Written by Chris Fabio of Avataria
  
  Over the years many good riders have won a lot of hard races in OCM, but not many have crushed their opposition like the most successful Young Guns. Will this generation take it to the next level? I believe we have the best set of Young Guns ever, but only time will tell...
  
  
   Andre Škerjanc - 23 yo
  Team Celeste
  Climber
  Trained by: Team Celeste
  
  Many riders have tried to become as successful as Äme Anderberg (66 results), and no one has so far succeeded (including Andre’s older brother Mitja Škerjanc). Andre Škerjanc is one brilliant talent that can do it. Still only 22 years old, but has already managed 2 wins and another 4 results in the Top Division. Previous young gun climbers such as Enoch (56 results) and Freitas (55 results) have handled the pressure; others such as Wolfram (20 results) have not. Having already won last season’s Division 1 classic Zürich-Bern-Zürich, it seems Andre Škerjanc will not have such difficulties.
  
   Øystein Ottesen – 24 yo
  Elmeros
  Sprinter
  Trained by: Elmeros
  
  With his incredible sprinting he puts former generation Norwegian sprinting wonderkids Torgeir Brenna and Henrik Aronsen into the shadows. With such lead outs he has already managed a 1st and a 3rd in the WT A. He has already brought his team Elmeros from the 9th to the 4th division; how far can he take them? He will be compared to former Sprinter Young Gun Lean Ahnfeldt-Mollerup (124 results); so far few have handled that pressure. With his 15 results, Ottesen is doing well so

far.
  
   Torgeir Kleppe – 24 yo
  Stil Ostil
  Time Triallist
  Trained by: Avataria
  
  This guy just became the second most expensive rider ever, when he transfered for $ 901 000 to romanian team Stil Ostil. On paper he should become the most successful time triallist ever, but does he have what it takes to actually do it? I guess we will find out in the WC ITT at the end of season when he probably is finished with his TT-training.
  
   Mathias Wennerlund – 24 yo
  Auro Team
  Hilly Sprinter
  Trained by: Auro Team
  
  He has no experience from higher divisions, but is already riding for his national team. He is a rider that can compete with anyone as long as there are no big mountains to climb or descend and he has technique sound enough to distinguish him from other Hillers. But can he handle the pressure? Of the 5 earlier Young Gun Hillers all of them have handled the pressure exceptionally well with +/- 50 results, except the last one; Abel Mentzer (17 results). Will he be the new Mentzer or the new Vancil (57 results)? That’s up to Mathias Wennerlund.
  
   Joshua Dabney – 23 yo
  Red Star
  Allrounder (Hiller)
  Trained by: Red Star
  
  It’s not fair to just call him an allrounder, as he also is a really good Hiller. But that just gives him some extra races to be a challenger. At a very young age he already has 3 wins in Top

Division. He is very similar to former Young Gun and 29 year old Urbano Arzu and that can’t be bad? Can it?
  
   Antip Lantsov – 24yo
  Pink Piyama
  Cobbler
  Trained by: Pink Piyama
  
  He will never be the best in the world on the cobblesections, but when he combines his cobblestone skills with technique, road and sprinting skills he is good, really good. With 1 win and 4 other results so far in top two divisions he has proven that already. So, when will we see him in Tweedaagse van Antwerpen? We will probably see Lantsov and a one year older Zubizarreta battle for that trophy in years to come.
  
   Marcus Bøgh – 23 yo
  NECFTW
  Tour Specialist
  Trained by: Team Crazy Downhillers
  
  On paper this guy might look less terrifying than earlier Tour Specialist Young Guns, but he is more scary than he looks. At the age of 23 he has already won Volta ao Porto once and the YC twice, and has 11 results. He is not only a Tour Rider, as he also has two top division wins this season. Earlier Tour Specialist Young Guns like Wittendorp and Bella have never managed to establish themselves in Top Division, but can Bøgh be the first? He is not far away from passing Wittendorp (3 tour Top 9's) and Bella (5 tour Top 9's) already...
  
  
  Note: Only riders 24yo or younger was nominated, oldest nominees were preferred so the younger riders can have the chance next season!
  
  A special thanks to Yuri SuperTeam, Schiavi di Don and Gradient Levellers for the help to make this article possible!