Kogan wins the Ed Taylor Memorial!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We're in Cycling Weekly!

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

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

Check out the magazine in your local newsagent now!

The Dans get the job done at the Jock Wadley.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A promising start to the season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A windy warm up for Franklin at Milton Keynes.

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

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

Injury woes for Whatling.

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.

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.