Patten breaks into the big time at Pendle

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