to keep up. I managed to avoid the crashes, including one in the closing stages which meant I had to work extra hard going into the finishing straight. As race reached the finale, I moved up in the closing laps to take 17th. This was a pretty respectable result for my first elite crit, but one i will definitely be looking to improve on a little later in the season. The race was won by Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor Recycling) who rode superbly to hang on to the win ahead of Rob Hayles (Halfords-Bikehut) and Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven RT).

Result:

1.) Dean Downing: Rapha-Condor-Recycling
2.) Robert Hayles: Team Halfords Bikehut
3.) Anthony Gibb: Plowman Craven Racing Team
4.) Peter Williams: Pinarello Racing Team
5.) Ian Wilkinson: Science In Sport - Trek

17.) Dan Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

Thanks to Larry Hickmott/British Cycling: www.britishcycling.org.uk for the photo

Dan Patten breaks the top 10 in Belgium!

2008-08-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

Ingelmunster 1.12B Kermesse

In a race dominated by the WC Soenens-Germond Ingelmunster, who were racing in their home town, we were always going to be up against it and, from the start, the home team constantly put riders up the road. I managed to get away quite early on in a chase group and we pulled it back together. A lead group had now formed with about 20 or so riders and it wasn’t long before the Soenens team attacked again to try and split things up. This time three of their riders managed to break clear and were only joined by Logan Hutchings of Beveren 2000.

Myself and Dan Kogan remained in the second group before I attacked with a little over a lap remaining. After a few kilometres of effort I saw another rider coming across to me, and yes, you've guessed it, he also happened to ride for the Soenens team! Thankfully he was willing to work and we rode strongly together to stay out ahead of the next group and I placed 6th…my best result in Belgium so far! Dan Kogan was to come in a little later placing 24th.

Result:
1.) Joeri Clauwaert
2.) Clinton Avery
3.) Stijn Nauwynck
4.) Logan Hutchings
5.) Alexander Chamon
6.) Dan Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

The team shows it's strength at Dunton again.

2008-08-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

With only James Whatling missing from the startline, it was a strong team lining up for the 5th of Team Economic Energy's Circuit Series at Dunton on 24th July, and with attacks from the start it wasn’t too long into the race before I was away.

Soon joined by Billy-Joe Whenman (Wilier-Sport Beans) and Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport) and the three of us worked to establish a good gap over the field. Billy-Joe and myself began attacking about 5 or so laps from the end but neither of us were able to drop the other. After messing about for the last lap we were joined by Daniel Kogan and Steve Skuse (Wildside RT). Daniel was unlucky enough to have snapped his gear cable but, despite only having the option of 39/12 or 53/12, he showed his strength by digging deep and bridging up to our leading group. Billy-Joe, however, was not to be denied as he made the jump in what was a short sprint to the line to take the win. I just missed out on the win but took second place with Andy Lyons coming in third.

Martin Bryant and Ian Franklin also finished well, taking 10th and 13th respectively.

Result:

1.) Billy-Joe Whenman: Wilier-Sport Beans
2.) Dan Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
3.) Andy Lyons: Heron Cyclesport
4.) Stephen Skuse: Wildside RT
5.) Daniel Kogan: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

10.) Martin Bryant:Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
13.) Ian Franklin: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

The Redbridge Road Race

2008-08-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

At the Redbridge Road Race, the Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac squad field two of their riders, that being Ian Franklin and Martin Bryant. The race consisted of a 10 mile circuit which had to be completed 7 times before the finish and had an overall climbing height of 560m, over the 7 laps.

The race got underway from the word go with attacks flying left, right and centre. Ian was fast on the heels of the attackers in the chance that one of these early moves might stick, but no such luck came Ian’s way as the bunch weren’t keen on letting anything go. The first three laps carried on in a similar fashion to the first with an average speed of 27mph! Whilst Ian and Martin were hanging back to recover from the earlier attacks a move went up the road and by the time anything could be done it was gone. Ian and Martin worked with some of the other riders still left in the bunch to try and bring it back but when only 6 riders were trying to pull back the break with 50 riders tagging on their wheels the chase was short lived and the break stayed away, 9 men strong.

In the closing laps of the race 2 of the escapees came back to bunch making it 7 up the road, and therefore a sprint for 8th place. On the last lap Ian knew his only chances of a result were going to be in the bunch gallop after trying so hard earlier on in the race. With this knowledge Martin Bryant took to the front and kept things together for the finish. The bunch were led in by Marco Copolla (Gemini CC) at a very fast pace, Ian sitting in about 20th wheel was a bit too far back so had to go early to make up the places in the Gallop. Ian finished 5th in the bunch sprint to take 12th place and Martin, having done his important role, rolled in with the bunch.

Results:
1.) Digby Symons: Cambridge CC
2.) James Ward: Cambridge CC
3.) Joe Skipper: Lotto Olympia Team Interbike
4.) Shaun Aldous: Lotto Olympia Team Interbike
5.) Mark Jervis: Python RT

12.) Ian Franklin: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

Dan Kogan's Belgium dispatches...

2008-08-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

With little in the way of racing at the moment, Daniel Kogan travelled over to Belgium on 14th July in search of some hard racing and he wasn’t disappointed! Staying for a week, the plan was to do three elite/under 23 races.

Monday saw the first race and Kogan’s first senior Belgium race. After racing as a junior there last year, he knew it was going to be flat and hard racing. A 3pm start and 75 riders lined up for the 120km race over 22 5km flat and twisting laps with high winds and a 500 metre section of cobbles. The race went off as usual at a ferocious pace and, with the bunch lined out, positioning was key as riders were continuously being fired off the back due to the unrelenting speed. Sitting too far back and with the roads making it hard to move up, Dan was playing a dangerous game. The warm weather was also taking its toll as picking up bottles when the bunch was lined out at 35mph proved tricky. With three laps to go, dehydration and the constant kicking out of corners had finally caused a split and unfortunately Dan was on the wrong side of it! Coming into two laps to go Dan was in a small group just off the back of what was left of the bunch. Through the finish again and his group were pulled out. Disappointed he may have been but Dan knew his positioning was to blame and although his first senior race was a shock to the system, he came away with a 37th place, a little prize money and a lot of valuable experience.

On Wednesday Dan headed over the other side of Belgium near to Blauberg where another 120km race greeted the riders. A later start meant 135 riders signed on. The circuit was much more suited to Dan as it was a 15km lap with a few drags. Keen to improve on Monday's result, as soon as the flag dropped Dan moved into the top 15 of the bunch and attacked up the main drag taking four other riders away with him. These included Guy Smet, one of the most successful amateur Belgians around with 40 wins last season, a Continental Pro in the form of British rider Matt Brammier and a guy from the Predictor Lotto feeder team. Riding hard, Kogan felt strong yet the break was short lived and soon everyone was back in the fold. Avoiding some big crashes in the group Dan stayed near the front yet somehow missed the winning break. It wasn’t to be today as soon the break had built up a healthy lead and it looked like the bunch was going to have a 100 plus rider sprint to the line. Not keen on mixing it up in the sprint and after trying the whole race to get away, Dan sat up and rolled in 64th. Although not the result he wanted, Dan was happy with the strength he had and the experience gained.

Friday came, and the final race of the week was to be the hardest. 110 riders lined up in Ingelmunster for the 118km race, which saw riders from the USA National team, the Rabobank under 23 team and Quickstep feeder team take the start. With lots of road furniture, tight corners and open roads it was going to be tough and sure enough, as soon as the flag dropped the pace rocketed as riders grappled for wheels. With a prime every lap it was bound to be fast but no one could imagine it would be that fast! Coming into the last lap and after two and quarter-hours of chewing the bars groups of riders were everywhere. Dan, still in what was left of the bunch, saw a USA national team rider attack and seeing his chance Dan went across and joined him. Soon five riders were away and working well together. Coming into 2km to go Dan knowing his sprint was not good attacked his group and created a small gap but it wasn’t to be today and, with 100 metres to go, his group were on him again. Coming across the line Dan claimed 43rd place out of 110 riders. With an average speed of just over 28mph Dan knew he had been in a race!

Horses on courses at the Southern Counties Road Race Championship

2008-07-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

There was a fairly rapid start to the Southern Counties Road Race, held at Ockley in Surrey. The attacks were fast and furious, with many riders trying their luck on the first lap only to get brought back by the fast moving, strung out peloton. Our own Dan Kogan, keen as ever to race, was one of these riders who was aggressive early in the proceedings but at that stage the bunch were too attentive to let anyone escape.

Approaching the end of the first lap I began to make my way towards the front of the peloton. On doing so I found myself on the wheel of Toby Neave (Southdown Velo). Knowing Toby's attacking style of racing I sensed he was about to go and, sure enough, as we neared the front of the peloton he went and I immediately followed in his wheel. After a couple of hundred metres I took a look back and saw we were away. We worked well together and were out for the best part of a lap before being joined by a chase group. Surprisingly there were no Plowman Craven riders in this chase group and when the other riders made the junction we knew we would have to work hard to pull out the gap...that we did. We were a hard working group containing the likes of myself and Toby, Jon Tiernan Locke (Mid Devon CC), Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles), Wouter Sybrandy and Andrew Bye (bothSigma Sport) and we continued to apply the pressure.

We built up a nice gap and knew that the peloton would have to really work well together to pull us back. Unfortunately Wouter Sybrandy punctured from our group and, with the neutral service car behind the peloton, we lost one of the strongest riders in the group. Then into the last few laps an incident with a horse on the course caused a crash in the break, which took out both Jonathan Tiernan Locke and Roy Chamberlain. This was a bad accident and Jonathan Tiernan Locke come off the worse with what looked like nasty head/facial injuries. The rest of us continued but it changed the whole feeling of the race. On our next time round Jonathan was still in the road being seen to and we all felt for him and knew how lucky we were that it wasn’t us lying in the road. The crash caused disruptions in the peloton too and the gap went out further. There race was eventually cut short and we were left to fight it out for the win.

Andrew Bye and myself seemed to be the most aggressive in the last lap, with Andrew eventually getting away. Sensing that the others were also tired and would not be able to catch him I jumped and started the chase on my own. Andrew hit the final climb of Leigh hill still in front and took the victory, while I stayed away to take second place. I had to be fairly satisfied with my ride as I was still suffering with a chest infection, but I was oh so close to another win again! A mention must also go to Ben Thompson (Glendene/Biketrax CC) who was clear of the main field and riding for 7th but was not directed up the finishing climb by the marshalls...he was however given his rightful finishing place after the organisers realised their mistake. Dan Kogan defended the break all race and then rode strongly up the finishing climb to take a well earned 15th. All of our thoughts are with Jonathon Tiernan Locke and hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Results:
1.) Andrew Bye: Sigma Sport
2.) Daniel Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
3.) Andy Betts: Twickenham CC
4.) Toby Neave: Southdown Velo
5.) Thomas Crouch: Felt Racing

15.) Daniel Kogan: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

Fighting a virus at the London Dynamo Summer Road Race

2008-07-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

Still feeling the effects of the virus I had picked up in Belgium I went to Staplefield to try and defend the race I had won last year. By now my chest was quite bad and certainly didn’t help over what is a lumpy circuit. I tried to ride in the bunch early on but, with the attacks going, I knew that I would end up missing the break by doing this. I managed to get myself into the main break of the day, which contained most of the pre-race favourites, but I still did not feel right and just made sure I did enough to stay there. We soon had pulled out a race winning gap and it was going to come down to the 9 or so riders that were in breakaway. On the final climb up to the finish Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (Mid Devon CC) went first and soon pulled away from Andrew Bye (Sigma Sport) and Chris McNamara (Wildside RT), taking the victory. I passed both McNamara and Bye to take second but ran out of road to make an impression on Jonathan Tiernan Locke whose win was well earned.

Results:
1.) Jonathan Tiernan-Locke: Mid Devon CC
2.) Daniel Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
3.) Robert Hurd: Sigma Sport
4.) Andrew Bye: Sigma Sport
5.) Chris McNamara: Wildside RT

Whatling hangs on at the Toachim House GP

2008-07-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 6th July, the team lined up for one of the most lucrative races on the domestic calendar, the Toachim House Grand Prix. With Daniel Kogan managing to end up in Godalming, Surrey after one of the biggest map mistakes in history (the race was in Godmersham, Kent)!! and Dan Patten unable to ride because he was laid up with a virus in Belgium, it was up to Martin Bryant, Ian Franklin and James Whatling to fly the orange flag.

With a £1000 first prize, everyone was keen to race and the pace was high from the start. As early as the first lap, a strong looking group went over one of the hills and, with a strong head wind, the bunch wasn't keen on chasing. Sensing that the break contained riders capable of staying away, James Whatling jumped and time trialled it across the gap to make the select group that included Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport) Chris McNamara (Wildside RT), Martin Smith (AW Cycles) and Darren Barclay (Arctic/Premier RT).

The break set about establishing a lead and worked really hard for the first few laps, but the gap always seemed to be hovering around the minute mark. As the weather deteriorated, with the wind becoming more and more gusty and the rain falling steadily, the bunch started to split and the breakaway pulled clear. As the race moved onto the first of three finishing circuits, complete with a climb of the 3km White Hill every lap, the break held a gap of over two minutes and all of the riders were focused on the win and the £1000 first prize. When Chris McNamara took to the front and rode tempo up the first climb of White Hill, it was clear that he was on a good day and he proved this as he attacked on the next ascent of the hill and pulled clear. As the rest of the break chased McNamara, James Whatling fell back but kept the other riders in sight as he drove hard to reel them in on the descent and the flat before the final punishing climb.

At the foot of the final climb of White Hill, James nearly made the junction but then the attacks started and he was distanced again. Up ahead Chris McNamara was riding solo to take a well deserved victory, with Martin Smith winning the sprint for second from Darren Barclay. James Whatling dug deep to take a hard ridden 6th and Martin Bryant and Ian Franklin rolled in with the bunch.

Results:
1.) Chris McNamara: Wild Side Road Team
2.) Martin Smith: AW Cycles.Co.uk
3.) Darren Barclay: Arctic - Premier Racing Team
4.) Andy Lyons: Heron Cyclesport
5.) Roger Smith: VC Etoile
6.) James Whatling: Ciclos Uno/Plowman Craven/Isaac RT

Thanks to Paul J Wright for the pictures: www.pjwphotos.co.uk

Tour of Belgium number two: The Patten returns!

2008-07-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

Kruishoutem Kermesse - 1/7/08

Two days after the National Championships and I thought I would have had tired legs....this was not the case. The 200km at the Nationals must have brought on some form because I had really good legs, was getting in all the moves and making some moves myself. With how I felt and how I was riding I just had a feeling I was going to have a good day. I got myself in the main break of 20 or so riders and continued to be aggressive. Into what I believed was the last couple of laps I attacked out of the break with about 12km to go. I built up a significant lead and what I thought was a race winning lead going into what I believed was the last few hundred metres. However, I was then told we had one more lap to go. Not long after I was rejoined by the chasers and it was going to come down to a sprint finish within the group. The teams with a number of riders in the break played their numbers well and began to attack going into the last couple of kms. As we hit the final bend I found myself out of position to be able to go for the win but ended up placing 9th in the sprint...a good result against a quality field again including riders from teams such as WC SOENENS-GERMOND INGELMUNSTER, WIELERGROEP BEVEREN 2000 VZW, ROCK WERCHTER-CHOCOLADE JACQUES C.T, as well as the Belgian National Amateur Champion (who I beat again). My best result to date out there...but oh so close to the win.

Results:
1.) CLAUWAERT Joeri: WC SOENENS-GERMOND INGELMUNSTER
2.) DE BACKER Bert: WIELERGROEP BEVEREN 2000 VZW
3.) PLANCKAERT Baptiste: WC SOENENS-GERMOND INGELMUNSTER
4.) COOMANS Björn: ROCK WERCHTER-CHOCOLADE JACQUES
5.) DEMEULEMEESTER Wouter: WIELERCLUB MARKE VERANDA´S CLOCHET

9.) PATTEN Daniel: CICLOS UNO-PLOWMAN CRAVEN-ISAAC RT

ASSENEDE Kermesse – 3/7/08

An evening race in atrocious conditions. Heavy rain, strong crosswinds and lots of mud from the farm roads we were riding along meant it was going to be an eventful race. Also thrown into the mix were wet cobbles as we twisted and turned our way back through the start/finish town each lap. Again I felt strong but I did miss out on the front group on this occasion. Nonetheless, after a number of attacks I did get away and help to form a strong working group of five riders that included myself and fellow English rider Steve Skuse. We worked well and pulled away from the bunch and even closed in on the front group. However we were left to fight it out for 14th. Steve Skuse and myself worked together with a number of attacks between us in the closing stages. Steve, taking one other rider with him was the one to finally get away only to be beaten and had to settle for 15th where as I jumped away from the remaining riders in our chase group to take 16th. An eventful nights racing...not quite the result I was looking for but felt strong yet again and rode well to get something out of the race. Unfortunately a couple of days after this race I came down with a virus and had to miss the weekends racing that I had planned to do in Belgium....unfortunately not what I had planned!

Results:
1.) DE SCHEEMAEKER Davy: AVB - CYCLING TEAM
2.) COCQUYT Nicky: ROCK WERCHTER-CHOCOLADE JACQUES C.T.
3.) STIEGELIS SANDER: ISOREX
4.) COCQUYT Patrick: JOHN SAEY CYCLING TEAM
5.) VAN SPEYBROEK Bart: SPORTING CLUB MEERSE – KLUISBERGEN

16.) PATTEN Daniel: CICLOS UNO-PLOWMAN CRAVEN-ISAAC RT

Patten so close again at Dunton

2008-07-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Patten

Wouter Sybrandy (Sigma Sport), Dan Staite (Python RT) and myself got away early on in the race and worked strongly to pull out a big gap on a bunch that didn't seem too keen on chasing tonight. Coming into the last few laps there was no chance of us coming back and both myself and Sybrandy put in a number of digs to get away, but always seemed to cancel each other out. Onto the final lap and it was coming down to a sprint. I rode the top of the bank around the final bend but Wouter and Dan Staite both remained on my wheel. As soon as we began to hit the straight I launched the sprint from the front, and held on until close to the line when I was overtaken by Wouter Sybrandy. A few other riders had got away from the bunch, with Martin Bryant leading the bunch home in 7th and Ian Franklin taking 9th.

Results:
1.) Wouter Sybrandy: Sigma Sport
2.) Daniel Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
3.) Dan Staite: Python RT
4.) Dominic Schils: Lotto Olympia Interbike
5.) Ian Randall: Essex Road CC

7.) Martin Bryant: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
9.) Ian Franklin: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

Getting noticed at the Nationals.

2008-07-07T00:22:00.000-07:00

An unsettled weekend of weather was on the cards for the team as they arrived at Ampleforth in Yorkshire for the 203km National Road Race Championships. Arriving on the Saturday, the team for the weekend consisted of Ian Franklin, Daniel Kogan, Dan Patten and James Whatling. Martin Bryant unfortunately had work commitments so had to give the race a miss. Saturday saw the team embark on a pre race ride around the course, which comprised of two rolling circuits and numerous sharp hills. The guys knew the race was going to be one of attrition as the course was a mixture of tight turns and sharp hills ready to sap the energy.

Come race day, the team arrived at the headquarters and went about signing on, deciding on how much food to take and getting kitted up ready for the 9:20am roll out. The mood was one of apprehension yet there was also a buzz as some of the best riders in the world turned up. A very casual 9:20am arrived and riders began to meander to the start. 10km of neutralised greeted the riders as the team led the 156 rider strong peloton out to Dunscombe park where the official race was to begin. Arriving at the park the team positioned themselves at the front of the grid and at 10am the race was off as the relaxed group sauntered out of the park. This didn’t last long though as James Whatling launched the first attack as soon as the race was de neutralised. Sensing the danger all the major teams followed and Dan Kogan sensed his opportunity and jumped across as well. Soon there was a strong group of nine working well together. This group comprised of Simon Holt (Rapha/Condor/Recycling) , Neil Swithenbank (Sigma Sport), Daffyd Dylan (KFS-Special Vehicles), Tom Murray (Pinarello RT), Simon Gaywood and Alex Higham (Plowman Craven RT) and Daniel Kogan and James Whatling! Soon the pace along the flat was bordering on 40mph and the break looked good. Dan Patten, following wheels from the bunch, soon found himself in a chase group including James Sampson (Kinesis UK), Richard Sykes-Popham (KFS-Special Vehicles), Pete Williams (Pinarello RT), Warren Flynn (Isle of Man), Dieter Droger (Sportscover) and the ex national Champion Jeremy Hunt (Credit Agricole).

Soon the two groups merged but even with the two Dans driving the break, the group was now to big to work cohesively together. James unfortunately succumbed to the cold he had been suffering with all the previous week and he dropped out of the race. Ian was also feeling the pace in the bunch but dug deep and clung on as long as he could before being pulled out. This left the two Dans to try and keep the break away but after about an hour of freedom the break was reeled in the bunch led by defending National Champion David Millar (Garmin-Chipotle). The Dan's, having worked hard in the break, took some time to rest a little in the bunch as an another escape took flight, this time containing some of the most dangerous riders in the race, including Dean Downing (Rapha/Condor/Recycling), Rob Hayles and Tom Southam (Halfords Bikehut), Dan Lloyd (An Post) and Peter Kennaugh (100% Me). Sitting in the top half of the peloton, the Kogan and Patten were in a good position as the chase intensified and the pace shelled riders at an alarming rate.

Onto the second circuit and as the peloton hit the long drag for the second time, David Millar took to the front, driving hard,and a significant split occurred half way down the bunch. Dan Patten was able to make the front group in the split with Kogan unfortunately in the second group. Soon there were three significant groups on the road, the breakaway of four riders, Patten’s group of around 50 riders at around a minute behind and then Kogan’s group of around 30 riders a further two minutes back.

In the last 10km of the race, the groups had established themselves and with the rain coming down it was a tough last section. As the approached the finale the group containing Dan Patten were riding for 5th place and bearing down on the break yet disaster struck for Dan with 5km to go as he cramped climbing into Helmsley. Hitting his leg to get the blood flowing, Dan sat behind the team cars desperate to get back onto his group and, as the cramp subsided in the last kilometre, Dan managed to just get onto the back of the group he was in and pushed hard to finish 45th. Three minutes later the group containing Kogan rode in with Daniel taking 69th.

A tough five hours of racing meant just 77 of the 156 starters finished. With the bunch in one constant line for the 200km it showed just how fierce the race was and with none of the team having raced 200km before, it was always going to be a real test, but one which Dan Patten and Daniel Kogan were than a match for. Once again, the team showed their willingness to race and attacking spirit, showing some of the biggest teams in the UK and Europe the way for the early part of the race. In hindsight putting 3 riders in the early break may have cost the two Dans in the final part of the race yet the team can take a lot of positives away from the race and learnt a great deal about fuelling, saving energy and positioning in the bunch in a long race. The Dans deserve special praise for their efforts. The National Championships is the biggest race in the calendar and yet the guys weren't phased at all and rode strongly throughout, despite never having raced for 200 km before. Dan Patten could very easily have finished in the top twenty had he not been unlucky with cramp and Daniel Kogan could also have been up there if he had conserved a little bit more energy at the start. The Dan's should be proud of what they achieved in their first Nationals, as the team are certainly proud of them. All in all it was a steep learning curve but the there is a good base to work from for next years race and the team now know that they can compete on the biggest stage.

From all the riders we’d like to say thank you to Mr and Mrs Patten and Mrs Whatling for helping throughout the weekend. Roll on next year!

Results:

1.) Rob Hayles: Halfords Bikehut
2.) Peter Kennaugh: 100% Me
3.) Dean Downing: Rapha/Condor/Recycling
4.) Dan Lloyd: An Post
5.) Mark Cavendish: Team Columbia

45.) Dan Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
69.) Daniel Kogan: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

A weekend in Belgium for Patten.

2008-06-26T02:35:00.000-07:00

After a knee injury set back Dan Patten's preparation for the National Championships on the 29th June, he decided to travel to Belgium to test his strength and hone his form over two day's hard racing, and capped the weekend with a fine 11th place on Sunday 22nd June.

Dan takes up the story:

Saturday 21st June: HAMME

133 riders started the race which was won by Guy Smet from a small group of five who had managed to pull out a 30 second gap over the bunch. Everything else came back together in the finale, apart from this small group which jumped away in the last couple of laps. I had much better legs than i thought i was going to have going into the weekend and spent the first 45 minutes riding close to the back. However, with the amount of riders in the race, it was a long way to get to the front when it was all strung out and, with riders starting to lose wheels towards the rear, i decided to move up the field. I got in some promising moves that, if it wasn't for the peletons efforts to keep it all together, would have been well away. After doing a good effort on the front, I found myself off the front on my own and when i was joined by other riders, once again it looked a very promising move but with a lap to go it all came back together once more. Five riders had managed to escape, but other than that it was a bunch finish with some twists and turns going into the town for the last time. I finished safely in the bunch, having had a good workout with an average speed of 43.8km/hr and some time off the front.

Sunday 22nd June: OOSTROZEBEKE

122 riders took to the start today and the race was won by Joeri Clauwaert. Again quite a large field turned out, including the Belgian Espoirs National Champion, and a frantic pace was set from the start. In what was a much windier day than previous it made for a hard race and about a third into the race the move of the day went clear and i could sense that this was going to stay away. I work hard to get myself into the group and despite the attempts of some of the riders in the group trying to take me out the back, i hung in there and rode some good strong turns. Keeping the pace high, the gap went out and it looked like it was going to be the winning move until into the last four or so laps, the riders began to attack from the break. I managed to get myself in these attacks but the rest of the breakway riders were not going to give it up that easy. With two laps to go, the definative attack came and it split the break. After all the effort i had put in to get to and to keep driving the break, i was finding it hard and felt that the chance of fighting it out for the win was slipping away from me. Over the last 10km i dug deep to keep ahead of the rapidly approaching chase group and with a gap of around going into the final 3 km, i though i might get caught. On the finishing straight i was dangling in the headwind and looking back i could see the group trying to get across to me, however fellow British rider Chris Mcnamara (Wildside RT) said after that he wanted to get across but without dragging the other riders with him. As the line approached, i could see that i wasn't going to get caught and crossed the line for 11th with the next group immediately behind.

Overall it was a good weekend's racing in preparation for the Nationals!

Shaping the race at the Giles Ree Memorial.

2008-06-26T01:50:00.000-07:00

It was a rare cloudless sky that greeted the team on Sunday 15th June, the day of the Giles Ree Memorial. Held at Warninglid in West Sussex, the Giles Ree Memorial is something of a classic, and the heat of the day was more than matched by the quality of racing over a hard and hilly course.

A full field took to the start and with strong teams fielded by the likes of London Dynamo, Sigma Sport and the Wildside RT, the race was destined to be a fast, attacking one and it certainly didn't disappoint. As the field climbed out of Staplefield for the first time, a London Dynamo rider attacked and James Whatling, feeling strong and keen to break away, went with him, quickly gaining a 30 second gap. The breakaway pair worked hard over the rolling course and managed to stay away until the last of the larger circuits, when a group containing Dan Kogan, Paul Delahunty (London Dynamo) and Darren Barclay (Arctic-Premier RT) bridged across to them.

The group worked well together for about a lap but, when Darren Barclay punctured, some of the impetus left the break, despite the best efforts of James and Dan to stay clear of the chasing pack. As the race entered the first of five smaller finishing circuits, the race came back together, a shame for James who had been working tirelessly at the front for the majority of the race and deserved to stay away today. The fast pace of the race, despite the climbs, continued unabated in the final few laps, with riders attacking constantly to try and break clear before the end, but it was to no avail as the bunch thundered down the final hill with the finish, and a bunch sprint in sight.

Paul Delahunty (London Dynamo) capped a strong performance by taking the win from Steve Calland (Norwood Paragon) and Jules Birks (Kingston Wheelers). Ian Franklin, who had ridden sensibly all day, took 16th and the rest of the team rolled in with the bunch. Once again the Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team had shown they were not afraid to show their colours at the front and shape the race. The lack of a result was disappointing after all of the hard work but James Whatling did walk away with the Most Agressive Rider award, a testament to his attacking riding throughout.

Results:

1.) Paul Delahunty: London Dynamo
2.) Steve Calland: Norwood Paragon
3.) Jules Birks: Kingston Wheelers
4.) Gary Dodd: Sigma Sport
5.) Simon Lawn: Sigma Sport

16.) Ian Franklin: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT

The Dans achieve their goals.

2008-06-09T15:29:00.000-07:00

The Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team's two Dans, Daniel Kogan and Dan Patten, achieved their major pre-season goals recently when they both gained enough points to upgrade thier licences. Dan Patten's fourth place in the Eastern Regional Championships gained him enough points for his Elite licence and Daniel Kogan's second place at the Beccles Road Race earned him his 1st Cat licence.

The team are really pleased that both of the Dans have achieved their aims so early in the season and are proud of the way they have gained the points they needed with an exciting, attacking style. With three wins and numerous podium places between them already this season, both of them have a promising future ahead.

Kogan so close at the Beccles Road Race.

2008-06-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday 8th June dawned sunny and warm for the Beccles Road Race and, not only did it make a pleasant change for the team but it was also a perfect day to launch the fantastic new Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team kit. The new kit is a strong design in orange and blue, and will make the team even more visible in the peloton now!

A relatively small field set out from the picturesque village of Ringsfield, near Beccles, for the 83 mile race on a deceptively hard course. The team consisted of Martin Bryant, Ian Franklin, Daniel Kogan and James Whatling, with Dan Patten unfortunately sidelined with the injured knee sustained in his crash at The World University Championships. Even with a man down, the team were still confident of a good result and their attacking style was perfect for the rolling course. Kitted out in the new clothing, the team really meant business and, soon after the flag was dropped, James Whatling and Ian Franklin were at the head of proceedings, trying to split the race up. After one of Ian's attacks was brought back, Daniel Kogan countered and, keen as ever to attack and get away early, Daniel took three other riders away with him and, although not working as cohesively as they could, they managed to hold a gap of almost a minute.

Back in the bunch and Ian, Martin and James were very vigilant jumping on all the dangerous moves and controlling the bunch. James, on very good legs from a strong ride in the Regional Championships, was keen to bridge across to Dan in the break to bolster the move, but was hampered by some negative riding in the bunch who weren't prepared to let another Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team member escape. James was soon after hit by a catalogue of bad luck, which included three wheel changes and a broken gear cable but, although out of the race and suitably annoyed at wasting good legs and good form, he carried on with only two gears and got some useful training miles in.

Coming onto the end of the third lap, a group of six including Martin Bryant and the race favourite Phil Hetzel bridged across to the break but although this looked like a strong move, the ten rider group didn’t work well together and were soon brought back into the fold. Just when everything looked like it was back together, Dan Kogan picked his moment perfectly and attacked on the drag through the finish and pulled out a sizeable gap. Soon joined by Joe Skipper (Lotto/Interbike RT) and Kevin Chamber (API-Metrow), the three riders began to work well together with just fewer than 40 miles to go.

The bunch were held up by a train crossing and, seeming to lose interest in the chase afterwards, on the last lap the three escapees had pulled out two minutes on a lone chasing Phil Hetzel (Ipswich BC) and a further minute to the bunch. Keen to keep the pressure on, the three rode hard until about 3km from the finish when Chambers and Skipper decided to play the tactical game and let Daniel lead them out. Not able to get his breakaway companions to come through, the odds for Daniel weren't too good and when Kevin Chambers began his sprint, Dan slipped back a little. Joe Skipper came over the top of Chambers to take the win but Daniel dug deep, outsprinting Chambers to take second. Ian Franklin and Martin Bryant sprinted in with the bunch, taking 20th and 22nd place, after working hard to defend Daniel's position.

All in all it was a mixed race. James was very unfortunate mechanically, which put paid to his chances, yet he’s getting ever stronger and will definitely be one to watch next weekend. Ian and Martin showed well, mixing it up in the moves and helping their teammate Daniel by blocking. Daniel showed his strength in forcing both of the moves of the race and rode his heart out to make the podium and gain enough points for his 1st cat licence. Once again it was a strong team ride by the Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team, showing the ever growing strength and professionalism of the team. As a fellow competitor said after the race, “the future's bright, the future's orange”.......Ciclos Uno orange!

Results:

1.) Joe Skipper: Lotto/Interbike RT
2.) Daniel Kogan: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
3.) Kevin Chambers: API-Metrow
4.) Phil Hetzel: Ipswich BC

3 in the top 15 at the Eastern Regional Championships!

2008-06-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 1st June, a full strength Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team lined up for the Eastern Regional Road Race Championships at Ashley, near Newmarket. Held on a tough course featuring two strength sapping climbs per lap, and with a full field of riders that all wanted to be crowned the best rider in the region, the Regional Championships are always hard fought and never fail to produce a worthy winner.

As ever, the Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team were in the thick of the action from the start and, as the race reached the end of the first lap, Martin Bryant got into a strong looking early move. The move soon looked even more promising as James Whatling and Dennis Van Gaveren (Lotto-Interbike) bridged across, and the group got themselves organised and started to work well together.

After five laps the breakaway was swelled when another group including Daniel Kogan bridged across. Daniel had been dealt some bad luck when, having punctured within a mile of the race and with no neutral service, he had to get a wheel from Dan Patten's parents (thanks Francis and June, you are complete stars!) and then chased back solo for seven miles. Of course, when you've been chasing hard for that long, what do you do? If you're Dan Kogan on a mission, you get in the first available break and get yourself to the front group!!

The leading group seemed almost too big now to work well but with James, Dan, Ben Thompson (Glendene/Bike Trax) and Dennis Van Gaveren consistently keeping the pace high and attacking over the hills, the group soon whittled down and a collection of willing riders remained. With time checks hovering around a minute to another chase group and the end in sight, the break upped the pace, but it was to no avail as they were caught with only half a lap remaining by a group containing Andy Lyons and Adam Norris (Heron Cyclesport), Dan Staite (Python RT) and Dan Patten who had spent the race defending valiantly and making few friends in the chase group in order to help his team mates up ahead.

With Lyons and Norris joining a hard working Ben Pochee, and Dan Patten joining James Whatling and Daniel Kogan, there were now three team members apiece for Heron Cyclesport and the Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team and, as the race neared the finale, the attacks came thick and fast. It was Adam Norris who made move of the day though, as he attacked over the penultimate climb and, with Ben Pochee and Andy Lyons working hard to cover any moves and block, rode strongly and stayed away to take the 2008 Eastern Regional Championships. The finishing climb took it's toll on many of the riders and Ben Thompson came out on top in the sprint for second place, with Dennis Van Gaveren taking third and a strong sprinting Dan Patten and James Whatling rounding out the top five. Dan Kogan overcame a puncture and an upset stomach to take 15th.

For the team to place two riders in the break of the day and then to finish with three in the top fifteen of the Regional Championships is a fantastic result for the team and, although the win eluded us, we will be back next year, stronger, wiser and ready for the challenge.

Results:

1.) Adam Norris: Heron Cyclesport
2.) Ben Thompson: Glendene/Bike Trax
3.) Dennis Van Gaveren: Lotto/Interbike
4.) Dan Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team
5.) James Whatling: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team

15.) Daniel Kogan: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team

Photos: Simon Gooderham: http://good.zenfolio.com

Patten gets back on the horse....and wins!

2008-05-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

On a filthy wet Thursday evening (is there any other kind?!) at Ford's Dunton test track, four of the Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac Racing Team lined up for the second of Team Economic Energy's Summer Series. Sporting the wounds from his 55kph crash at the World University Championships, Dan Patten was back and racing again on home turf and was joined by Martin Bryant, Ian Franklin and James Whatling and, although the weather was doing it's best to dampen the spirits, everyone was looking forward to a good race....somehow we're learning to love the rain this season!

The race started in a more laconic fashion than usual, with everyone content just to ride tempo for a fews laps until James Whatling started hostilities with a typical attack on the back straight. The bunch, ever alert to the dangers of a breakaway at Dunton, quickly snapped onto James' back wheel and the chance was gone. That set the tone for the rest of the race as James, Dan, Ian and Martin took it in turns to attack and counter attack, only to be reeled back in by the ever more negative peloton, who seemed quite content to chase everything down and wait for the bunch sprint.

With five laps to go, Dan Patten finally managed to break the elastic as he made a move over the top of the circuit's small hill and, joined quickly by Dan Staite (Python RT), the hard working pair were never seen again as the bunch finally lost interest in the chase. Dan Patten crowned a brave comeback performance with his second (and the team's third) win of the season with Dan Staite taking second. Behind them, the inevitable bunch sprint was won by Dennis Van Gaveren (Lotto Olympia Team Interbike) with Ian Franklin sprinting well to take 8th and Martin Bryant rounding out the top 15.

Results:

1.) Dan Patten: Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven-Isaac RT
2.) Dan Staite: Python RT
3.) Dennis Van Gaveren: Lotto Olympia Team Interbike
4.) James Jackson: Plowman Craven RT

Kogan leads the team at the SERRL Stage Race.

2008-05-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

With Dan Patten riding the World University Championships and Ian Franklin opting to compete in the Reg Cogman Road Race, Martin Bryant, Daniel Kogan and James Whatling headed south of the river to compete in the 3 day, 4 stage, SERRL stage race over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Saturday’s stage was held at the Betteshanger circuit near Dover on a warm but windy day and, with 33 laps of the circuit totalling 120 km of racing, it was going to be a war of attrition. Although not a massive field, with 47 riders on the start line and a strong local team presence with Citihub, Norwood Paragon and Dulwich Paragon, the race was always going to be an interesting one.

The pace was high from the minute the race rolled off, as Daniel and Sport Beans/Wilier rider, Billy-Joe Whenman, hit the front trying to break the field. The first hill signalled the first real attack as Dan Staite (Python RT) clipped off the front and, always looking for an early break, Daniel Kogan followed. Soon the two riders had pulled out a sizeable gap and with James and Martin policing the bunch, the move looked as though it had a good chance, although with 32 laps of racing still to go, it was going to be tough work for Daniel and Dan Staite.

Soon another two riders in the form of Darren Barclay, (Arctic-Premier RT) and Robert Willcocks (Ajchva Limoux) jumped across to the break and the four riders worked well together until the pace proved too high for Willcocks and Barclay and they were both dropped. This left just Dan Staite and Daniel Kogan to plug away and, with their lead rising to over a minute on a chasing group of five, it looked like the two would indeed stay away. With just under ten miles to go Daniel began feeling the pace and decided to let Staite do the majority of the turns. Coming into the final lap with well over a minute's lead on the chase, Dan Staite attacked on the climb and soon put considerable distance into Kogan who try as he might couldn’t back on terms. Coming into the finish Staite took a very deserved win with Kogan coming across the line 45 seconds later for 2nd and the chase group led in by Mike Hawkins of Norwood Paragon came in a minute after that.

Stage one result:

1.) Dan Staite: Python RT
2.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
3.) Mike Hawkins: Norwood Paragon
4.) Billy-Joe Whenman: Sport Beans/Wilier
5.) Robert Willcocks: Ajchva Limoux

Stage 2

Stage two, at Chilham, was a 10 mile time trial and torrential rain on the way down to the start near Ashford was not a welcome sight. Yet with the first rider off at 11am the rain soon parted and thankfully the sun shone over the rolling out and back course, which included a difficult short kick to test the tired legs at the end. With James Whatling proving a very strong time triallist the team were quietly confident of another podium, but first up was Martin Bryant who clocked a very respectable 24.53 on his road bike with no time trial equipment. With 21 min and 22 min times filtering in James knew he needed to do a good ride and, despite feeling heavy legged after a good workout on the first stage, he rode well and chalked up a 21:49 to put him in 3rd place, just 2 seconds off second and 26 seconds off the winner. The penultimate rider to start, Daniel was also without the advantage of any time trial equipment but he rode his socks off to post a 23:10, leaving him safely holding second place on GC.

Stage two result:

1.) Matt Miles: Sydenham Wheelers
2.) Nigel Haigh: Sportscover
3.) James Whatling: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
4.) Robert Willcocks: Ajchva Limoux
5.) Dan Staite: Python RT

Stage 3

Stage three was a short sharp 80km, finishing at the top of the fierce 2km Whiteleaf Hill, and was always going to test the legs of those that had dug deep in the time trial. The stage was peppered with attacks, trying to test the resolve of Dan Staite in the leader’s yellow jersey. With the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team riding strongly on the front to pull back any escapees that would endanger Daniel Kogan’s second place overall, the race entered the final lap with just a pair of riders away from the bunch. With tired legs everywhere, a flurry of attacks went on the penultimate climb of the day and the alarm bells rang for Daniel Kogan as first Billy-Joe Whenman (Sport Beans/Wilier) and then Nigel Haigh (Sportscover) pulled away. Not wanting anyone to overtake his team mate on GC, and knowing that a hill finish suited Kogan, James Whatling took to the front and time trialled 5km to the foot of Whiteleaf Hill, stringing out the bunch and pulling all of the escapees back into the peloton in a powerful display of team riding. Daniel Kogan hit the foot of the climb in the lead but was shadowed by a very strong Billy-Joe Whenman and the leader Dan Staite. Whenman timed his attack to perfection and although Kogan and Staite were gaining on him in the final metres, Billy-Joe took the win from Steve Saunders (Kingston Wheelers) and Dan Staite. Daniel Kogan took 5th and, more importantly, increased the time gap on those wanting to overtake him on GC.

Stage three result:

1.) Billy-Joe Whenman: Sport Beans/Wilier
2.) Steve Saunders: Kingston Wheelers
3.) Dan Staite: Python RT
4.) Gareth McCullough: Medway Velo
5.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Stage 4

The fourth and final stage was held on Bank Holiday Monday on the Tenterden circuit in Kent and, along with most of the country, the weather was wet and windy making the final 130km a true test of the riders’ strength. With relatively small time gaps on GC, the race was always going to be a tactical one but the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team held firm, with James Whatling and Martin Bryant riding for long periods at the front, shutting down any dangerous attacks for Daniel Kogan. After many attempts to wrestle himself clear, Billy-Joe Whenman did get away eventually with Gareth McCullough (Medway Velo) and established a good gap, but the time was always managed by Whatling and Bryant who worked tirelessly to prevent the leaders from gaining too much on their man Kogan. On the last lap, with the pace increasing in the bunch, it looked as though the escapees might be caught but, with 5km to go, a fallen tree on the circuit put paid to the hopes of the break as they unwittingly overtook the lead car and were disqualified. It was bad luck for Billy-Joe Whenman who had ridden hard all weekend and deserved to win the stage. The bunch had a chat as they waited for the tree to be moved and then rolled off again, ready for a bunch sprint, which was taken by Meurig James (Citihub) from Kevin Knox (Dulwich Paragon). Daniel Kogan rolled in with the bunch to secure second place overall after a strong and gritty performance from start to finish. This was a fine display from the first year senior and to place second to an in form Dan Staite has to count as one of Daniel’s finest results and signalled his growing stature as a rider to watch. Dan Staite was imperious throughout the race and took home a thoroughly deserved victory.

Stage four result:

1.) Meurig James: Citihub
2.) Kevin Knox: Dulwich Paragon
3.) Malcolm Whitehead: Kingsnorth Int. Wheelers
4.) Simon Warren: Norwood Paragon
5.) Chaz Hollosi: Gemini BC

Overall General Classification:

1.) Dan Staite: Python RT
2.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
3.) Matt Miles: Sydenham Wheelers
4.) Robert Willcocks: Ajchva Limoux
5.) Mike Hawkins: Norwood Paragon

Despite not being able to field the full team, this was a very successful weekend for the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team with 2nd place on stage one, 3rd place on stage two, 5th place on stage three, Daniel Kogan's 2nd place overall, James Whatling's 13th place overall and the team prize....not a bad haul for a three man team!

There was also some sterling team riding from both James and Martin and the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team were without doubt the strongest team in the race. With next weekend's Eastern Division Championships on the horizon, and a full team entered and raring to go, things are looking very promising!

Dan Patten to represent GB in the World University Championships.

2008-05-21T04:18:00.000-07:00

Fresh from a weekend where he took third place in the BUSA Championships and sixth in the Andrews Trophy Road Race, Dan Patten is off to Nijmegen in Holland as part of the GB Team racing in the World University Cycling Championships, on Sunday 25th May.

Dan joins a strong British team with team mates Pete Williams and Tom Murray (both Pinarello RT), Ross Adams (Red Kite Cycles), Mark Thwaites (Sport Beans/Wilier), Ash Brown (Sportscover), Richard Hepworth (Wakefield CC) and Hamish Batchelor (Sandy Wallace Cycles) as they compete over 160 km on a course scattered with short, treacherous climbs. The team will be directed by the experienced Paddy Hill.

For more information on the World University Cycling Championships logon to their website at www.wucc2008.com where you can see the participating countries, check out the results and watch a video clip of the road race course.

Ian's baptism of fire at the Hillingdon GP.

2008-05-21T04:13:00.001-07:00

Saturday 17th May was a wet and cold one at the Hillingdon cycle centre, and Ian Franklin was the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team's lone representative at this year’s Hillingdon Grand Prix. All was going well and correct preparations had been made for Ian to have every chance of a good days racing until Ian repeated his bad luck at the Lincoln GP and punctured during his warm up laps. Having only noticed when waiting for the off, Ian was forced to take the first lap of 54 out to change his wheel.

Not the ideal introduction into the National Circuit Series, Ian then had to ride hard to get up to the pace of the bunch when they came around for the second lap. Once settled in the pace was very fast, perhaps not the ideal day for testing his new Isaac, and continued that way for the entirety of the race as the strongest teams took in it turns to send men off the front, forcing the other teams to chase them down. Just as the race seemed as though it couldn't get much faster, things really started to hot up as the Plowman Craven RT and Rapha/Condor Recycling took to the front for the last ten laps and forced the pace even higher to lead their men out for the sprint.

This increase of pace proved just a bit too much for Ian, as a newcomer to the National Elite circuit series, and he lost contact with the bunch, forcing him to drop out. Disappointed with the result, Ian can only improve as a result of the race and will take away important knowledge to build on his own experience, standing him in good stead for his next appointment with the National Circuit Series, at the Smithfield Nocturne.

The race ended in a bunch sprint, with Graham Briggs (Rapha/Condor Recycling) taking the win ahead of Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven RT) and Jon Mozely (Pearl Izumi RT).

Results:
1.) Graham Briggs: Rapha/Condor Recycling.co.uk
2.) Tony Gibb: Plowman Craven RT
3.) Jon Mozley: Pearl Izumi/Planet X/ High 5 RT
4.) Simon Holt: Rapha/Condor Recycling.co.uk
5.) Paul Crook: Beyond MTB

Thanks to Larry Hickmott/British Cycling: www.britishcycling.org.uk for the photos.

Two Dans in the Top 10 at the BUSA Championships.

2008-05-21T04:07:00.000-07:00

Saturday 17th May saw the BUSA RR Championships take place in Harby, Leicestershire and the team were represented by our Loughborough University duo, Daniel Kogan and Dan Patten.

Just under 50 riders lined up for the 150 km race and a strong field included Pete Williams (York University/Pinarello RT) and Richard Hepworth, (Manchester University). Facing the riders was a 13 mile loop that would climb the mile long Harby Hill every lap for 7 laps. With a chill in the air and rain on the horizon the start was a cautious one but proceedings soon warmed up when a clear favourite for the win, Pete Williams, attacked half way up Harby hill. Knowing how dangerous this was Dan Kogan jumped with him and nullified the attack.

With the severity of the climb taking its toll, the bunch was soon down to a mere thirty riders. With both Dans watching the moves it was clear Harby hill was to be the deciding factor in the race and, climbing it the second time, Dan Kogan attacked and pulled out a small gap on the steep slopes. Over the top a group began to form as Pete Williams, Richard Hepworth, Dan and two other riders slipped away. The bunch were still relatively strong at this early stage in the race and weren't ready to see the race go up the road yet, and within 4 miles the race was all back together again.

With a lull in the action Dan Patten tried an attack and when he was caught Dan Kogan countered and took Hepworth away with him. The two worked well together, sharing the load, and they soon pulled out a 50 second gap on the bunch. Seeing the danger Peter Williams soloed across and the three riders extended their lead to just under 2 minutes. Again though a chasing group of eight formed and after a good hour and a half in the lead Daniel Kogan's group merged with the chase group which then came all back together with the bunch where Dan Patten was biding his time.

Just when it seemed that hostilities might be suspended for a while, with the race coming back together, Pete Williams attacked again and soon was out of sight, his blistering speed not allowing anyone to get on terms. With the race looking like a lost cause and with two laps to go Dan Patten slipped away with another rider on the headwind section and applied the pressure, steadily pulling out a lead of what was left of the bunch. Coming into the finish Pete Williams came in over a minute clear, taking a well deserved win, with Dan Patten riding in an impressive 3rd and Dan Kogan sprinting in with the bunch to take 9th.

Both the Dans put in impressive performances and, although disappointed to have missed out on the win, they both rode strong races and represented the team fantastically with a podium place and both guys in the top 10.

Results:

1.) Pete Williams: Pinarello RT
2.) David Weir: Coalville Wheelers CC
3.) Daniel Patten PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
4.) Christopher Croxford
5.) Richard Hepworth: Wakefield CC-Exponential
6.) Jack Adams: Pendragon Sports
7.) Steven Guymer: Avila Rojas-Ceuta
8.) Lee Tunnicliffe: DH Cyclesport.co.uk
9.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
10.) Joshua Andjelkovic: Maxgear RT

Six minutes of TV time at the Rutland-Melton!

2008-05-21T03:54:00.000-07:00

Cycling.TV recently aired their coverage of the East Midlands Cicle Classic (Rutland-Melton) on Eurosport and the British Cycling TV player, and the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team had logged their fair share of TV time thanks to Dan Patten's 120 km breakaway...and Ian's involvement in the pile up around Rutland water!

The team's sponsors benefitted from just under six minutes of exposure on television across the UK and Europe and you can guarantee that the team will be lining up in their forthcoming Premier Calendar outings aiming for more fantastic results and further positive promotion.

Watch the coverage for yourself on British Cycling's TV Player at: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid980097404/bclid987241992/bctid1552695113

Scant reward at Dunton.

2008-05-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

On Thursday 15th May, Martin Bryant, Ian Franklin and James Whatling lined up for the first of Team Economic Energy's evening series at Ford's Dunton test track. The sunshine of the weekend at the Lincoln GP seemed a million miles away on one of the wettest evenings in a long time, and the field of 35 were soaked to the skin within a couple of laps.

The weather didn't dampen the ferocity of the opening laps though, with the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team and the other stronger riders driving the race to try and split things up. James was in an attacking mood and was well backed up by Ian and Martin on the counter attack, but the bunch were in an especially negative mood and always worked to pull back any moves.

With only about six riders prepared to make a race of it, it looked as though no one would escape, until James managed to get away with what was a strong five man group, including the hard riding Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport), Alistair Tullett (Arctic/Premier) and Graham Galvin (Team Economic Energy). With the break working well together for a few laps and Ian Franklin doing his best to police the bunch behind, it looked as though the grip of the peloton had been broken but, when Andy Lyons dropped back to pull team mate Adam Norris up to the break, the momentum was lost and the bunch made contact again. Whilst the break were away, Martin suffered a mishap, falling on the climb, and decided to call it a night.

The bunch had let a move escape once and weren't prepared to let that happen again, so when the bell sounded for the final lap and the field were still together, a bunch sprint was inevitable. Inevitable maybe, but Andy Lyons wasn't going to be part of it so he took his chance and slipped away just before the bell. The bunch stopped chasing, happy to sprint for second place.

Andy took a much deserved win as he was always at the sharp end of the race and clearly the strongest on the night. James attacked hard to try and pull clear over the last kilometre but the bunch were glued to his wheel and a bunch sprint ensued, with Adam Norris completing a Heron Cyclesport 1-2. Ian sprinted well to take sixth and James rolled in with nothing to show for his hard work on the night.

Results:

1.) Andy Lyons: Heron Cyclesport
2.) Adam Norris: Heron Cyclesport
3.) Glenn Smith: Maldon & District CC
4.) Matthew Carden: Team Quest
5.) Ed Graefe: Team Economic Energy
6.) Ian Franklin: PCA Ciclos Uno

In the heat of battle at the Lincoln GP.

2008-05-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

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.

Dan Patten is ECCA Champion!

2008-05-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 4th May, the team lined up for the Eastern Counties Cycling Association (ECCA) Senior Championships at High Easter, Essex and were rewarded with beautiful weather, which has been something of a rarity this season!

After a long neutralised section the race got underway and straight away the attacks started, instantly stringing out the field along the Essex roads. Although the early moves were frequent, the bunch made sure they were unsuccessful, reeling in any attempts to break free. The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT were ever present at the front of the bunch, working hard to make sure we were represented in all of the moves. Daniel Kogan got away in a what looked like a dangerous group, with teams such as Wildside RT being represented with Mark Daly. However, yet again, with the attacks from the peloton, it was not long before this was swallowed up. As the race headed back onto the main section of road towards Leaden Roding, Dan Patten punctured just as the attacks were in full flow. As Dan rolled back through the peloton Martin Bryant, team player that he is, offered a wheel but Dan told him to go on, and went back for neutral service. A mix up occurred as Martin also stopped and then found it hard to get onto the back of the car pacing Dan back up to bunch. As Dan made his way through the convoy, Martin just couldn't quite make contact with the bunch and his race was over, a real shame after his gallant gesture.

On the second lap, Ian Franklin made a classic counter after an attack from Dan Kogan had been nullified, and soon formed what would become the break of the day containing about 8 riders, including Stephen Skuse (Wildside RT). With Daniel Kogan and Dan Patten slowing things down at the front of the bunch, the break soon got a about a minute's gap. With the break seemingly established, Dan Patten decided it was time to join the leaders and took Mark Daly (Wildside RT) and a few other riders across the gap to the leaders.

With a large group of 16 riders at the front including Dan Patten and Ian Franklin from the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT, Chris Macnamara, Stephen Skuse and Mark Daly (Wildside RT), Kevin Chambers (API-Metrow) and Phil Hetzel (Ipswich BC). This was the move of the day, but with so many of the top riders in it, there were always going to be a number of passengers, so it was no surprise when, a lap later, the lead group was split under the attacks of Wildside RT. Knowing he had to be in any move that contained those riders, Dan Patten went with the break and found himself in the final selection with Mark Daly, Phil Hetzel, Matt Seaton (Rapha/Condor) and Chris Macnamara, and a few other riders who all worked hard to pull it out further.
Once away it became a hard working group with everyone tapping through and doing their turn. Ian Franklin, having done a great job making the initial break, was now in amongst the rest of the break which were later swallowed up by the bunch.

Into the last 10km and it wasn't long before the expected attacks came from the Wildside duo. Chris Macnamara was determined to get away and Dan tried to make sure he followed any attack from him or Mark Daly. It seemed as though Wildside had played it perfectly, with the other riders in the break seemingly more interested in beating Dan for the ECCA Championship than chasing the two from Wildside for the win. With about 2km to go, Chris Macnamara attacked again and, with no one chasing, it proved to be the winning move and he held out to take the win. Neil Chapman (Maldon CC) rider then attacked but went too early and Mark Daly and then Dan rounded him before the line to take second and third. It was a well worked Wildside RT 1-2, but with these riders not eligible for the Eastern Counties Cycling Association, Dan Patten took the title and becomes the ECCA Senior Champion 2008.

A couple of minutes later the bunch arrived, containing Daniel Kogan who had done a fantastic job policing the bunch, James Jackson and Stephen Griffiths (Glendene/Bike Trax CC) who had done a lot of work in the race to pull things back, but with numbers working against them, were unsuccessful in doing so. Ian Franklin, having worked hard throughout the race rolled in a little later, but pleased to have helped to form the shape of the race.

Results:

1.) Chris Mcnamara: Wildside R.T.
2.) Mark Daly: Wildside R.T.
3.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
4.) Vince Divine: Finchley R.T.
5.) Edward Whitehorn: Glade C.C

Thanks to Simon Gooderham for the photos: http://good.zenfolio.com

The Dans go top ten at Mallory Park.

2008-05-09T01:16:00.000-07:00

The 1st May saw the first High 5 Mallory Park Circuit Race of the Summer, and the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT's Loughborough contingent were representing the team, with Dan Patten and Daniel Kogan keen to test their form before the ECCA Senior Championships.

With the race supported by one of their sponsors, Pearl Izumi were intent on a good showing in the race and they were on the offensive from the start to try and split the race. Dan Patten and Daniel Kogan worked hard, taking long turns on the front
to pull the breaks back and keep things together, but with riders not prepared to help out, a break of four succeeded and managed to pull out a good gap on the bunch.

The pressure on the front of the chasing pack meant that the race split into three groups with Dan Patten and Daniel Kogan in the chase group, but there was no consistency within the group to pull back the leaders, with Pearl Izumi riders disrupting the chase to allow their team mates to stay away.

With the leading group still were hanging out at about 80 seconds and with a lap to go, Dan Patten put in another attack going up the drag for the bell and managed to pull out a gap. Looking around to see a Pearl Izumi rider on the front trying to pull him back in, Dan put his head down and stayed away to take 5th place, with Daniel Kogan riding well for 9th. Good team riding kept the lead group away and Jeroen Janssen (Pearl Izumi) took the win from his team mate Stephen Adams.

Results:

1.) Jeroen Janssen: Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5
2.) Stephen Adams: Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5
3.) Andrew Stuart: Ashfield RC
4.) Robert Friel
5.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
6.) Raphael Deinhart: Pearl Izumi-Planet X-High 5
7.) Stephen Dring: Team Echelon-Spiuk
8.) Matthew Charity: Go Sports Spex RT
9.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
10.) Richard Bellamy: Ashfield RC

Long break for Dan Patten as the team shine at the Rutland-Melton Classic

2008-04-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team raced in their first UCI International event at The East Midlands International Cicle Classic on Sunday 27th April and signalled their intentions to grow as a team and to be able to mix it with the some of the best teams in the world. Not fazed by the quality of the field, in what would be the largest and most prestigious race any of the team members had ever competed in, everyone in the team dug deep and produced fantastic performances, topped off by a sparkling display by Dan Patten.

The East Midlands International Cicle Classic is one of the finest events promoted in the UK. Run over the tough rolling roads and narrow farm tracks of Rutland, this race it truly a classic and one that obviously captures the imaginations of riders and spectators alike, as the villages and towns along the route are packed with people cheering and creating a wonderful atmosphere. Thankfully the predicted rain didn't materialise and the field of 180 riders set off from Oakham on a warm day with 100 miles of racing ahead of them.

Unsure of each other and the camera motor bikes to begin with, it was a nervous field to begin with as the race took in the first of two laps around Rutland Water. With roundabouts and street furniture everywhere, the bunch was a pretty scary place to be and, after a few squeaky brake moments, someone touched a wheel on a 30 mph stretch of road and 20 riders went down. Unluckily for him and the team, Ian Franklin was one of them, but thankfully he escaped with scrapes and bruises. Not wanting to stop there, Ian dusted himself down, remounted and chased, with blood from a cut finger turning his bar tape red. He bravely made it to the back of the bunch just as they hit one of the climbs but, weakened by the fall and the chase, was dropped again and decided it was not to be today. He may have been disappointed with the outcome of his race but with his strength and speed, Ian has a lot of potential in races like this and will have many other chances in the years to come.

Martin Bryant was caught up behind the crash and, after picking his way through the bodies and bikes, set about reeling in the peloton, riding hard to make it back on. After that effort, crashes on the narrow roads and the first King of the Mountains climb didn't help his cause, splitting the field and leaving him with too much work to do to carry on. Martin had worked hard for this race, coming off a week's training in Majorca but, although he was unlucky today, the race will stand him good stead for the races to come.

Daniel Kogan and James Whatling, were riding strongly around Rutland Water and maintained their good positions in the bunch through Oakham before slipping back just a little too far as the race entered the narrow roads. Held up by the huge field and various small crashes, the pair were always chasing and finally lost contact with the bunch just after the first ascent of the Somerberg. Both Daniel and James found themselves in a tired, but hard working group, and they did their best to make contact with the large group just a short distance up the road. With about 10 kilometres to go it looked like their group would make the junction, but the interference of a team car put paid to that and James and Daniel rolled in together, outside the time cut but pleased to have finished this epic of a race. For a rider in only his first season as a senior, Daniel Kogan is on a steep learning curve but once again acquitted himself well, despite not always feeling comfortable on the sections of unmade roads. Through experiences like this at the Rutland-Melton Classic, Daniel's confidence is growing and this strong, tenacious rider will be a man to watch in the races to come.

Never one to be overawed by the occasion or the opposition, Dan Patten rode at the front of the huge peloton from the start and gave one of the best performances of the race, making the early break and then mixing it with riders such as Jan Bos (Ruiter DakkappelIen), eventual winner Ciaran Page and Irish National Champion David O'Loughlin (both Pezula RT) for 100 km. Perhaps only a missed feed prevented Dan from being there in the finale but he can feel very proud of himself, gaining masses of experience and a lot of positive coverage for himself and the team along the way.

Dan takes up the story, "I followed a little dig with a Plowman Craven RT rider along first stretch of road just to test it out, although it came to nothing. As we rode alongside the reservoir a small group of riders got clear including Ryan Connor (Pezula RT), Kevin Van den Eekkhout (Profel-Prorace) and Jan Bos (Ruiter DakkappeIlen). I was riding close to the front, trying to stay out of trouble and watching some of the contenders but a couple of kilometres later i decided to give it a little dig off the front and after taking a look back saw i was away, joined by Sierd Steigenga (Ruiter DakkappeIlen), Matej Vysna (Dukla Merida), and Matt Jennings (East Midlands Development). Working hard we soon found ourselves with 30 seconds or so over the peleton, but were still 50 seconds off the leading three. It took a whole lap to get onto the lead three, and as we approached the end of the second lap it looked as though it may have been all over with the peleton within 30 seconds
of us.

Not long after we were joined by Keiran Page, David O’Loughlin and Ciaran Power (All Pezula RT) and this added strength seemed to help us maintain the gap on the bunch. Back into Oakham for the first sprint and the crowds had come out en mass and as we passed through the busy streets the pace really hotted up and the gap on the peloton began to grow. Through the first couple of offroad sections the break stayed together, with Matt Jennings being the first to drop back on the first Owston Manor section. I ploughed on, but having not taken a bottle during the feed began to suffer as the Pezula riders
began to attack. I didnt have enough in the tank to go with them as it split. David O'Loughlin was the first to go, with about 50km to go, and the Pezula riders showed their class by allowing the gap to open and then bridging over, forming a strong quartet of O'Loughlin, Ciaran Power, Kieran Page (All Pezula RT) and Jan Bos (Ruiter DakkappeIlen).

I was glad to get to the next feed and take on some much needed bottles and it was on the ascent of Burrough on the Hill that i was joined by the chase group of about 30 riders containing the main British contenders. Riders were also being shelled out of this group one by one as the race took its toll.

As i recovered i found myself in a second chase group, which is where i remained for the rest of the race, finally starting to feel better again with 20 kilometres to go. As we hit the final descent back into Melton Mowbray riders began fighting for the best position to take the final right hander and the sprint for the line.......to a well needed Mars drink!"

The team enjoyed fantastic success at their first outing at the The East Midlands International Cicle Classic and will take everything that they have learned there into some of the big races to come. Dan Patten rode the race of the day and for a rider in only his third full season racing, to be making moves with seasoned professionals and National Champions says a great deal about his strength and his potential in the years to come. The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team all performed well and will be back to do the same next year.

Results:
1.) Ciaran Power: Pezula (IRL)
2.) Jan Bos: Ruiter Dak Kappellen (NED)
3.) Malcolm Elliot: Pinarello RT (GBr)
4.) Michael Berling Glud & Marstrand Horsens (DEN)
5.) Russell Downing: Pinarello RT (GBr)
6.) David O'Loughlin: Pezula (IRL)
7.) Rob Hayles: Felt Racing/Planet X/Halfords Mixed (GBr)
8.) Tobyn Horton: Mixed Team (GBr)
9.) Ian Wilkinson: Science in Sport (GBr)
10.) Roman Bronis: Dukla Merida Tren. (SVK)

37.) Dan Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

83.) Daniel Kogan: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
84.) James Whatling: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Thanks to Larry Hickmott/British Cycling for the pictures: www.britishcycling.org.uk

Patten so close at the Twickenham CC Road Race.

2008-04-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

Looking to capitalise on his fine form at the moment, Dan Patten competed in the Twickenham CC Road Race on Sunday 20th April and was so close to taking the win, undone by a less than accurate finishing line marker.

Originally scheduled for 50 miles, Dan arrived on the start line to find out that the race was now 13 laps of the circuit (90 miles) and the increased distance meant that this was Dan's longest race of the season so far.

The racing got going straight away with Dan, Billy Joe Whenman (Wilier/Sports Beans), Toby Meadows (Team Corridori), Ben White (Bike and Run), Mark Daly (Wildside RT) and James Jackson (Plowman Craven) all very active from the off. Despite a couple of early breaks gaining almost a minute, there was never any real danger of the race splitting up, with the strength of the bunch on the fast course keeping everyone together in the early stages. Billy Joe Whenman and Ben White fell victims to punctures, and victims to the organiser's lack of a neutral service car, and two riders that would have made an impact on the race had to make their own way back to the HQ.

When the early breaks were pulled back the big moves started going off, one in particular containing Colin Roshier (Team Quest) and Kevin Chambers (API-Metrow) and another half a dozen or so other riders but, sensing the danger, Dan worked hard to get across to them only for the bunch to reel them back in once more. Not long after this, the decisive break of the day happened containing about 14 riders including Dan, Kevin Chambers, Mark Daly, Toby Meadows and a number of riders from London Dynamo and other teams. With a large number of riders and many not willing to work, it was very unorganised and despite gaining a lead of about two minutes, this kept fluctuating and approaching the last two laps, the gap had dropped to 40 seconds and the break looked in danger of being pulled back in the finale.

Onto the last lap and the break was still messy with riders not wanting to co-operate. Dan made his move with a almost a lap to go and managed to distance himself from the break for about a kilometre until hard work from Toby Meadows pulled him back. The final lap was a story of attack and counter attack, with Mark Daly very active in trying to escape but as the riders came into the last kilometre the sprint beckoned but, after what had been a longer race than expected, there were plenty of tired legs in the break.

As the riders turned right and hit the finishing climb Dan found himself a little boxed in but made his way up the inside (and having read the 400 metres to go sign some way back), he thought he was in perfect position, second wheel behind Toby Meadows, only to get to the top and see the line still 200m away! Andy Betts (Twickenham CC) passed Dan to take the win followed by Lewis Atkins (Agiskoviner) and Mark Daly. In the last 50 metres Dan dug in again and got back onto the wheels of Daly and Atkins but just ran out of time to edge them and it took a photo finish for second place to separate them, with MArk Daly taking second from Lewis Atkins, with Dan in fourth place.

A slightly more accurate finish marker might have helped Dan's cause, but he once again showed his strength in a long race and proved that his sprint is much improving, all positive signs for the what is a very important few weeks for the team.

Results.

1.) Andy Betts: Twickenham CC
2.) Mark Daly: Wildside RT
3.) Lewis Atkins: Agiskoviner
4.) Dan Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
5.) Toby Meadows: Team Corridori

Headwinds and hard work at the Lea Valley Circuit Series.

2008-04-21T04:21:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 19th April, the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team lined up for what, at first glance, would be just another circuit race at the familiar Ford testing track at Dunton. However, after closer inspection of the junior riders in their races struggling and straining against a vicious headwind on the finishing straight, it became clear that the Lea Valley Circuit Race was going to be a bit of a battle against the elements.

Ian Franklin, Dan Patten and James Whatling were racing today and thankfully, for the first time this season, it looked like the rain was going to hold off, as a good sized field was led off by James Jackson (Plowman Craven RT) and his signature early attack. As James hit the wind though he realised the error of his ways and slipped back into the bunch, wisely saving his energy for later, but this would be by no means the only attack of the race, with many riders trying their luck and their legs.

As ever, the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team were very visible in the bunch with all three of them active in the early moves of the race and, when Dan Patten pulled away with a couple of other riders, Ian and James busied themselves to ensure the move stayed away. A few more riders including Steven Griffiths (Glendene/Bike Trax), Adam Norris (Heron Cyclesport) and Gianluca Cappello (VC Meundon) slipped away and bridged up to the leading group, forming what looked like a strong working group in the blustery conditions. Unfortunately for the group, one of the riders deemed it unnecessary to co-operate and let a wheel go, allowing Dan, James Jackson and Werner Otto (Finchley RT) to escape on their own.

After ensuring that Dan was safe and going to stay away, James Whatling attacked hard and, taking Stephen Saunders (Maldon CC) with him, set about trying to catch the chase group. Although James and Stephen worked well together and managed to get within 100 metres of the group, the strength of the wind, and the fact that two riders versus five was always going to be a tough task, meant that the capture was never quite made.

Up ahead, the leading group with Dan Patten worked well and had gained almost a lap at the bell. On the final corner, James Jackson pulled over, not wanting to lead it out and Dan following suit, knowing James' strength in the sprint. Werner Otto, not realising the cat and mouse game behind him, just continued to ride and soon had almost 100 metres gap. Forced to pull him back, Dan had to drive hard and, as soon as he had pulled Otto back, Jackson jumped and sprinted for the win. Dan just missed out in the sprint for second but had to accept that circumstances were against him with such a fast sprinter in the group.

James Whatling and Stephen Saunders (Maldon CC) stayed away from the main bunch and James took the sprint for 9th, with Kevin Barker taking the bunch sprint from Ian Franklin, who finished 12th after working hard for the team.

It was another strong team performance from the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team and showed that the team's form is building nicely for the races to come.

Results:

1.) James Jackson: Plowman Craven RT
2.) Werner Otto: Finchley RT
3.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
4.) Dominic Schils: Lotto Olympia Team Interbike
5.) Steven Griffiths: Glendene CC/Bike Trax

9.) James Whatling: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
12.) Ian Franklin: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Dan Patten caps fantastic weekend at the Thames Velo Spring Road Race.

2008-04-15T00:04:00.000-07:00

Following his win on Saturday at Dunton, Dan travelled up to Oxfordshire for the Thames Velo Spring RR and was met with a stellar field which included full strength Sigma Sport, Sports Beans and Team Corley Cycles teams, as well as quality riders such as Rob Hayles (Halfords/Bikehut) and rising star Pete Williams (Pinarello RT). Even though he was riding without the team today, Dan wasn’t fazed by the quality of the opposition or the speed of the race (the average speed was 42km/hr!) and followed the wheels of the strong teams, making sure he was in the right moves.

The speed of the race, the terrible weather and the power of the teams in the race meant that, although there were many attacks, the breakaways were always reeled back in and, on the final lap, it looked like a bunch sprint was the order of the day. In a last gasp attempt to get away, a move went along the back of the circuit containing Grant Bayton (Sports Beans/Wilier), Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles), Pete Williams (Pinarello RT), Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport) and Dan, tenacious as ever, made sure he was there with them.

The group worked well together but, as they approached the finishing hill not everyone was keen on working until, looking behind them, they could see the fast approaching bunch and the cars being pulled out. They managed to stay away and the 1km to go sign signalled the break’s safety as Gary Dodd started the sprint on the final drag. Dodd showed his strength and took the win as Dan used his new found sprinting skills to overhaul Pete Williams and hold off Grant Bayton to take a fine second place and to cap a wonderful weekend for him and the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team.

This was a fantastic ride from the young rider from Corringham and the quality of the opposition below him in the results show's how far Dan has come since his move from running just two seasons ago. Dan's form is building nicely for one of the biggest races of the year and he will definitely be a man to watch at the upcoming Rutland-Melton Cicle Classic.

Results:

1.) Gary Dodd: Sigma Sport
2.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
3.) Pete Williams: Pinarello RT
4.) Grant Bayton: Sports Beans/Wilier
5.) Roy Chamberlain: Team Corley Cycles

Dan Patten wins the Team Economic Energy Spring Rumble!

2008-04-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Dan Patten took a fantastic victory in the Team Economic Energy Spring Rumble after the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team completely dominated proceedings at Ford's Dunton Test Track on Saturday 12th April.

With the threat of bad weather looming on the horizon, a strong field lined up for the race, including four of the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team, Dunton sprint specialists James Jackson (Plowman Craven RT) and Ben Price (Pinarello RT), Dan Staite (Python RT) and Phil Hetzel (Ipswich BC).

Hostilities were signalled from the very start when James Jackson (Plowman Craven RT) surged clear, but James Whatling was quickly onto his wheel and, although the former team mates set about gaining an advantage, the field were far too vigilant at such an early stage and quickly reeled them in. This set the story of the race with constant attack and counter attack, but the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team showed their strength and were in every move, often with two riders.

One of the more promising attacks of the day came when Ben Price (Pinarello RT) pulled clear at the end of the drag and took Ian Franklin with him. They worked hard together and maintained their advantage for a few laps but the strong headwind took it's toll on the pair and the field came back together again.

Not even a violent rain and hail storm mid way through the race could distract the peloton from its vigilance and when strong attacks from the ever aggressive Dan Kogan to try and split the field came to nothing it seemed like the race would end in a bunch sprint until about 10 laps from the finish, when Ben Price (Pinarello RT), Phil Hetzel (Ipswich BC) and Dan Patten quietly slipped away. The bunch still weren't keen on letting them go, but some hard work from the escapees, coupled with committed team work in defending Dan Patten's position from the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team, meant that the break maintained their advantage until the finale. Dan Patten showed his growing experience by forcing sprinter Ben Price into leading out the sprint and came around him at the end to take his first win of the season from the Pinarello RT rider, with Phil Hetzel taking third.

Despite working hard to defend for long periods, the team still led Ian Franklin out in the bunch sprint and although James Jackson (Plowman Craven RT) and Trevor Burke (Finchley RT) just got around him, Ian capped a fantastic team performance taking 6th place.

This was a true team performance from start to finish and not only underlined the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team's strong team ethos but also signalled Dan Patten's growing emergence as a rider to watch and Ian Franklin's ever improving sprinting skills.

1.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
2.) Ben Price: Pinarello RT
3.) Philip Hetzel: Ipswich BC
4.) James Jackson: Plowman Craven RT
5.) Trevor Burke: Finchley RT
6.) Ian Franklin: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT

Welcome to the Hell of the East.

2008-03-30T23:57:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-03-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-03-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-03-17T00:32:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-03-14T01:28:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-03-10T01:10:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-03-06T00:46:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-03-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

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.

Injury woes for Whatling.

2008-02-23T13:43:00.000-08:00

With the winter miles in the bank, the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team are all fired up and ready for their first competitive outing at the Wally Gimber on Sunday 2nd March but, unfortunately, it won't be a full team outing as planned. James Whatling has been nursing an achilles tendon injury since the Majorca training camp and has been advised to stay off the bike for a week to ensure it heals up properly.

James is understandedly gutted about his lack of participation in the team's season opener, "It's typical bad luck for me really, you put in all the hard work over the winter and then manage to pick up an injury two weeks before the first race of the season. I just hope that this rest sorts it out and I can get back into training and be fit and ready to race with the guys as soon as possible".

James will still be there to cheer the team on at the Wally Gimber and hopes to be back out training the following week.

The team for the Dulwich Paragon Primavera will be: Martin Bryant, Ian Franklin, Daniel Kogan and Daniel Patten.

The team is launched.

2008-02-17T10:07:00.001-08:00

On Saturday 16th February, in Hainault, Essex, the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team was officially launched.

The whole team were present, along with Ciclos Uno supremo Trevor Maddern and Ciclos Uno manager and team mechanic Ewan Hendon. It was a bright and frosty morning, (a bit cold for hanging around in lycra if truth be told!) but thankfully photographer Mike Marsland was a true professional and rattled off all of the photos quickly and efficiently.

The serious business over with, Trevor suggested having some fun with the Squeezy shark logo and there was only one man for the job.....step forward Dan Kogan! It was hilarious, as he was photographed having his bum and his arm bitten off. Only Dan could pull those faces and he did a great job making the pictures funny and making us all laugh. With the photos done, the team retired to the warm and Mrs Maddern's tea, coffee and hot chocolate.....thanks Janet!

Once suitably refreshed, the team made the most of their day together and went for a team ride. With only a couple of weeks before the start of their season at the Wally Gimber, the team chatted and had a few laughs as they rode, continuing the process of getting to know each other in the sunny Essex countryside, before the hard work starts in March.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors for all of their help throughout the 2008 season, these companies are the finest in their fields and we are very lucky to have secured their support. Without their help it would be impossible for us to be out there racing week after week so thank you to: Plowman Craven, Ciclos Uno, Isaac Bicycles and Squeezy sports nutrition. We must also thank Jim Walker for the Limar helmets and Northwave shoes, Ken Jones at Onimpex for the Bioracer products and Oakley UK for the sunglasses.

Two new riders complete the team roster.

2008-01-27T17:55:00.000-08:00

The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team is pleased to have signed two fantastic riders to complete their roster for the 2008 season.

Daniel Patten has moved to the team from Pacific-Flanders where he had a very successful 2007 season. In only his second season of racing, after injury forced him to stop competitive running, Daniel won 3 races, was 1st Under 23 in the Sigma Sport South East Series and 2nd in the British University Sports Association Road Race Championships. A strong climber with a liking for breakaways, Dan is capable of results wherever he races and will be looking for high placings in races like the Archer Grand Prix and the National Under 23 Championships.

Martin Bryant joins the team from Team Economic Energy and, after a 2007 season cut short fighting illness and then injury, Martin is looking forward to 2008 with a new team and a fresh start. A strong, versatile rider who is as at home in the hills as he is in the middle of a bunch sprint, Martin is a true team player and will be invaluable to the team as they face the challenges of the season ahead.

The team is now complete, with five riders capable of results wherever the team might be competing. The 2008 season is nearly upon us and it's starting to get exciting!

Our first success of the season.

2008-01-27T17:34:00.001-08:00

The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team experienced their first success of the season on Friday 15th January. A success tinged with sadness, for all of us within the team, as James Jackson continued his steep learning curve and signed for the Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles Racing Team.

James was the longest serving member of the team and has developed into something of a circuit race specialist, with his fine bike handling skills and lightning fast finish. Eight wins in 2007 and a very notable 5th place in the London Grand Prix brought him to the attention of the Plowman Craven Team who signed him up to be their sole under 23 rider for the 2008 season.

We will miss having James in the team but we wish him all the best for this season and beyond, and look forward to seeing him take his considerable talent to the next level.

Planning the season ahead.

2008-01-13T03:57:00.000-08:00

On Friday 11th January, the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Race Team got together for their first team meeting of the season. Held at the team owner Trevor Maddern's house in Hainault, Essex, the meeting was relaxed and informal, perfect for both light hearted chat and the serious business of planning the 2008 season. The whole team were present, along with Trevor and Ewan Hendon: the Ciclos Uno shop manager, team mechanic and style advisor.

On their arrival, the team were excited to find that one of their Isaac Impulse team bikes had been delivered and built for them to cast their eyes over. The Isaac Impulse, ridden by the team in white, is a triumph of design and takes Isaac's natural forms ethos to another level. Quite possibly the best all round road racing frameset available today, this is one truly eye catching bike and the team noted that their results had better be good this season, if they are to be noticed for more than having the best looking machines in the peloton....yet another incentive to race hard, as if any were needed!

Once the team had given their unanimous approval to their team bikes and the first consignment of Squeezy Sports Nutrition products had been distributed, it was down to the serious business of planning race programmes for the season ahead. As this was the first meeting of the season, the team concentrated on the early season races and devised a calendar that was agreed by all, allowing the riders to pursue their personal goals whilst achieving those of the team and the sponsors.

The first meeting of the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Race Team was a complete success. The relaxed setting enabled the riders and management to get together informally, have a good look at the fantastic Isaac Impulse team bikes, to have a few laughs and to plan what we expect to be a victorious season in 2008.

Jackson's New Year revolutions.

2008-01-13T02:50:00.000-08:00

Not happy with his performance in the Winter Series on Saturday 29th December, James Jackson proved how professional he plans to be in 2008 by foregoing the New Year celebrations and racing in the New Year's Day Winter series race at Hillingdon.

An understandably smaller field gathered for the race but, with all the main contenders for the series there, the high standard of racing that the series has experienced was set to continue. The strong men of the race attacked from the start, but the lack of wind, coupled with some co-operation in the bunch, meant that the breakaways never quite succeeded. James Jackson, conscious of the fact that a bunch sprint would suit his stellar sprint, worked hard at the front of the front of the bunch, pulling the field and covering moves to try and keep it all together.

Unfortunately, as the team weren't racing today, James had a lot to do on his own and, with 12km to go, another break went and James had no answer to it. Once again the main contenders for the series were in the four man move and, with them all working together, they were never going to be caught. Colin Parry's (VC St Raphael) sprint was too much for Paul Pickup and he took the win, with Steve Golla (Sigma Sport) and Mick Hill (Team Quest) following them in.

Now well known in the peloton for his sprint, James was heavily marked in the finale but once he lit the afterburners, no one had an answer to his speed and he took the bunch kick with ease. Returning to the Winter Series to improve on his performance of three days earlier and to prove a point to himself, James showed his pride, his growing maturity and his competitive spirit, qualities that will serve him well as he grows as a rider in 2008.

Results:
1.) Colin Parry: VC St Raphael
2.) Paul Pickup
3.) Steve Golla: Sigma Sport
4.) Michael Hill: Team Quest
5.) James Jackson: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac

Pictures by Dennis Sackett: www.dgs-photography.co.uk

A Christmas run out at Hillingdon.

2008-01-02T10:05:00.000-08:00

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

The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac Racing Team is born.

2007-12-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

2008 see's the dawn of a new era for the Ciclos Uno Racing Team.

The Ciclos Uno Racing Team have joined forces with Isaac Bicycles for the 2008 season, with the team to ride Isaac's outstanding and beautiful Impulse bikes. Designed for low weight and high strength, the Isaac Impulse is a pure, potent racing machine and combines criterium stiffness with all day comfort, making it the perfect weapon for the range of races the team will be riding in the 2008 season.

Plowman Craven remain a loyal sponsor to the team, having sponsored Ciclos Uno since it's conception. A strong supporter of cycling, from the the grass roots of the sport to their very own successful Professional Racing Team, Plowman Craven is recognised as one of the world's leading and most innovative geomatics companies.

The team will be fed and hydrated by Squeezy Sports Nutrition and their fantastic range of products. After having already tested their first batch of Squeezy Energy Bars, Gels and Drinks, the team expressed their complete satisfaction with the products and can't wait to use them to fuel their performances across the 2008 season.

The team has grown, and has secured the services of two very talented and promising under 23 riders from Essex, in Ian Franklin and Daniel Kogan. They will join James Jackson and James Whatling to form a team that can compete at any race in the UK, from the Eastern Road Race League to the Premier Calendar.

Ian Franklin has joined the team from the Crest CC after a very promising season in which he won the Essex Roads Road Race and enjoyed numerous placings, including a top ten in the Nocturne D'Antibes in the South of France. A strong, attacking rider with bags of potential in both road and circuit races, Ian will be looking to gain more experience in the higher level races in 2008, whilst he continues getting the results he needs to earn his 1st Category licence.

Daniel Kogan is no stranger to Ciclos Uno, having begun his cycling career with the club as a junior. After a season with the Glendene/Bike Trax CC in which he won the King of the Mountains classification in the Martin Ashfield Classic, took 7th in the Junior Tour of Sussex and 9th in the Tour of the Dengie Marshes, we are pleased to welcome back this hard working rider with a talent for climbing. Dan will be getting his first taste of Premier Calendar action in 2008 and will be sure to shine as soon as the road rears skywards.

James Jackson is the longest serving member of the Ciclos Uno Racing Team, after having changed disciplines from Triathlon to Cycling in 2005. An instant success, James has already secured more wins in a two season racing career than most riders do in a lifetime of competition. Blessed with a fearsome sprint, James has a huge amount of potential in circuit races, and after eight wins in 2008 and a notable 5th place in the 2007 Bob Chicken Grand Prix, James will be aiming to be the best Under 23 in the 2008 National Circuit Series.

James Whatling joined the Ciclos Uno Racing Team midway through the 2007 season after a brief stint with Team Synergy, and secured 5th place in the ECCA Senior Championships in his very first day with the team. A powerful team rider with a liking for breakaways and tough conditions, James will be aiming to ride strongly in races like the Lincoln Grand Prix and the Rutland-Melton Classic.

One windy weekend in Belgium.

2007-12-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

On the first weekend in December, James Jackson and James Whatling spent a couple of days training in Belgium. Nothing too hard they thought, just an easy day or two, steadily getting the miles in and enjoying the countryside. Alas, this was not the weekend for steady miles, no such luck! The wind blew hard, as only it can in Belgium, and an easy couple of days turned out to be a hardcore training weekend!

Saturday was not such a bad day weather wise, and despite setting out from Essex at silly o'clock, the James' were in good spirits for the riding to come. A good hearty breakfast on the ferry to keep them going and they were off on the short drive across Northern France into Belgium. James Jackson was quiet on the way, maybe he was a bit nervous or excited to be riding on the cobbles for the first time.....or maybe he was asleep! Just as well James Whatling knew the way as the map reader only knew the way to the land of nod....although he did manage to wake up about 20 km into Belgium.

Saturday's ride was planned to be the longer of the two, as the forecast was pretty bad for Sunday, and so the James' made the most of the dry but breezy weather, driving hard up the famed cobbled climbs of the Flemish Ardennes that make up the Tour of Flanders. Four and half hours of strong riding, and more than a few wrong turns later and the James' got back to the car, ready for Belgian recovery food.....Chips and Mayonnaise!

After a quiet night in Ghent recovering and trying a couple of Belgian beers (NB: We did only have a couple, but beware of the 11% beer...it tastes great but it's lethal!) Sunday dawned grey, wet and windy. The wind had increased in strength considerably and it took a lot of strength to keep going, but the James' were the measure of it, pushing hard and even managing to laugh at the severity of the conditions. At one point James Whatling was at the front, riding into a block headwind, pushing 400 Watts and only managing 9 mph.....it was that hard!

2 and half hours of punishment later, the James' decided to call it a day and headed off to the Tour of Flanders museum in Oudenaarde for a look around before heading for home. It might not have been the steady miles they had planned for, but they rose to the challenge, got the miles in and can be safe in the knowledge they won't ride in many more tough, windy conditions than that this coming season!

Pain at the Catford and suffering at the Bec.

2007-10-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

James Jackson rode two of the toughest and most established hill climbs in the country today, taking on the Catford and the Bec, and rode strongly to finish them 13th and 22nd respectively.

Riding his track bike, James exploded away from the start of Catford CC's hill climb and flew up the first steep section, recording one of the fastest times at the first split. As the gradient levelled out for a brief respite, he kept up the pace and hit the final steep section hard. The only problem was the 20% final section hit back and sapped all James had in his legs, but he managed to grit his teeth and grind it out to the finish.

In true James Jackson style, holding nothing back at all and giving it 100% effort, he finished the climb and had to be lifted off his bike and sat down to stop him collapsing. After a while getting his breath back though, he was soon back on the bike warming down with a smile on his face. No rest for the wicked though, as he was then off to the Bec CC's hill climb where he repeated the all out effort to finish 22nd, and to end the very tough day's work very well, a credit to himself and the team.

It takes two!

2007-10-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

Without teamwork, James Whatling would not have gained his 1st Cat licence today at the Finsbury Park RR. Without James Jackson's fantastic efforts, burying himself to close gaps and to lead James out for the final sprint, the race might have got away and the points gone. The Ciclos Uno Race Team raced hard today and showed their true colours, working together to get the result needed.

In the final Eastern Road Race League of the season at Steeple, Essex, James Jackson and James Whatling had one aim, to get James Whatling the points he needed for his 1st Cat licence. A good strong field started the race and, with the ERRL riders championship wide open, the race was always going to be fast and full of attacks. The Heron Cyclesport team were riding hard to get the win for their rider Andy Lyons, whilst API-Metrow were defending the lead of Kevin Chambers and the race would often yo-yo as first one team would attack and then the other would counter.

At about half distance, a group of 16 got away on the fast section of the course and both of the James' missed the move. There was no way they were going to let this race slip away from them and, although the breakaway gained 30 seconds, the Ciclos Uno Race Team hit the front of the bunch in the headwind section of the race, put their heads down and pulled the group back. With the race back together, the attacks began again and as the main teams sent rider after rider up the road, only to be pulled back again, Phil Hetzel (Ipswich BC) slipped away and was never seen again by the bunch. On the penultimate lap Andy Lyons was very unlucky to puncture and, with Kevin Chambers safely in the race and the winner of the ERRL, the race slowed, with almost everyone happy to wait until the finale to make their moves.

Martin Smith (AW Cycles) and Alastair Kay (York Cycleworks) escaped on the final lap to take second and third place respectively while behind them, the bunch were readying themselves for the sprint up the finishing climb. As they rounded the final corner, James Jackson hit the front, with James Whatling glued to his wheel and, pulling at over 35mph, he lined out the whole field to deliver his team mate to the bottom of the climb in the lead. James Whatling took over and, despite suffering from cramp in both legs, managed to hold on to finish 15th, enough to gain his 1st Cat licence for 2008.

Results:

1.) Philip Hetzel: Ipswich BC
2.) Martin Smith: AW cycles
3.) Alastair Kay: York Cycleworks
4.) Chris Moores: Norwood Paragon
5.) Raphael Deinhart: Loughborough Students CC

Success in the Duo Normand!!

2007-09-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Ciclos Uno time trial specialist, ace mechanic and general all round trouper, Ewan Hendon and his tandem partner, Corinna Francis rode to a fantastic third place in the Duo Normand in France on Sunday 23rd September.

Solar powered Ewan was suitably charged up by the beautiful sunny weather in Marigny and he and Corinna powered around the 54km rolling course in 1:23:12 to earn their podium place. The top step of the podium went to another Ciclos Uno rider, Dean Lubin, and his tandem partner Andy Page.

Results.

1.) Dean Lubin - Andy Page: 01:17:13
2.) Andrew Butcher - June Edwards: 01:21:10
3.) Ewan Hendon - Corinna Francis: 01:23:12

A rough ride in the Dengie Marshes.

2007-09-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you've got it, sometimes you haven't. In what was, without doubt, the hardest race in the Eastern Region this season, luck deserted James Jackson, and James Whatling just didn't have the legs on a disappointing day in the flatlands of Essex on Sunday 23rd September.

The rough and unmade roads of the Dengie Marshes were always going to produce some exciting racing, akin to that in Belgium or Holland, and the wind that steadily increased through the morning made the going even tougher. The pace was high from the start, with riders pushing hard to get to the front for the first time into the single track roads. Unfortunately, James Jackson never got to complete a lap as a puncture, and a 5 minute wait for service, ended his race in disappointment. James was the sixth rider to have punctured within half a lap but, despite this setback, he has had a fine season and can look back with pride at all he has acheived.

As the race progressed, the wind whistling across the marshes was blowing riders to the four winds. James Whatling found himself working hard to stay in contact with the front group and despite a big turn on the front of a group desperate to regain contact, he never quite managed to make the junction and settled in a group of seven other riders. With the narrow roads only allowing room for 4 to echelon, there was nowhere to hide and, with 3 laps to go, he lost the wheel in front and never got back on. In a race that should have suited his abilities, he just didn't have the legs but there is always next year.

A group of three riders pulled away from the bunch in the final stages to contest the win, with the experienced Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles) outsprinting Richard Sykes-Popham (Glendene/Biketrax) for the win, with David McClean (Heron Cyclesport) taking third place.

Results:

1.) Roy Chamberlain: Team Corley Cycles
2.) Richard Sykes-Popham: Glendene/Biketrax
3.) Dave McLean: Heron Cyclesport
4.) Andy Lyons: Heron Cyclesport
5.) Douglas Bradshaw: Cambridge CC

The Eastern Region Track Championships.

2007-09-25T14:30:00.001-07:00

The Eastern Region Track Championships were held at Welwyn on Saturday 15th September and Ciclos Uno were represented with a mixture of youth and experience in David Baker, James Jackson, Ian Bell, James Whatling and John Saysell.

The record entry of 87 riders were blessed with a warm sunny day to enjoy an excellent and competitive afternoon's racing in the various categories from Senior down to Under 8’s.

The programme opened with the Senior Pursuit, with James Whatling and James Jackson competing for Ciclos Uno. James Whatling was making his competive debut on the track, after one previous outing at Manchester Velodrome, and it showed somewhat, missing the start whistle and having a bit of a wobble to begin with. He got into the rhythm of things soon enough and pushed hard towards the end of the race to finish in 15th place. James Jackson used his sprint to power off the start line like a train and held it well to finish 9th, a fantastic result for both of them considering neither had the advantage of tri bars or disc wheels. Doug Bradshaw (Cambridge CC) powered home to take the win from John McClelland (Agiskoviner) with Simon Bateson (Team Economic Energy) third.

After a round of heats and repechages in the Senior Sprint, the four Semi-final winners going into the final were Andy Ballentyne (Easterley RC), Robert Cox (Cambridge CC), James Jackson and John McClelland, who had narrowly defeated David Baker in the first semi-final. After a cagey start, with all four riders slowing to a near standstill on the first bend, Cox attacked with 300m to go, but McClelland's power closed the gap and held off the challenge of James Jackson as they came into the home straight, to win by a length.

The Ciclos Uno team pursuit team of David Baker, James Whatling, John Saysell and James Jackson were up next. Led by the experienced Baker, the team rode without any tri accessories and instead relied on power, aggression and team work. All four rode out of their skins for 6 laps and finished third, a fantastic result which we hope to better next year with some practice! Cambridge CC ran out the winners from the eight team pursuit squads competing, with Team Welwyn in second place.

The final event of the meeting the was the Senior 10 mile scratch. With a field of some 45 riders, the race was building to a close finish with all the main riders in contention positioning themselves for the win when, with two laps remaining, a crash occurred as the riders entered the home straight. The race was stopped as Ian Clarke and Mario Morias were transported to hospital and the restart saw John McClelland take the a narrow victory from David Baker, with Trevor Burke (North Road Club) in third and James Jackson in fourth.

Results.

Team Pursuit.
1.) Cambridge CC
2.) Team Welwyn
3.) PCA/Ciclos Uno

Sprint.
1.) John McClelland: Agiskoviner
2.) James Jackson: PCA/CiclosUno
3.) Robert Cox: Cambridge CC

10 Mile Scratch
1.) John McClelland: Agiskoviner
2.) David Baker: PCA/CiclosUno
3.) Trevor Burke: North Road Club
4.) James Jackson: PCA/CiclosUno

One day.....

2007-09-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

.......James Whatling will finish a race on the SERRL's Benendon circuit, after having punctured there in the cold and rain in the SERRL stage race in May, and then on Sunday 9th September, breaking a spoke and suffering in the sun.

The SERRL race was the latest round of the Sigma Sport Series and the competiton was strong, with teams from Sigma Sport, Wildside RT, Agiskoviner and Pacific/Flanders all there to work for and to protect their team leaders. The rolling circuit included 11 climbs of a sharp, roughly surfaced climb and although there were some attacks, the pace of the race and the fact that the contenders for the series were watching each other closely meant that the peloton remained together.

On the fifth lap, disaster struck for James on one of the sapping, dragging climbs as he broke a spoke in his front wheel. Although he managed to get a wheel from the first aid car, he wasn't paced back up to the bunch and they steadily pulled away from him. Never one to give up, he pushed on solo for five more laps but was pulled out by the organiser on the final lap, with no chance of regaining contact.

The finishing climb proved influential as the point where the race split and, on the penultimate lap, 8 riders broke clear, including the series leader Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport) and they worked together to hold their lead, with Dodd pulling away to win and consolidate his position in the series.

Results.
1.) Gary Dodd: Sigma Sport RT
2.) Chris McNamara: Wildside RT
3.) Andrew Bye: Kingston Wheelers
4.) John Veness: Kona UK
5.) Tom Copeland: InGear Development

Jackson earns his stripes.

2007-09-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

You might be forgiven for thinking that this might be Malcolm Eliiot winning the Bob Chicken London Grand Prix above, and you'd be right, but if you look just behind Malcolm's victory salute, you can see young James Jackson taking fifth in the race and the biggest result of his young career thus far.

The race was held at a relentless pace from the start and even though eventual winner Elliot (Pinarello) and Dean Downing (Rapha/Condor) worked an early move, this was soon extinguished by a peloton wise to the danger these two represented.

Barring a solo escape from Matt Talbot (Rapha/Condor) the pace of the race kept everyone together and, as the race reached it's finale, James was holding position well in the top 10. As they started the final lap, James just had to make things a little bit harder for himself and decided he wanted to work his way up from the back of the field! Demonstrating just how strong he is, sure enough, come the final bend he was at the head of the race again and, managing to the avoid the crash that affected a lot of the other riders, unleashed his sprint to finish closely behind the experienced Elliot.

Results.
1.) Malcolm Elliott: Pinarello RT
2.) Andy Tinsley: Bioracer Onimex RT
3.) Warrick Spence: Cyclefit-Serotta
4.) John Mozley: Merlin Racing Team
5.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos uno

A night at the track with Action Jackson.

2007-09-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

James Jackson ended his first season competing on the track at the final meeting of the 2007 Welwyn Track League and underlined his growing stature as an all round track rider with a selection of fine performances in front of a good sized crowd.

Competing in the Senior Class A category, only the collective effort of Agiskoviner's experienced John McClelland and Joel Stewart could prevent James from taking victory in both the 10 lap Scratch and the Points race, but the experience he has gained from competing in the season long Welwyn League should stand him in good stead for the forthcoming Eastern Region Track Championships.

Results:
Senior Class A.

10 Lap Scratch
John McClelland (Agiskoviner)
James Jackson (PCA Ciclos Uno)
Joel Stewart (Agiskoviner)

10 Lap Points
Joel Stewart (Agikoviner)
James Jackson (PCA Ciclos Uno)
Robert Cox (Cambridge)

Jackson steps up to the mark.

2007-08-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

James Jackson took another step in his development, at Team Economic Energy's penultimate circuit race at Dunton on Thursday 9th August, as he held his own with established New Zealand professional, Gordon MacCauley (PCA/Evans Cycles RT).

Gordon and team mate James Millard were using the race at Ford's test track as part of their training for their upcoming races in the Tour of Britain and the Tour of Ireland, but this didn't mean that they were there to make up the numbers. Keen to prove himself against this tough opposition, James marked Gordon's every move and the pair even managed to escape the clutches of a very hard chasing peloton to work together for a lap or so, before being reeled in.

The whole field seemed to have something to prove tonight and the pace was unrelenting, with the bunch often strung out along the whole length of the straights. Despite a lot of hard work in attempting to escape, by the likes of Dean Shannon and Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport), Ben Price (Rapha Condor) and the two man tag team that was the PCA Evans Cycles RT, nothing semmed like it would get away until, with a lap and half to go, MacCauley put in a final big attempt to rid himself of the clutches of the bunch....not to mention young Jackson!

He soloed off and managed to hold everyone off until the last kilometre when the capture was made. Somehow James Jackson found himself where he didn't want to be, in front with about 600 metres to go, and although not an ideal situation, he jumped as hard as he could and held off everyone except Ben Price (Rapha Condor) and Steven Griffiths (Glendene CC/Bike Trax) who got around him for the win and second place respectively.

Results:

1.) Ben Price: Rapha Condor
2.) Steven Griffiths: Glendene CC/Bike Trax
3.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno

The James' go time trialling.

2007-08-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

James Whatling and James Jackson competed in the Herts Wheelers evening 10mile time trial on Tuesday 7th August and, despite their relative inexperience at the discipline, acquitted themselves well, coming first and second respectively.

The evening was made more eventful by James Whatling's ability to be clumsy at any given time, and tonight he somehow managed to get a stick in his eye as he went to go to the loo in a nearby hedge. It was very painful and left him with a very red eye, perhaps was not the best result when getting married in a few days! The second eventful moment came when our esteemed sponsor, Mr Trevor Maddern, decided to put in an appearance on his scooter to cheer us on along the way. He might, however, have regretted this move as, at about a third distance, the heavens opened, leaving him very wet and the James' struggling to see in the rain and the gloom.

Despite the downpour, and the subsequent need to take it rather steadily at the turn, both the Ciclos Uno riders charged for home and James Whatling won in a time of 21.35, with James Jackson in second place with 22.07.

Jackson works hard for 2nd at Dunton.

2007-08-06T05:29:00.000-07:00

James Jackson continued his fantastic run of results with a well earned 2nd place in the latest of Team Economic Energy's circuit races at Ford's Dunton test track.

The latest of the Thursday night series, held on the 2nd August, had it's largest field yet, as word spread about the quality of the racing to be had. James Jackson was quickly into the action, and went almost from the gun trying to tempt a few others to try and escape the bunch. The size of the field was playing a large part in the racing though, with there always being someone willing to pull the break back.

Not to be undeterred, both James' tried time and again to pull away but even when groups began to form, the peloton was quickly onto them, unwilling to let anything get away. James Whatling, perhaps thinking too much about his points needed for his 1st Cat licence, decided to hang back and wait for the finale but James Jackson continued in his quest to break free, working hard throughout the race.

With 3 laps to go, it was the winner of the previous week's race, Daniel Patten (Pacific/Flanders RT) who made the move and, for once, no one seemed too keen to chase. Ben Price (Rapha Condor) decided he wasn't going to let Daniel have another breakaway win and pulled hard on the front of the bunch, instigating the charge to pull the escapee back. The pace was unrelenting for the final two laps and, as the bunch opened up the sprint, Daniel was engulfed, his quest unfulfilled. The sprint was a hectic one, with plenty of pushing and shoving, but Adam Norris (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) found the gap and managed to make the jump on James Jackson to take the victory. James Whatling came in for 12th, still searching for those points!

Results:
1.) Adam Norris: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
2.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
3.) Ben Price: Rapha Condor
4.) Mark Beattie: Maldon & District CC
5.) Andy Waterman: Norwood Paragon

1st Cat for Jackson.....Whatling nearly there!

2007-07-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

At the fourth of Team Economic Energy's circuit races at Dunton, on Thursday 26th July, James Jackson secured his 1st category licence after a fantastic ride in support of James Whatling who was in the breakaway.

As usual, the field for these circuit races at Ford's Dunton test track was strong and, with the addition of James Millard and Adam Norris (PCA/Evans Cycles RT), there was always going to be some team tactics in play. This happened earlier than expected when Adam broke away with Dean Shannon (Heron Cyclesport), Ben White (Finchley RT) and Daniel Pattern (Pacific/Flanders RT). Millard sat up on the front of the bunch and then, after the break had established itself, launched himself off the front of the bunch to bridge across to the leaders.

Sensing that this would be the move of the race, James Whatling buried himself to get on Millard's wheel as he powered across the gap. Once the junction had been made, James recovered enough to help drive the fast moving break and they worked well to pull further and further away from the chasing bunch. Back in the pack, James Jackson was the perfect team mate, making a nuisance of himself (as ever!) to disrupt the chase and even tried to bridge across to the break himself but the wind and the pace of the leaders proved too much.

With 5 laps of the race remaining, James Millard decided he wanted to go it alone and managed to get a fair gap before the break deemed his escape too dangerous and reeled him back in. Daniel Pattern immediately countered and, after the effort of pulling Millard back, no one wanted to chase again and Daniel powered away for the final few laps to take a much deserved win. Ben White (Finchley RT) and James Millard clipped off the front of the break in the final stages to finish 2nd and 3rd and Adam Norris (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) won the sprint for 4th, with James Whatling coming in 9th. James Jackson took the bunch sprint comfortably and his 12th place gave him enough points for his 1st cat licence.

Results:
1.) Daniel Pattern: Pacific/Flanders RT
2.) Ben White: Finchley RT
3.) James Millard: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
4.) Adam Norris: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
5.) Dean Shannon: Heron Cyclesport

Alarm clocks and punctures...

2007-07-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

James Jackson and James Whatling had planned to race the SERRL event on Sunday 15th July but a badly set alarm clock and a (slightly!) later wake up than planned meant that they missed the start, and instead raced in the Southern Counties Cycling Union Championships on a fast and rolling course at Crowhurst.

A good field gathered to race the 79 miles on a hot and humid day in Sussex, and with strong teams from AW Cycles and Wildside RT, tactics were always to play a large part in the outcome of the race. Both James' were very active from the off, attacking off the front and trying to break the race up, whilst the other sat back, ready to counter any moves. As more and more riders tried to break away, the two man Ciclos Uno team had it's work cut out, and when James Jackson punctured and a large group went up the road, James Whatling just didn't quite have enough left in the tank to follow.

No neutral service meant that the in form Jackson had to play his part from the roadside, handing up much needed bottles and giving time gaps and this information was invaluable in attempting the chase. However, with plenty of riders in the peloton refusing to work because they had team mates in the break, the gap was widening lap by lap. By the penultimate lap, a chase of sorts had been organised, with Daniel Pattern (Pacific-Flanders RT), Henry Furniss (Bike and Run) and riders from Norwood Paragon leading the charge. With the bell sounding for the final lap and a gap of 40 seconds, it looked all over, but the break were sighted within the last 2 miles and the chase for the finish began.

Although the breakaway was never quite caught, it was a close run thing at the finish as the sprint at the finish showed who still had the strength in their legs to compete. Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport) took the victory ahead of Rob Enslin (AW Cycles) and Toby Neave (Wildside RT) while James Whatling followed in for 20th.

Results:
1.) Gary Dodd: Sigma Sport RT
2.) Rob Enslin: AW Cycles
3.) Toby Neave: Wildside RT
4.) Martin Smith: AW Cycles
5.) Andrew Bye: Kingston Wheelers

Jackson wins again at the TEE 2!

2007-07-16T02:18:00.000-07:00

Eight wins this season and counting!

James Jackson threaded his way through the bunch with 500 metres to go and then kicked hard to win the second of Team Economic Energy's evening races by a bike length. For a young man that had raced only a handful of BC events last season and had to win a race in Majorca to gain his second category licence, James has now amassed 152 points and will shortly be moving on to the realms of the first cats.

Both James Whatling and James Jackson raced in the second of Team Economic Energy's evening races at Ford's Dunton test track and, with a larger and stronger field than the previous week, the racing was always going to be fast and furious. Attacks went in from the start but, with a large and attentive bunch, none of the moves were given their head before being reeled in.

Despite good attacks from James Whatling, Andy Lyons and Dean Shannon (Heron Cyclesport), Dominic Shils (Interbike RT) and Martin Smith (AW Cycles) the bunch stayed together for the bunch sprint which James Jackson negociated to emerge victorious once again!

Results:
1.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
2.) Ben Price: Rapha/Condor
3.) Adam Norris: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
4.) Andy Lyons: Heron Cyclesport
5.) Ben White: Finchley RT

Jackson Number 1 at North Weald!

2007-07-16T02:06:00.000-07:00

James Jackson continued on his winning ways with another victory at the TLI evening series race at North Weald airport on Tuesday 10th July.

James looked like a man on mission to win when, from the off, he attacked and got away from the bunch. Pulled back in by some hard work at the front of the peloton, James didn't even feel the need to rest as he got on with chasing down other attacks and making breaks of his own. As the race progressed, James showed his strength further in what would become an imperious display, in fact, he spent nearly all of the race either on the front of the bunch stringing it out, or out on his own in yet another powerful attack.

The finale further proved James' strength when, with half a lap to go, James found himself in a bad position, leading out the sprint. Not a problem, he just opened it up and pulled away from the rest, giving himself enough time to freewheel across the line to victory!

Team Economic Energy 1 at Dunton

2007-07-12T03:53:00.000-07:00

On a cold, wet and windy Thursday evening at Ford's Dunton test track, James Jackson and James Whatling competed in the first of Team Economic Energy's Circuit race series and came away wth 3rd and 10th respectively.

From the start, Heron Cyclesport signalled their intent as David Mclean attacked and, as he was caught, Dean Shannon countered. James Whatling countered the early moves and when yet another attack went on the uphill section of the course, and James Jackson went with it, James Whatling hung back to allow the breakaway to form.

James Jackson was in good company, with Ben Price (Rapha/Condor), both Dean Shannon and David Mclean (Heron Cyclesport) and Adam Norris (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) all in good form and keen to work hard to stay away. James found the going tough but showed his resolve, pulling hard to help the breakaway.

Back in the bunch, James Whatling was making a nuisance of himself to ensure that his team mate had a chance of keeping the gap, jumping on any number attacks from Kevin Chambers (API-Metrow) and Dominic Schils (Interbike RT).

The break were never reeled in and the race was decided by a sprint taken by Ben Price (Rapha/Condor) from Adam Norris (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) with James Jackson coming in 3rd. Despite suffering from a rapidly disintegrating crank, James Whatling pulled away from the bunch on the last lap for 10th.

1.) Ben Price: Rapha/Condor
2.) Adam Norris: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
3.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
4.) Dean Shannon: Heron Cyclesport
5.) Martin Smith: Army Cycling Union

From the gun in the SERRL

2007-07-12T03:26:00.000-07:00

On Sunday 1st July, James Whatling rode in the SERRL 16 event in Godmersham in Kent, on a tough rolling circuit, and performed strongly to finish 6th.

As the bunch rolled away at the start of the 75 mile race, James found himself rolling away with Cesar Coco (Spol Caixanova) and Daniel Patten (Pacific-Flanders RT). The strong trio didn't need much persuasion to keep going and were rewarded with a lead of 45 seconds within half a lap. Aware that they would need help in order to stay away for the whole race, they were happy to be joined by a hard working group of 6 on the second 12 mile lap of the race, and together they worked well to pull further away from the bunch.

The breakaway pace was high enough to shed some of the less strong riders and, as the breakaway gained it's maximum lead of 2 minutes, only 7 riders were left to contest the finish. At the start of the 2km finishing climb, Daniel Patten pulled away and was never caught to take the win from Kevin Tye (ODSL.com Racing) and Ian O'Hara (Citihub).

Results.
1.) Daniel Patten: Pacific Flanders RT
2.) Kevin Tye: ODLS.com Racing
3.) Ian O'Hara: Citihub
4.) Alex Paton: VC Deal
5.) Cesar Cocco: Spol Caixanova
6.) James Whatling: PCA/Ciclos Uno

Famous the world over.

2007-06-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

Not David Millar.......Ciclos Uno and Craig Stevens!

Check out Craig at the Smithfield Nocturne on Pezcyclingnews.com:

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5028&status=True

You lose some....

2007-06-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

A win in the support race, a big crowd to cheer you on and some of the best circuit racers in the Country....what more could help to spur you on to a great ride? Some dry weather, on what could possibly be the most slippery surface to race on short of ice or glass would have been nice!! It was not to be, as just 15 minutes before the Elite Race of the Rapha/Condor Smithfield Nocturne, the heavens opened and it all changed for the worse.

James Jackson and James Whatling, warming up in the underground car park, knew little of the rain until they were greeted by a wave of water flowing towards them. Undeterred, but more than a little apprehensive, they lined up for the start of the race (with very little pressure in the tyres to aid grip!) with messrs McCallum, Hayles, Downing, Blythe and Dowsett.

The terrible conditions seemingly meant nothing to the more experienced riders as the pace was relentless from the gun. Warrick Spence (Cyclefit/Serotta) made matters worse when he attacked after a few laps, forcing everyone to keep the pace up to stay with him as he cornered at speeds in the wet most riders would be pleased with in the dry. James Jackson aquitted himself well, using all his speed to move up the line of riders and establish himself in a high quality group with Adam Blythe (SIS-Trek) and Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport) as the race splintered. James Whatling wasn't faring so well and, despite giving all he had to stay with the field, lost contact after about 15 minutes and called it a night. With Warrick Spence still pulling away and lapping riders for fun, it was a shame that James Jackson should be one of those but, boosted with the experience of such top level racing, James can take a lot of positives away from the race.

Warrick Spence's epic solo effort was eventually pulled back by some hard work by the PCA/Evans Cycles RT but it took them 28 minutes to claw back 28 seconds and the by product of such pressure was that at half distance there were only 13 riders still in the race. The pace of the race never let up and, as the riders thundered around the final corner of the race, James McCullum (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) made the most of a slight mistake by Dean Downing (Rapha/Condor) to sprint home for the win.

Results:
1.) James McCullum: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
2.) Dean Downing: Rapha/Condor
3.) Jon Mozley: Merlin RT
4.) Warrick Spence: Cyclefit/Serotta
5.) Ross Muir: Rapha/Condor

You win some!

2007-06-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Craig Stevens made it a near perfect start to the racing for Ciclos Uno at the Rapha/Condor Smithfield Nocturne, when he rode the perfect race to win the Regional A race. The only dampener (apart from the weather!) came when Alex Aldham-Breary succumbed to the notoriously slippery surface on the last lap and crashed out of the race that could quite easily have ended a Ciclos Uno 1-2. Thankfully Alex escaped injury in the fall and will doubtless be up there in the finale again soon.

Alex and Craig made their intentions clear from the gun on the tricky, technical circuit around the famous meat market, attacking together and driving hard to line out the field. Almost immediately the pressure began to show with riders finding the pace too much for them and, as the gaps began to emerge, a fairly select group began to develop at the head of the race with both Craig and Alex instrumental at the front. Craig had made his willingness to race pretty clear from the start and, with about a third of the race gone, launched himself off the front of the group and pulled clear for a lap or two before the bunch, led by London Dynamo and Addiscombe CC, pulled him back into the fold. The attacks continued, with Daniel Santoni the best of the moves, pulling clear to ride solo for about half a dozen laps before being swallowed up by the hard working bunch.

With the race moving into the final stages, a nasty crash changed the shape of the race and it was neutralised for 10 minutes while Sam Finniston (In Gear Development Squad) was treated and taken to hospital. Thankfully, Sam's injuries are not as bad as first thought and is recovering well. The race restarted with just 2 minutes and 5 laps to go and the pace shot up again with the remaining riders all looking for the win. With everyone still together at the bell it looked like it would be a bunch sprint but the last lap crash that claimed Alex's race also put paid to many other's chances and Craig soloed away to take a thoroughly deserved win.

Results:
1.) Craig Stevens: PCA/Ciclos Uno
2.) George Brent: Addiscombe CC
3.) Adam Gent: In Gear Cycling Development Squad
4.) Gavin Ryan: London Dynamo
5.) Guy Powderill: London Dynamo

A bad day at the office.

2007-06-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

James Jackson and James Whatling had a bad end to their day's racing when they both crashed out in the finale of the SERRL 14 race at Hildenborough, near Tonbridge, on Sunday 17th June.

It all started so well when James Jackson pulled himself up to the break of the day with Tom Burke (Citihub) and Ed Vail (Sigma Sport) and they worked well on the rolling course for a few laps.

It was a hard driving break, however, and the power of his breakaway companions proved too much for James and he fell back to the pack with 4 laps to go. With both James' not feeling at their best, a decision was made to conserve their energies for the finale, and with both of them well placed for the finish on the final lap, things were looking promising. That promise dissolved in an instant with about 2km to go when Ian O'Hara (Citihub) lost the front end on a wet patch and hit the ground, his bike bringing down James Whatling. James Jackson also came down in the susequent crash and although both walked away unharmed, their race was over.

Tom Burke held on to win the race alone and Barry Stewart (Kent Cycles RC) led home the bunch for second.

Results:
1.) Tom Burke: Citihub
2.) Barry Stewart: Kent Cycles RC
3.) Gareth McCullough: Medway Velo
4.) Ed Graefe: Team Economic Energy
5.) Steve Home: Twickenham CC

James Jackson wins the ESL series.

2007-06-15T04:37:00.000-07:00

Following on from his fine win on Tuesday in the TLI races, James Jackson took second on the final night of the ESL series to help him secure the overall win.

It was rather a wet evening which probably contributed to the small field, but 24 riders turned up to contest the race on Ford's Dunton test track on Thursday 14th June.

For most of the first half of the race the bunch remained intact, with the few attackers never gaining much ground due to the high speed of the pack on the back straight. With about 45 minutes of the race gone, Alex Dowsett (100%ME) counter attacked, just as Adam Norris (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) was pulled back, and drove himself away from the chasers. Knowing Alex's strength and time trialling prowess, James Jackson tried hard to latch on but could not quite make the back wheel. That was the last the bunch saw of Alex as he disappeared into the gloom and even managed to put 1/3 lap into the bunch by the finish to take the win. The bunch remained together to sprint it out for second with James taking second from Adam Norris and Craig Stevens (PCA/Ciclos Uno) coming in third.

Results:
1.) Alex Dowsett: 100% ME
2.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
3.) Adam Norris: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
4.) Craig Stevens: PCA/Ciclos Uno
5.) Nicholas Hasler: Essex Roads CC

Jackson victorious again!

2007-06-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

James Jackson is making winning a bit of a habit this season and the latest of his victories came on Tuesday 12th June in the TLI series race at North Weald.

A keen as ever to win, James went with every attack on the airfield. Despite being brought back by the bunch on a number of occasions, and having to have a lap out with a puncture, he put in another big attack with 5 laps to go and stayed away for 2 laps. The field at North Weald are more than aware of James and his strengths so they worked hard to pull him back again. When it all came back together the attacks came in, with Dominic Schils (Interbike RT) and Joe Perrett (Glendene/Bike Trax) driving away from the bunch but never getting enough of a gap to deter the chasers. With 500 metres to go, and the attackers still in sight, James launched the sprint and powered himself up to, and past, Perrett and Schils to take the win.

Results:
1.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno

Podium for Whatling at the Beccles RR.

2007-06-13T05:58:00.000-07:00

James Whatling secured his third podium spot of the season with a hard working performance in the Beccles Road Race on Sunday 10th June.

A busy weekend of racing across the region meant that the race had quite a compact field, but this was a group of riders in no way short of talent or willingness to race. Attacks started on the first of four 16 mile lap's of a fast, rolling course and James was instantly in the thick of the action, following the moves and making sure he was in the break of the day. The first break of the day, however, was soon hauled in by a strong peloton, but when that move was snuffed out, Tom Hemnant, (London Dynamo) counter attacked and got a good gap on the bunch. James broke away in pursuit and was soon joined by Shaun Aldous (Interbike RT) and the pair worked well to move up to Hemnant and began the task of keeping the chasing pack at bay. That job was made easier when a strong Douglas Bradshaw (Cambridge CC) and the in form Kevin Chambers (API-Metrow) bridged across, but despite all four working well together, their lead remained a slender one.

This lead was made more slender still when, on the final lap, Bradshaw pulled away on his own to leave the breakaway a man down. This was soon remedied when Richard Simmonds (London Dynamo) got across to the group and the impetus returned, with everyone driving hard to keep away and to catch the tiring Bradshaw. He was swept up by the group with about 3 km to the finish and despite a few attacks leading into the finish, the five stayed together to contest the sprint, with Shaun Aldous taking the narrowest of wins from Douglas Bradshaw and James coming in third.

Results:
1.) Shaun Aldous: Interbike RT
2.) Douglas Bradshaw: Cambridge CC
3.) James Whatling: PCA/Ciclos Uno
4.) Kevin Chambers: API-Metrow
5.) Richard Simmonds: London Dynamo

The Eastern Region Championships.

2007-06-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

It really was the survival of the fittest at the Eastern Region Championships on Sunday 3rd June, as the full field of 65 were whittled down to around 25 at the finish, as the distance, the parcours and the heat all took their toll.

A strong field rolled out of the small village of Ashley on the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border, on what was a beautiful sunny day.
With the Glendene CC and the Glade CC both fielding team's of 5, Plowman Craven/Evans RT represented by James Millard and Adam Norris, and Heron Cyclesport's strong duo of Dean Shannon and Andy Lyons, a good race was guaranteed and the winner far from easy to predict.

With barely a kilometre raced, Robert Cox (Cambridge CC) rode away from the pack in what would eventually become the break of the day. It would also prove to be his undoing as he was dropped by the group at about half distance and ended up pulling out of the race. The break initially fielded eight riders, including both of the Heron Cycle Sport riders and the in form Kevin Chambers (API-Metrow) and they were joined after 4 laps by a strong looking James Millard (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) as he time trialled his way across the gap. Whether it was his presence in the break, or the pace of the race in the hot weather, shortly after Millard added his weight to the break, his team mate Adam Norris fell off the back of the group, into the chasing pack and then added the the growing list of DNF's.

Despite the strong make up of the breakaway group, the bunch never gave up the chase and worked hard to keep them within striking distance. Daniel Pattern (Pacific/Flanders) worked especially hard, closing down any lone attackers and then driving on to pull back the escapees. James Whatling did his best to drag himself across to the break a few times but was suffering a little from stomach cramps, and had to accept he wasn't on a good day. Someone clearly on a good day, however, was Ciclos Uno's self titled "Crit Rider" James Jackson, who, having already managed to chase back on to the group after a puncture, was riding strongly up the climbs and pulling long turns on the front.

As the race reached the last few laps, climbs that started off as drags became almost interminable and although the field was further diminished, the gap between the break and the chasers remained pretty constant. As the legs began to tire, it was inevitable that the chasing pack would split and it all happened with a lap and a half to go when James Jackson and Jan Strapek (Interbike RT) rolled off the front. James Whatling immediately sat up to let them go and they found themselves with a gap of at least 30 seconds before another small group shot off in pursuit.

Although they would never quite catch the leading group, which Richard Sykes-Popham (Glendene CC) had attacked on the last lap and soloed to victory, Strapek and James worked hard and stayed away to the finish for 6th and 7th respectively. Never one to give up, James Whatling hung on and managed to sprint at the end for a respectable 17th place.

Results:
1.) Richard Sykes-Popham: Glendene CC/Biketrax
2.) Dean Shannon: Heron Cycle Sport
3.) James Millard: PCA/Evans Cycles
4.) Andy Lyons: Heron Cycle Sport
5.) Kevin Chambers: API-Metrow
6.) Jan Strapek: Interbike RT
7.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
8.) Ben Thompson: Glendene CC/Biketrax
9.) Dan Staite: Bike and Run
10.) Nicholas Hasler: Essex Roads CC

Win number two for Jackson!

2007-06-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

James Jackson won his second race of the year in the Eastway Supporters League at Dunton on Thursday 31st May after initiating the break of the race and then outsprinting his breakaway companions.

On a warm evening at Ford's test track, a good field lined up and after James' fantastic results in the previous rounds, he was definitely the man to beat, a fact that wasn't lost on him as the attacks went in from the gun. These early efforts were all dragged back by the bunch until Dean Shannon (Heron Cyclesport) attacked and got a gap. Not wanting to let him go, James bridged up to him and instantly countered him up the hill, pulling group of six away.

The group worked well together and held a gap over the chasing pack until the closing laps, when it seemed they might be caught. Sensing the danger, the break upped the ante and came into the finish still clear, with James sprinting clear, victorious again!

Results:
1.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
2.) Dean Shannon: Heron Cyclesport
3.) Dominic Schils: Interbike RT
4.) Marcin Dubanowski: Team Economic Energy
5.) David Farrow: Eagle RC

The SERRL Stage Race.

2007-06-01T01:16:00.000-07:00

The South East Road Race held their inaugural Stage race on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th May at Rolvenden in Kent and James Jackson and James Whatling were there with good form hoping for a result...or two!

Stage One:

Stage one was held over 120km on a (very!) rolling course and with the weather set fair, the racing was always going to be fast and furious. The James' knew they had their work cut out with some strong teams in the race, including those from Agiskoviner, Citihub, Arctic Shorter Rochford and Norwood Paragon, and when a break went away containing Wouter Sybrandy (Agiskoviner), Tim Bayley (Arctic Shorter Rochford) and Ian O'Hara (Citihub) and others, the day was always going to be hard work.

The team worked well together to try and get across to the break with James Whatling attacking time and again to bridge the gap and, when he was brought back, the flying figure of James Jackson would speed off the front in pursuit. Whether it was the visibility of the team kit or the bunch realising its mistake in letting one break go and so not wanting to make the same mistake again, the James' were dragged back every time and so decided to wait until later in the race to make their bids for freedom. Unfortunately, that chance never came, as a nasty crash in the bunch on a 50 mph descent led to two riders being taken to hospital and the race cut short by 2 laps. As the chances of pulling the break back were now non existant, James Jackson revved himself up again and drove up the finishing drag to win the bunch sprint for 9th, with James Whatling coming in at 14th.

Stage One Results:
1.) Tim Bayley: Arctic Shorter RT
2.) Darren Barclay: Arctic Shorter RT
3.) Ian O'Hara: Citihub/Cycles Dauphin
4.) Wouter Sybrandy: Agiskoviner.Com
5.) Andrew Bye: Kingston Wheelers

Stage Two.

The Second stage of the race was a 10 mile TT held on the same rolling course as yesterday's road stage but with an added element......pouring rain!! The conditions were truly terrible and all the riders were a little wary of the fast descent in the wet conditions. James Whatling had other worries, namely controlling his new TT bike, having never ridden one before! He was off first and had to try and get used to the strange position on the road, but it didn't take him too long, as he managed to catch two minute men and finish with a time of 22.46 for third! James Jackson was away shortly afterwards and although he never felt comfortable on his TT bike and suffered a little, he still managed a time of 24.04 to finish in 13th.

Stage Two Results:
1.) Andrew Bye: Kingston Wheelers
2.) Tom Burke: Citihub/Cycles Dauphin
3.) James Whatling: PCA/Cyclos Uno
4.) Wouter Sybrandy: Agiskoviner.Com
5.) Tim Bayley: Arctic Shorter RT

Stage Three.

After just enough time to dry out.......it was time to go and get soaked again in the third and final stage! It was cold, the rain hadn't abated at all and it was a pretty subdued and reduced peloton who lined up for the 80 km finale of the race.
With James Whatling lying in 7th place and James Jackson in 13th on GC, the Ciclos Uno race team had plenty to ride for and placed themselves at the front of the bunch to protect their places. Somehow this didn't stop them missing a small break that slipped off the front of the bunch quite early in the race, and with everyone's legs a little heavy from the weekend's efforts, there wasn't much urgency for the chase. Disaster struck for James Jackson on the third lap when he punctured, but he got his head down and chased for the best part of a lap to get back on, which was no mean feat in the cold and wet. With 3 laps to go the bunch got themselves a bit more organised and with the break slowly being pulled back, it was pretty much the worst time for James Whatling to puncture. He got a wheel and chased hard, but the effort from the morning's TT and the cold had got to him by then and he never managed to regain contact.

At the bell the break had thirty seconds and, with the bunch chasing hard, they caught them with half a lap to go. Tom Burke (Citihub) made his trademark late break to solo away for the win and with a tight bunch sprint coming up the finishing hill, James Jackson fought hard for 4th place in the stage and 9th overall, a fantastic result for him and the team, and one that will only help him with the Eastern Region Champs next weekend.

Stage Three Results:
1.) Tom Burke: Citihub/Cycles Dauphin
2.) Wouter Sybrandy: Agiskoviner.Com
3.) Kevin Knox: Dulwich Paragon
4.) James Jackson: PCA/Cyclos Uno
5.) Tim Bayley: Arctic Shorter RT

Overall General Classification:
1.) Andrew Bye: Kingston Wheelers
2.) Wouter Sybrandy: Agiskoviner.Com
3.) Tim Bayley: Arctic Shorter RT
4.) Ian O'Hara: Citihub/Cycles Dauphin
5.) Darren Barclay: Arctic Shorter RT
6.) Tom Burke: Citihub/Cycles Dauphin
7.) Gary Kristensen MBE: Agiskoviner.Com
8.) Mike Hawkins: Norwood Paragon
9.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
10.) Steve Atkinson: G S Stella

Another podium for Jackson.

2007-05-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

Fresh from his win at Dunton on Thursday, James Jackson raced the Crawley Town Centre Crits on Sunday 20th May and put in another fantastic performance, coming away with third.

Ciclos Uno could have enjoyed even more success with a bit more luck. Special mention must go to Craig Stevens who punctured whilst away near the end of the race and to Alex Aldham-Breary who came down in the last lap crash that tainted the race. The three Ciclos Uno riders had raced well as a team, with Craig attacking and pulling away with the eventual winner Toby Meadows, before his bad luck struck. James and Alex were then organising themselves for the final lap, when a crash brought down a lot of the main contenders, including Alex. We wish him well for a speedy recovery.

Results:
1.) Toby Meadows: Glendene CC
2.) Chris Whorral: Manx Road Club
3.) James Jackson: PCA Ciclos Uno
4.) Gavin Ryan: London Dynamo
5.) Andrew Griffiths: Glendene CC

Jackson triumphs at Dunton!

2007-05-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

James Jackson secured his and Ciclos Uno's first win of the season at the inaugural ESL Thursday league race at Dunton, on Thursday 17th, with a trademark killer sprint to leave the bunch in his wake.

A good size field started the first of the ESL races, and the pace of the race meant that although many tried to get away, the bunch wasn't in the mood to let the race split. The hour's racing was destined to end in a bunch sprint and James showed the rest a clean pair of heels as he crossed the line victorious. James has been troubled all season with cramp and mechanical problems but has kept positive and worked hard and this win is no less than he deserves.....welcome back to the podium James!

Results:
"A" E/1/2/J/L
1.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
2.) Dean Shannon: Heron Cyclesport
3.) Thomas Kirk: Alpha RC
4.) Kristian Downs: Glendene CC/Biketrax
5.) Steve Charles: Arctic/Shorter Rochford CC

A battle at the Lincoln GP.

2007-05-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

James Whatling had his first taste of Premier Calendar action at the Lincoln GP on Sunday, and although the pace, the parcours and the conditions made it a battle from start to finish, he came away from it loving the experience.

Although the day started with clear skies, as the riders warmed up, the rain started and there was very little let up for the whole race. There was also very lttle let up in the pace, with the whole field going hard from the gun to make sure of a good position for the first ascent of Michaelgate's 1 in 7 cobbles. With crashes, punctures and dropped riders on the first lap, James tried to stay as far up the field as possible but when the field split on a headwind section, he was on the wrong side of it and found himself in the chasing group. Although a lack of brakes on the fast downhill section made for a scary and unpredictable descent, James found he quite (perversely!!) liked the cobbled climb and settled into the group containing riders of the calibre of Kevin Dawson (Pinarello RT) and Mark Lovatt (Sportscover/Planet X).

As the front group splintered with many of the big guns of the race pulling away, the main peloton chased hard behind, followed by James' group, trying desperately to pull themselves back into the race. It was to no avail though and with three laps to go, to allow the traffic to get past between laps and for the overall management of the race, James' group was pulled out of the race. James raced as far as he was able to, and would have finished a Premier Calendar race at the first attempt, which was as good a result as he could have wished for.

Dean Downing got the result of his dreams by winning the race and showed his joy by breaking down in tears at the finish, a worthy winner of a monument of British Cycling.

Thanks to Ian Emmerson, the race organiser, Lincoln City Council, Larry Hickmott/British Cycling for the picture and all involved in such a fantastic event.

Result:
1.) Downing, Dean: Rapha/Condor
2.) McCauley, Gordon: PCA/Evans Cycles
3.) Downing, Russell: Healthnet
4.) Newton, Chris: Recycling.co.uk
5.) Dayus, Jonathan: Arctic Shorter Rochford
6.) McDonald, Peter: FRF Couriers
7.) Wilkinson, Ian: SIS/Trek
8.) Talbot, Matt: Rapha/Condor
9.) Hayles, Rob: Team KLR
10.) Dowsett, Alex: 100% ME

Unlucky for some...

2007-05-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

It was the 13th, and with James Jackson being perhaps the unluckiest cyclist in England, something had to happen.....and happen it did!

James raced the Lea Valley Road Race on Sunday and despite missing the break he did what he does best, getting his head down and driving the bunch in pursuit. Turning around after after a long turn at the front, he found himself alone (that must have been a hell of a long pull James!) and decided to keep going. After a whole lap on his own, he was joined by two more and they worked well until James punctured. No neutral service meant James' race was over but, just to compound his bad luck, he found he was at the most remote part of the course and had to walk to the nearest marshall!

James' run of bad luck has got to change soon and then we'll be back to reaping the rewards of his talented riding.

Result:

1.) Kevin Chambers: Api/Metrow
2.) Andrew Meilak: OLDS.com
3.) Glenn Stanford: Api/Metrow
4.) Mark Daly: Kingsnorth International Wheelers
5.) Jan Strapek: Interbike RT
6.) Stephen Skuse: Kingsnorth International Wheelers
7.) Edgar Meddelin: Finchley RT
8.) Digby Simmonds: Cambridge CC
9.) Shawn Kilroy: Glade CC
10.) Richard Law: CC Ashwell