And so, once again we start the Season Recap! How was your Season? Worth mentioning? If it was, it is here for sure! This time we won't have 4 articles... we'll have 5! This time as usual we'll start with the Tours! All have been beautiful described here! Take a moment to read it all and know everything about the Tours! Enjoy and don't forget to read the upcoming articles! Congratulations for your Season 22 and good luck for the Season 23!
  
  
  Tweedaagse van Antwerpen, the first tour of this, and therefor every, season.
  At Hoogstraten the season for multiday racing really starts. This season again, mainly great Flandriens signed up for this four day event that celebrates the cobbles in the Flemmish area.
  A small prologue is the start of this race. With Wesley (Nisbet, Nairoby City Cycling Club), we get an unsurprising winner. Stage two gives us the pleasure to meet the real cobbles again. All the specialists are present now. Benjamin Zkumavka (ABK) is the best on the rocky roads but, Lowell Shingleton, peddelen, is the one that reaches for the leadersjersey after day two.
  Day three will lead the riders over the cobbles to Geel. Lowell Shingleton is leading the pack in his leaders jersey. He again holds off the attackers on day three. Bartoli Rivera, (omega pharma lotto), was closest just ahead of Fred Dobbelaere (Team Trier). But they are fighting for scraps.
  The final day, with the sprint in Antwerpen. A surprise victory this time. Again Wesley Nisbet (Nairoby City Cycling Club) is the winner. He managed to escape in the last kilometer and hold off the pack. Mauricio Viola, Glamourade and Alexis Terrier (TACXkin), came too late. Lowell Shingleton was the righteous winner of this season's Tweedaagse van Antwerpen. Ahead of Edward Simon (lastplace1414) and Alesxi Terrier (TACXkin).
  
  
  Volta ao Porto is the second tour in the season but the first big goal for many teams.
  One of the biggest tours in the OCM world. A win here would mean a big amount of praise and fame. Ten stages starting with a prologue in Porto. After that first acquintance of the riders we have nine stages left. A mixture of sprinting stages and climbing stages, where stage six is the famous King stage that can make or break a rider. Gilberto Morais (Greenride) won this stage ahead of Casper Jill (Leukefans). No wonder these two riders were number one and two in the General Classification. Chris Bauwens (Team Crazy Downhillers) completed the top three of Volta ao Porto.
  The sprinters crown went this year to Jacinto Aldeia (Onie). This loccal rider beat Casper Jill, (Leukefans) and Tadaki Ko (Luisitano).
  As the young riders have a prize to win here, they too were riding their pants off. Gualter Matos, (Greenride), delivered a second jersey to his manager. Beating Baltazar Pitillas (Alpha Plus) and Felipe Maximiliano (Oekiewakkie). These riders will fight for the big prize in a few seasons.
  
  The peleton moves to Switzerland. Division three will start their annual Monte Rosa Tour. A climber's delight in the Swiss Alps. Five stages with the big Monte Rosa in the middle of the King stage. The prologue was won by a former Germany Tour winner, Elton Lonergan (Crackmasters).
  Our first leader of the tour. The second stage was the build up to the two stages that would decide who would win this Swiss mountain race. The hills around Lausanne were no match for Tamati Lima (Velo Kiwi). This victory secured him the leaders jersey. But with the mountains coming he should perform a miracle to beat the better climbers and downhillers in this tour.
  The first attack come on the famous Monte Rosa slopes. But Tamati Lima could hang on. He finished fourth, after winner Xander Daniels (Noud89). The fifth stage was won by Brendan Huynh, (WalrusPT) with Tamati Lima finishing again fourth. This was securing his victory in Monte Rosa Tour ahead of Damario Crusellas, (the Doomsday Bunnies), and Erwin Geitz, (TeamOasis).
  Erik van Engelen, POM Wonderful won the last parade race. And the young climbers that we will hear from later? Youth Classification top three are, Farley Redman (Team Kernow), Claus Giebelstein (Ponika) and Matijs Remry (Noud89).
  
  
  When the hills get green again the riders know it is time for the Cymru Taith. The Welsh race that consists of three days where the pure cyclists are being treated on some nice roads.
  This edition was a special edition because, not only did he held off Reinhard Holtslag (EpoTopTeam) and Co Posthuma (Darkwave Recordings) Thodoros Drimalas (Kremer) was his own successor. Finishing second, seventh and sixth in the three stages he was the winner of this years Taith. But he will be replaced by the riders that fought for the white jersery. These young ones
  are offcourse the future of cycling and we can judge on the Youth Classification that the future looks bright Reinhard Holtslag (EpoTopTeam) may have lost the green jersey but did win the white one. He

finished ahead of Klaus Sandvik (Team Zero1) and Felipe Maximiliano (Oekiewakkie)
  
  In Spain the fifth edition of the Vuelta de los Castillos started again. This newest tour has already a big name and is a specific target for many teams. Six stages on the east coast of Spain passing many of the castles that the region is known for. Anatoliy Michala (peddelen) started good by winning the first two stages. The third stage was won by Gert Sijmonds (Yuri Super Team) but still Michala was on the hot seat. Stage four is the big King stage. If you win here you almost have won the tour. Anatoliy Michala won here again beating Kishor Liuni (Drapeau Noir) and Falur Sigfinnursson (Die Tour Phantome). Stage five was won by Falur Sigfinnusson and, due to a disaster in the team of peddelen, took over the leaders jersey from Michala. Anatoliy Michala suffered on stage five of an acute form of diarrhea. Poop was all over the road. Michala suffered from an alergic reaction to the food teammanager pete had made the day before. And to secure the safety of the other riders and themselves Anatoliy and pete were send home before the end of the Vuelta.
  The last stage, a ceremonial time trial, was won by Poul Friis (Il Grillo).
  The top three in this years Vuelta are Falur Sigfinnursson (Die Tour Phantome), runner up Bonifacio Ballestero (NECFTW) and Øystein Vangen (Kremer). Allthough Anatoliy Michala left early he did manage to win the Sprinters Jersey ahead of Falur Sigfinnursson (Die Tour Phantome) and Gert Sijmonds (Yuri SuperTeam).
  And the youth also did well, Peter-Jan van de Wal (CCFC) was victorious here ahead of Felix Wenner (IGF) and Berend Peeters (Team Unibet).
  
  
  Perm is the Russian division three tour. This tour has had some great winners and again, many riders have specialy trained for this tour. No less then five captains where in the form of their life this tour. Ochjor has the privilege to start the tour again and the tone was set with a victory for Jude Evans (Cremtec) over Freek van der Werff (Burren Connemara) and Erik van Engelen (POM Wonderful). Stage two the King stage saw in Slavomil Dittrich (NightmareChaos) a worthy winner. And with this victory he was attacking the leader for the General Classification. Big Russian timetrial wonder Mitrofan Ryabkin (Cider Riders) beat Rik Roosendaal (Auro Team) and Tomas Pakuleviciute (Wizzyweb) on stage three. But tragedy was there aswell as Slavomil Dittrich took a wrong turn and drove into a foodstand and had to leave the race.
  The spoils in the Perm Parade were for Erik van Engelen (POM Wonderful) finishing ahead of the returned Nathaniel Carroll (Telek@m) and Hermann Herzog (Rantanplan).
  The General Classification was won by Jude Evans (Cremtec) before Freek van der Werff (Burren Connemara) and Bernardo Mejia (Auro team). The won that won the most points was Erik van Engelen (POM Wonderful) he brought the blue jersey home scoring more points then Jude Evans (Cremtec) and Freek van der Werff (Burren Connemara). The best kid in this race was Bernardo Mejia (Auro team). He won the white jersey with fellow youngsters Erik van Engelen (POM Wonderful) and Tom Bella (Botafogo) behind him.
  
  
  From Russia we go to America. The famous Race of the Minutemen started again. The first win was for the Russian Marat Yermolayev (PAN) in the opening Revere's Midnight Ride. After that special stage in the middle of the night the stages are either a sprint stage or a climbing stage. Stage two was won by Kim Madsen (Sons of the Desert) as he sprinted the fastest. The climbs came in stage three. In Littleton Max Blaha (PEKAC B) was the best climber but the King stage on day four was won by Brasilian Dirceu Scahisi (Joss). Heiko de Wortelaers (Rabo utrecht ct) won the hillclimb upto Mount Washington and secured a good position for the overall lead there. Because he won the last stage aswell he was the winner of this years Race of the Minutemen. And five years after his Youth Classification win he had won the with the big boys. Bringing home the Sprinting jersey aswell his team has now all three jerseys at home. The other riders on the podium are Cody Bright (EricV) and Dirceu Scahisi (Joss). Kim Madsen (Sons of the Desert) and Christian Kafka (PEKAC B) were also beaten by Heiko de Wortelaers for the sprintersjersey.
  The best youth in America was homegrown. Cody Bright (EricV) took home the victory as best youth. Before teammate Birhan Habtemariam (EricV) and Donato Amor (Rabo utrecht CT)
  
  
  The topteams moved to England. The hills around Essex invited the best riders for the twentysecond time to race the Essex Tour. As the first stage is already a big decider in the tour everybody was eager to do good there. Wayne Baboeuf (Red Star) did best though and he was our first leader.
  Stage two however was a complete different scene and Elroy Schoenmakers (Yuri SuperTeam) was the best in Maldon

beating Sandro Montelbano (Matrix team). Sandro however took over the lead. After a third place in stage two, Rytis Kondrotas (Red Star) won the last stage in Essex Tour. But the victory in the complete Essex Tour was again for Sandro Montelbano (Matrix team) beating Evan Tomkins (Gradient Levellers) and Alan Klostergård (ABK). Because this youngster Sandro won the Essex Tour again, he also won the Youth Classification, again. This time he beat Alan Klostergård (ABK) and Tyr Hermann (IGF).
  
  
  And now we came to the biggest tour of the season. The best riders from the best teams moved to Germany to start the ten days of agony. Michel Aelemans (NECFTW) took the victory and the leaders jersey in the first stage. Then the Dussel show started again with Jan-Joost Dussel (peddelen) in the leadrole. Winning stage two and three for the fourth time. Björn Eskildsen (WV De Dommel) made his move on stage four beating Jakob Rachlin (Kremer) but, Rachlin took the leadjersey. Heidelberg was waiting for the hardest sprinters. Evan Tomkins (Gradient Levellers) beat the better riders and thus became the best. From here the climbers are the ones that get the attention. Everardo Bueno (Equipo Easy On) was the one that made Eli cheer again in his hometour. It was a long time ago that that happened. The intermezzo timetrial was won again by Michel Aelemans (NECFTW). The big King stage was won by Chris Bauwens (Team Crazy Downhillers) but Jakob Rachlin (Kremer) was right behind him protecting his leadersjersey. As we leave the mountains behind the sprinters start to come out again. And they all thought they could beat him again. That old guy was very tired. They thought wrong. Jan-Joost Dussel (peddelen) won.
  But they had always the last stage. The parade in Berlin. Potsdam – Berlin. All riders where ready.
  The organisers are planning to rename the race to Jan-Joost Dussel's parade race through Berlin. Because he won it for the fifth time, in a row.
  The big winner of the complete tour was Jakob Rachlin (Kremer). He left Evan Tomkins (Gradient Levellers) and Chris Bauwens (Team Crazy Downhillers) far, far behind him. Anton Ugolnikov (Yuri SuperTeam) and Evan Tomkins (Gradient Levellers) tried to take his jersey but failed. Jan-Joost Dussel won the sprintersjersey. Best youth was the winner of the race Jakob Rachlin (Kremer) was better then Michel Aelemans (NECFTW) and Björn Eskildsen (WV De Dommel) who completed the podium.
  
  
  The last tour of the season always ends in the Netherlands. It is flat, it is wet, it is fast. A sprinter's delight. Celso Leitão (blast) won the first stage in Groningen. Stage two was food for the sprinters. Timo Buchinx (Drapeau Noir) was the best. All the sprinters were there and now they started stage three. Tadaki Ko (Lusitano), the young Japanese sprinter that flies like a Kamikaze pilot from world war two, beat all the others. The fourth stage was won by Mikuláš Malina (Luveaucek) beating Tadaki Ko (Lusitano) but he took the leaders jersey in this stage. The new jersey gave him wings because stage five was won by Tadaki Ko (Lusitano) aswell. And to make it complete the final stage in Amsterdam was won by Tadaki Ko aswell, giving him the overall victory. Numbers two and three in Nederlandse tour were Cadman Kantor (thedutchies) and Celso Leitão (blast). And for the youth classification Tadaki Ko beat Cadman Kantor (thedutchies) and Ludger Vonk (peddelen).
  
  Fast on Wheels the youngest tour in Denmark invites the division five teams to race.
  Starting in Esbjerg we see Miko?aj Madej (freebee) be victorious. A great time trial made this teams tour into a success on day one. Day two was a sprinters stage and we saw none other then Carroll Mullan (English Sprinting Team) win this first test. He wants to win this tour. Heinrich Matthäus (Optimus Prime) won on day three. The biggest contender for the victory behind Mullan. The mountains in Denmark, that are called hills in the rest of the world, await on stage four. Horace Zeiser (Treaty City CC) was the best here and was celebrated as Denmark's best climber. Gilian de Schutter (BCTteam) came for one reason to Denmark and that was for the timed stage in Odense. The young Belgian won it in a super time. The final sprint race was won by the Cuban cigar, Santiago Perdiguero (Champadero) but no one could beat Carroll Mullan (English Sprinting Team) from the overall victory. He beat youngster Henny Traa (Borussia Milano) and veteran Broderick Rimmer (Team Cypro). Carroll Mullan (English Sprinting Team) also won the sprinters jersey ahead of Heinrich Matthäus (Optimus Prime) and Leon Morison (Britcycles). Best youngster in Denmark where surprising Henny Traa (Borussia Milano) and runners up Zbigniew Stasiak (Storm Sandefjord) and Benedicht Guerrero (Movistar Spain).
  
  
   Stay tuned for more reviews...
  
  and Merry Christmas!
  
  
   Written by season analyzer Finz from NightmareChaos to the OCM Awards Committee