skils buy success
  
  Skils have been the big spenders over the last season bringing in three big names in OCM. With the Dutch team currently sitting in the World Number One spot with a mammoth lead of 1500 points, it would seem they have bought wisely. At the tail end of last season, they signed Mexican time trialist Gaspar Salas and the Iraqi all rounder Riyad Hashim, who between them have amassed 1430 points for the team. However, the biggest signing, perhaps the biggest signing in recent OCM times, was ex-World Number 1 Pauli Michielsen. Michielsen performed admirably in Season 11, picking up 6 results in the prestigious Germany Tour and winning the World Championships Road Race, which earned him a big money move. Skils look somewhat unbeatable at the moment and have successfully blended a team of home grown talent with the inclusion of a few, selected international stars.
  
  Other transfers
  
  Equipo Easy On continued their mission to buy up all Caribbean talent with the signing of 23 year old Cayman Islands climbing star Edgar Wilby. Wilby joins up with old school friend Gregory Levis where he will be EEO’s climbing captain for the foreseeable future. Wilby was ecstatic with the move, ‘What a chance! In which other Top 10 team would I get as many responsibilities and liberties as here?’ It was no surprise that EEO signed Wilby, with the young rider amassing an impressive string of results in Division 3 and 4 for Rabobank Friesland. The Dutch team were seemingly happy to sell and are using the money to invest in the training of talented French sprinter Quennel La Bouville who recently finished 2nd at the Division 3 Rotterdam Classic.
  
  Never a team for long-term stability, Velo Club Bored Man’s ability to self-combust has once again shown itself. Barely a year after sacking Jimmy Waller for his lacklustre performance in the inaugural Volta au Porta, history has repeated

itself. Tour rider Bartosz Ozog is the victim this time. The Pole was going well in this Volta until a poor performance in the mountains ended his chances of a high position in the GC. Ozog has been signed by team omega pharma lotto and in his first race won the Belgium team promotion to the Zyte Division.
  
  After weeks of press rumours, it was no surprise to finally see Japanese rider Yasunari Yamauchi finally leave the Gradient Levellers. Yamauchi has very much flattered to deceive at the Levellers, with 5th place at this year’s Perm Tour very much overshadowed by two disastrous Volta attempts and a number of injuries. Team iPower, one of the most up and coming teams in the OCM elite, are the new owners and are hoping to coax out Yamauchi’s real potential. With Christoph Frisch and sprinting young gun Dan Korosec riding alongside him, iPower may be the perfect team for him.
  
  Finnish time trialist Raineri Ramanen has spent the season trying to earn “journeyman” status as he has moved clubs not once, but twice. The 24 year initially left homeclub Velocipito for Dutch club Ahploeg, but a mere 23 days later he was sold on to Fairfield Flyers Cycling. ‘He wasn’t the rider I was looking for’, Aphloeg manager Syl commented. But FFC feel they have signed a talent for a good price. Still improving, manager Aurelien sees Ramanen taking points in TT races and also serving as a teammate on their growing sprinting team.
  
   Young Gun on the move
  
  Many OCM eyebrows were raised when Telek@m paid 100k for a completed untrained rider. Matthias Drejbo, a Danish rider spotted by the Gradient Levellers, is considered one of the hottest sprinting talents on the OCM circuit but 100k represents a large investment for a rider who may not fulfil his talent. However, should that talent be fulfilled, Telek@m will have a mighty fine rider on their hands.
  
  And

finally....
  
  .....one rider not on the move is Australian time trialists Halsey Rowzee. The 33 year old was dropped by Norweigan Zyte Division outfit Tannlaus two weeks ago and is yet to be signed by another team. It seems that most managers feel the rider is over the hill, yet the rider himself believes he has still has something to offer, ‘I may be 33 but I still have 2 or 3 seasons left in me. I have nine Division 1 victories to my name. Someone please sign me, anyone.’
  
  
  Season 12 Transfers
  
  Pauli Michielsen – Team Brandt to skils – undisclosed fee
  
  Gaspar Salas – Ursus RT to skils - 325k
  
  Riyad Hashim – Team Z to skils - 310k
  
  Meine Berkhout - Team Brandt to skils - 310k
  
  Edgar Wilby – Rabobank Friesland to Equipo Easy On - undisclosed fee
  
  Yasunari Yamauchi – Gradient Levellers to Team iPower – 323k
  
  Bartosz Ozog – Velo Club Bored Man to omega pharma lotto – 250k
  
  Raineri Ramanen - Velocipito to Ahploeg to Fairfield Flyers Cycling – 130k
  
  Matthias Drejbo – Gradient Levellers to Telek@m – 100k
  
  Fakhiri Abdel - Team Brandt to Legia – 150k
  
  Hamlin Lindsay – North Shropshire Wheelers to Team Wells – c. 110k
  
  Lucas Skov - Team Brandt to Team Hurricanes - 250k
  
  Volodya Dolukhanov - Team Brandt to The Killers - 140k
  
  Halsey Rowzee – Tannlaus to nowhere
  
  
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