Written by Time Indaiatuba at 14:19 14/5-2020
Season 52 was our most successful season ever! We reached 2443 points, 6 wins, and secured more results (19) than ever before. The majority of our success was down to the young English sprinter Hadley Childers who, at just 24 years of age, started his season strongly by winning the SC at the Volta ao Porto. He almost had a perfect tour, winning 3 out of the 4 sprint stages and coming 2nd in the other. At the end of his top form he managed a win in the division 1.2 Mollerup Memorial too.
With these strong results, we climbed into division 1 and managed to stay there for the whole season. We ended the year with 1028 points earned in division 1 races, a huge increase on the 120 we scored in season 48. Childers continued to score points throughout the season, but a 1st division win was just out of reach. He finished on the podium a few times, but will need to keep a cool head in sprints if he wants to beat the very best. He did finish as the highest ranked young rider in the Copa Salsa de Cali, so his future in that race is bright.
Other riders also had some strong results, but no wins. Hill sprinters Mark Turnbow, Alvin Hannibal and Donald Minca are all close to retirement, but they had a part to play, scoring 700 points between them. Minca managed 8th at Bergen Rundtur and at 35 can still score points in division 1. Turnbow was sold late in the season and both Hannibal and Minca will move on as the team restructures to strengthen its position in division 1.
After working hard as a team mate for 9 seasons, home-grown Brazilian Hipólito Sartorelli was finally raced as a captain in one of ocm’s biggest races, Critérium La Provence, where he achieved a respectable 7th place. Have his talents been wasted? The 30-year-old is keen to have more opportunities to show what he’s capable of next season.
Long time team member Rubert Smidt wasn’t given many opportunities this season, as the hill races in division 1 don’t suit him so much. Perhaps he’ll be looking for a transfer to give him more chances to win.
Looking to the future, with the focus obviously being on sprinting , Childers will recharge his top form for next season and the team will focus on getting into the top 30 so we can qualify for the Germany Tour. Realistically, that will probably be in season 54. So next season will be used to strengthen the team and replace some of the older riders.
We are one step closer to our long-term goal of winning the SC at the 3 grand tours, just Germany to go. Our other goals of winning a sprinting classic and winning a division 1 race are still yet to be reached.
Points: 2443
Rank: 1st in Brazil, 24th in the world
Rider of the year - Hadley Childers
Best domestique - Vanox Kikedi & Barney Tander (shared)
Subscribers: 8
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Comments
I definitely wouldn't sell him. Only if I decided to go all Brazilian, maybe in 5 or 6 seasons time.
Childers is strong and will bring you some pleasure for the next couple of seasons. Dont sell him!!! Good luck in S53 and in next round of OCM Quiz :-)
Great! Hope you achieve your goals this season!
Brilliant season. Congratulations!
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