(written by HC Alpine and Torreira)
  
  
  Mollerup, Miyazaki, Randel, Assis. All have come through the Young Gun system and are now world class OCM riders. So, who are this Season's Young Guns?
  
   Valentin Figueira – sprint4live - Time Trialler
  
  Gregory Levis (Equipo Easy On) is OCM's undisputed Solo Man after inheriting the title from the man himself, Sololmon Henschel (Team Whalers), a few seasons back. However, there is a new man in Town Time Trial, Valentin Figueira (sprint4live), who will be hoping to make the title his own. The 26 year-old Spaniard has yet to taste victory in OCM but impressed in last season's World Championships timetrial, taking a 3rd place. However, what he lacks in experience he more than makes up for in raw ability and is considered one of the most techniquely gifted riders around. A Young Gun? Undoubtedly. The next Solo Man? Quite possibly.
  
   Rytis Kondrotas – Red Star - Sprinter
  
  Young Gun sprinters should be young, raw and talented. Kondrotas ticks all the boxes in this respect. The Lithuanian prodigy does not have an OCM point to his name, but this will surely be changing in the future. At 22, he may be a little green behind the ears but the youth have no fear and fortune favors the brave in the sprints. As a rider possessed with superb bike handling skills, he is ideally suited for Norwich-London, but I'm sure we'll be seeing him take on the big sprinters in many other races in the future.
  
  
  

Stewart Marzec – Equipo Easy On - Cobbler
  
  Another extremely promising prospect coming out of the EEO camp, Stewart Marzec has the potential to be a world-class cobbler for a very long time. The 24-year-old rider from the Cayman Islands is extremely well rounded and has begun to prove that he can ride with the best. Last year he came 3rd in Antwerpen-Huy and has just finished 3rd in this season's Tweedagse van Antwerpen. This is definitely a rider who will push along side Sieuwerd Schimmel (Team RI) as the future of cobbling.
  
  
   Brian Hare – Team Guinness - Climber
  
  Ireland's climbing hopes lay on the shoulders of the 24 year old Brian Hare. The young Irishman is a strong climber and solid on the hills and in the sprints, but will his lack of descending ability hold him back? One thing is for sure, with some time trial training and hopefully the progress of Team Guinness, this rider has the potential to dominate in the upcoming tours. His last name is fitting most say because when he attacks on a climb, following his wheel is like chasing a hare.
  
   Grant Wolfram – Daioni - Climber
  
  24 year old Grant Wolfram began his racing career at home team East Pain. The young American seems to possess the skills of a great rider. After 2 seasons where nothing much happened, a recent breakthrough has put him in the spotlight. He took a staggering 5 wins during Season 15 and that not only earned him points and money, but also the attention of the bigger teams in the OCM circuit. After recently moving to Portuguese team Daioni, he has only

raced once and, even though he's not yet settled, great things are expected from this young man in the near future. He is also already a household name in the USA, with 2 national races to his name.
  
   Izak Van Bethlehem – Quick step minded - Sprinter
  
  Belgium has produced some of the finest riders OCM has seen. There is no doubt they have done it once again in late bloomer Izak Van Bethlehem. Starting his career at a rather late age, he struggled to get a contract until Quick step minded picked the tab. One of the fastest rises was to occur. The young man went from total rookie to a very complete and fast rider in just under 2 seasons. With already 9 results to his name, he's been, almost single-handedly, pulling his team up the ranks. Can he raise the bar again and establish team Quick step minded in division 3? He may not be the fastest sprinter around, but he judges his racing with tremendous technical prowess.
  
   Jordy Wekenburg – Connaught - Hiller
  
  So far, no one has actually seen much from Jordy Wekenburg. His racing has been mostly cautions and training session-based. But he has been hailed as one of the next monsters to be on the OCM circuit. The 22 year old has been enduring a back-breaking training regime in order to speed up his adaptation to the pro circuit of OCM. From what we have seen his training has been perfect and much is expected from him, maybe even the man to break Truman Vancil's domination on the hills. However, will his lack of finishing speed get in the way of victories or will he be able to blow everyone else out of water before the finish?