20 nations, 20 managers, all looking to rule the OCM world. A week of racing, across the world has decided which nation will have the ultimate honour of being crowned champion of the Clash of Nations.
  After exciting races, shocks and much entertainment the results are in, and a magnificent performance from Belgium has resulted in them being crowned champions.
  
  
  
  
  
  The CON season started in Delhi, with a hotly contested mountainous trek for the riders. The big nations delivered their captains to the finish, with victory for the Dutchman Heiko de Wortelaers. Second place was occupied by the Dane Bjorn Rasmussen, with Norwegian Isak Dammen completing the podium.
  
  
  
  
  
  After the grand start, the racing moved across the border into China and Beijing, with the sprinters having the chance to impress. Yet a superstar did not claim victory, but the cycling world was shocked by the breakaway victory of Malaysian rider Gopalan Huang, who claimed victory ahead of Italian Claudio Bassoli and the Czech star Jaroslav Brytcha. Two thrilling days down, but still a long way to go.
  
  
  Next up was a trip to Washington, for the sole TT race of the competition, and here the Belgians began to assert their dominance, with victory for Klaus Naessens and a third place for fellow Belgian Xander-Paul Stuyck. Sandwiched in between these was the Norwegian Roy Gronwold, who was delighted with his performance.
  
  
  After this, the grand scenes of Sydney welcomed the riders, who faced a gruelling days on the hilly terrain of Australia. The home crowds tried to cheer their riders onto victory, but to no avail as home favourite Ian Defley could only manage an 8th place. Instead victory fell into American hands, in the shape of Eric Donachy, with Wit Portai second home, extending his team’s lead at the top of the standings. The final position on the podium was occupied by the super talented Avery Nijholt, just part of a super competition

for the Englishman.
  
  
  
  
  
  Day 34 saw the nations arrive in Europe, to race along the cobbles of Paris, another testing ordeal and a chance for the cobblers to shine. With great support from the fans and his teammates, Frenchman Isidore Delorme claimed victory in a race won by the great Sieuward Schimmel for the past two years. Sadly the Flying Dutchman was unable to participate as the Dutch team was struck down by food poisoning and unfit to fly back in time for the race. In second place was YCO rider Titus Stauffer, closely followed by Englishman Oswald Vancleave.
  
  
  After their French expedition, and careful to avoid eating anything disagreeable, the rider jetted off to Brazil, for a mountainous expedition culminating in Rio de Janeiro. This time victory was claimed by the indomitable force of Norwegian Viggo Monsen, who narrowly beat Australian Ian Defley, and Belgian Rob Kaisen. Another terrific result for the consistent Belgian team.
  
  
  This left one final race left, and a trip to South Africa and Cape Town. The race culminated in a sprint finish, which was won by the outstanding Jens Waesbergen, with Wilfred Reinhold 3rd for Germany, and the Belgians again on the podium, this time in the shape of Izak van Bethlehem who finished 2nd. So that concluded the week of racing, and the final results were in.
  
  
  
  
  1st. 2nd. 3rd.
  
  Usually with such strong competitors, and many fantastic teams, the Cup of Nations is a close run affair, but not this year. The runaway winners were Belgium, and many congratulations must go to all their riders and their manager QSM. This left a hotly contested battle for second place, which went all the way down to the final race. Eventually Spain claimed second, ahead of the super talented Netherlands team in third. England

finished fourth and Norway rounded out the top five.
  
  1st . 2nd. 3rd.
  
  The individual riders’ rankings often get forgotten, and although this isn’t the most important feature of the competition, it still carries much prestige. Surprisingly despite their dominance, a Belgian did not claim the trophy, but instead English superstar Avery Nijholt was a comfortable victor, ahead of Australian Ian Defley, and Polish rider Nataniel Paw?owski.
  
  Once more it’s been a great competition, but the season is still young, and the World Tour has a long way to run. Can the Belgians continue their dominance? Can the Dutch wrestle victory from their hands? Or is another winner lurking around the corner? Tune in here later in the season to find out.
  
  
  
  Written by Nacional cycling expert Dave Washington from Team Washo to OCM Magazine