Division 1 Racing News
  
  The start of the season means Cobbles in OCM and it was once again Kyle Abston (CCFC) who took the headlines as he successfully defended his title at Tweedaagse van Antwerpen. Abston did not dominate the 'Cobbles Tour' as he did last year, but a victory in the last stage gave him the time bonuses available to take victory.
  
  Yet another Equipo Easy On double in the Prologue, by Gregory Levis and Corwin Wyeth, gave the race an ominous start but the pair faded later in the Tour. Season 14 Young Gun Heinrich Uttenberger (The Killers) then claimed Stage 2, repeating last Season's success of teammate and mentor, Arve Guttormsen, before Season 13 Young Gun Curtis Defore (Scilian) took Stage 3 and with it a win in the Youth Competition.
  
  However, all this was but a prelude to Stage 4's drama. Despite a 2nd place on Stage 2, Abston had spent most of the three Stages of the Tour looking uncomfortable and struggling for position in the peleton. Perhaps it was all a bluff, but the Green Goblin stormed to victory on the final stage and with it came the Leader's jersey. Leopold Istrate (Scilian) finished second, 19 seconds back, making it a a fine Tour for his English team. Algernon Dealy (JJL24SS) came in 3rd, some 24 seconds back.
  
  Watching Kyle Abston (CCFC) is now getting a little boring. This Tour now gives the Englishman two Germany Green Jerseys in a row and two Cobbles Tour titles in a row. Renowned as a hilly sprinter, Abston is not a popular winner

of Tweedaagse van Antwerpen amongst the cobbling purists, but no one can deny the class he shows on the roads or that he is undeserving of his success.
  
  The Classics - Whalers double up
  
  Being passed up for Young Gun status is something Team Whalers seem to enjoy. Last year Urbano Menem missed out, and we all know the damage he caused. This year it's American Eli Kahley, who lost out to Heinrich Uttenberger as Season 14's Cobbles Young Gun, who is venting his anger at the OCM peleton. Kahley, who was yet to score an OCM point, claimed the Roubaix Classic as his maiden win, outsprinting Aedan Weaire, (CCFC) and Gabriel Hammar (Simoni crew). With Roubaix under his belt, it will be interesting to see what else the American can do, and will he have proved the Young Gun judging panel wrong by the end of the Season?
  
  The Pre-Roubaix was won, once again, by Kelemen Nae (Team Tirilla). Although not a Classic, Pre-Roubaix is still seen as one of the most important race in the Cobble circuit. By taking this victory Nae made it three victories in four years.
  
  After waiting seasons for a Classic win, Team Whalers followed up their Roubaix success with a win in the Zürich-Bern-Zürich Classic. After a stuttering start to his OCM career, Viggo Monsen is finally showing what a class act he is. Monsen rode most of the final climb on his own, finishing well over a minute ahead of Frerik van Fessum (Gradient Levellers) and Sterling Dorsher (FFL). It was Monsen first taste of big

race success (other than victory at the Clash of Nations in Rio last season) and we can be pretty certain that he won't be winning the award for 'Most Disappointing Rider' at the Season's end.
  
  Monsen ended Dirk Herman's (Bajen Belfast) stranglehold on the Swiss Classic. However, the Austrian monster might not have had his mind totally focused on the race and still basking in the glory of winning the Alpe d`Huez Classic. Herman become the first rider in recent times to have won both climbing Classics and, with it, has surely immortalized his name in OCM.
  
  The final big race of the Season's start was England's Norwich-London, one for the sprinters, and it was Lance Le Noir who claimed victory from Freek van Weenen (skils) and Nicodemus Balanchine (Gradient Levellers). Last year's winner Jens Waesbergen fell in the final sprint after touching the wheel of his leadout, Borys Bednarski, who was also injured in the accident. Le Noir may have two reasons to be happy after rumours came out that France are about to be accepted into the Clash of Nations.
  
  And finally....
  
  ....last Season's exciting fight for the Number 1 spot now looks a distant memory as this Season is turning into a victory procession for Equipo Easy On. With a lead of almost 1000 points over skils, it may be a while before we see a change in leadership. The battle for Number 1 in the rider rankings is closer with England's Kyle Abston and Sterling Dorsher in 1st and 2nd after fine starts to the Season.