Season 21 is over, and as usual i time for a review! We decided that this time we don’t want to make a huge article. So we’re making 4 articles divided in Tours, Top division classics, 2nd division classics and extras! Now it’s time for the Top division classics! Drama, amazing management and big surprises. We have it all in here! Bring in the classics!
  
  
  
  
  
  Day 5 - What a better way to open the season than a climbing Top division classic? And even better, the Alpe d’Huez Classic! The mythical classic is back to make the winner a legend in OCM. The fight was close but in the end we only had 3 riders with enough advantage to fight for the win! Montague Taffe (peddelen) was one of them and probably the biggest surprise! Due to that his soon attack revealed that... it was too soon and he couldn’t stand the pace in the final kilometer. The fight was now between Mickael Saenen (Il Grillo) and Zack Davie (NECFTW), with the last one waving his hand in the end! It’s the 2nd time Davie wins the classic, and with Ingeman Kristiansen (TEAM Pablo Ibañez) (http://www.cyclingsimulator.com/?page=Rider%20Profile&id=5252) his the rider with more victories! But he can still win it again while Kristiansen can only watch it from his TV.
  
  Day 10 - Once again we’re on the cobble period with a Classic, a Pre-Classic and a Tour. In the Pre-Roubaix we had Bartoli Rivera (omega pharma lotto) winning it. Now in Roubaix Classic the fight was hard as usual! Niclas Axelholm (canutes) managed to finish 3rd in the middle of this jungle. The fight was between 2 spaniards! Mauricio Viola (Glamourade) pointed out as a winner managed to get the 2nd place right behind the Pre-Roubaix winner Bartoli Rivera who got his 2nd win in just a few days. Now let’s see if he has the energy to win again in the cobble Tour!
  
  Day 15 - Day 15 and we already have the 2nd climbing classic for the Top dogs. After winning in France, Zack Davie (NECFTW)is the man to beat here but we must pay attention to last season’s winner Andre Stokke (johny2). the super machine from Portugal, Alfeu Freitas (CycleMotor) managed to finish 3rd. But way

behind the Top2. Andre Stokke (johny2) caught the BA rider Tom De Clerk (Team Revolutie) right in the end of the climb, and so everyone was thinking that Stokke had more energy and was easy for him to win the classic for the 2nd time in a row. But while he was looking back to see who could take his win away, De Clerk attacked! He still had some energy in his legs and when Stokke realised that, it was too late! De Clerk had a brilliant win here and Stokke will go home with nothing. And Zack, where were you?
  
  Day 22 - Day 22 and the sprint will start! Considered as the most important sprinting classic, with a new trophy, Norwich - London shows us again an amazing bunch of riders in the start line! But as usual only the Top3 get’s a mention. Plácido Sesimbra (peddelen) has already in his palmares a victory in this classic. The 2nd option in peddelen right after JJ Dussel doesn’t usually disappoint in here and he’s pointed as the best substitute for Dussel himself. He proved that by getting a 3rd place this season making this his 3rd Top3 in a row! Amazing! Todd Caff (sprint4live) had an amazing season and started it with this 2nd place! Only one rider could beat him. But who? Surprisingly or not it was Mikuláš Malina (Luveaucek)! Finally in his 6th season for Luveaucek he finaly proved his worth his salary!
  
  Day 51 - After 2 spanish wins in Antwerpen - Huy, we expected the 3rd in a row. And both past winners were a great option. Mike Toftager (Team airik) surprised everyone with his 3rd place, while Mauricio Viola (Glamourade) almost won the classic again but failing by a few. This won’t make the 3rd in a row for Spain, cause Antão Neves (Team Trier) smashed the rest of the competition giving him a more or less easy win!
  
  Day 61 - 10 days after the last cobble classic we will have the last of the season, Astana GP has always shown us strange surprises. let’s see how it was this season. Daniel Dantas (Shinboners) finally got the result he was missing with his 3rd place, while Julian Pope (Team Revolutie) proved he can still race with the bests and got his result, too. The big winner was Sebastien Persoens (radu)! Interesting cobble season! We never

had the same rider finishing Top3 more than once in the 3 classics! Well in fact only Mauricio Viola (Glamourade) done that. Is the only exception.
  
  Day 65 - Despite not being as popular as Norwich - London, Helsinky GP always shown the world great winners! This season the quality was high and getting a Top9 was already a good result for many. But for some, only the win matters! Some say Jens Waesbergen (The Killers) times are over, but he can still score well in the classics! 3rd place and some open mouths after the race made him a very happy man! Rytis Kondrotas (Red Star) is still one of the “youngests” with better results. This time he wanted to put this Helsinky win in his palmares. But unfortunately he could only finish 2nd after a perfect launch from his team. Not bad anyway. the winner, well what a season indeed, Todd Caff (sprint4live) didn’t gave Rytis any chance and took revenge of his runner up place in England to make this one of his biggest wins ever despite his already big palmares!
  
  Day 75 - Last classic, last chance for the climbers! Critérium La Provence is considered a little inferior to the other 2 climbing classics in Top division. maybe because many climbers are in Germany competing. But for others it’s a huge moment! Fido Fernandez (adamo1999) made a perfect preparation for the classic and managed a 3rd place in front of Top names in OCM World. Well he must be considered on of them, too! Teodoro Paredes (Greenride) finished 2nd in a great result from him! Some considered this as too much for him, but looking at his support it’s more than natural. the big winner was Chris Bauwens (Team Crazy Downhillers)! The usual Tour rider in the usual Tour Team can also win classics! It’s the first time they participated in this classic... And they finish it with a win!!!
  
  
  
  Now, this were the Classics from the Top Division in Season 21. How will it be on the 22nd? Good luck to everyone, and let’s write more history!
  
  Stay tuned for more reviews...
  
  
  Written by season analyser Yuri from Yuri SuperTeam to OCM Awards Committee