The Dans work hard at the East Yorkshire Classic

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