Patten so close at the Twickenham CC Road Race.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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