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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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