Written by Jacek from Bywater CT
Tuesday, 18.01.2011, is the first day of the biggest Zyte Division tour of season 15. Roads around Porto will see 20 teams and 120 riders fighting for points, money and glory. Who are those who will make the headlines during next week? Let's see the participants.
ABK
Danish team specializes in sprints, its captain Lean Ahnfeldt-Mollerup is one of the best sprinters in the world. With 5 leadouts accompanying him, their goal is clear: results at sprinting stages and SC victory. Prediction: 2-4 sprinting results and SC top 3.
Alpha Plus
Six Americans have their eyes on climbing stages. Their aim is to make Brendon Emmerson finish them as high as possible. Prediction: a top 9 climbing finish.
Bywater CT
Polish team's main goal is GC win for Kasper Czechowski, who, with skills good for this race and in top form, is one of favourites. Additionally, South African TTer Morgan Arendse and Iraqi sprinter Riyad Hashim will try their chances. Prediction: GC top 5 and results at various stages.
Colonels Bucket
Gresham Tammany captains this team. He is a great climber and will surely gain time in the mountains, but he may have troubles on TT stages. If he manages to finish them higher than expected, he may do well in GC. Prediction: climbing results, GC top 9.
Darkwave Recordings
This team is a bit divided. On flat stages Kristoph Willumsen will be the leader, with great sprinting and TT skills. In the mountains Alex Wallace, two times top 9 finisher, will try to gain seconds. Prediction: top 9 both in GC and SC.
De Coppis
This Dutch team sent a climbing squad, with Co Veneberg and Faustino Proenca looking for results. Prediction: 1-2 top 9 climbing places, YC top 3 for Proenca.
Equipe 44
Salim Wajeeh, last season's number 4, will try to improve his result. Despite all his main opponents from previous Volta not competing this year, it won't be easy, especially as his main opponents have top form and he | | doesn't. If things go wrong, it is possible that the team will focus on YC win of Sin Kiat Safiq Rahim instead. Prediction: GC top 5, YC top 3.
Hommerts Cycling Team
Susumu Miyazaki, the biggest star of Japanese Cycling, is a very versatile rider. With top form and supporting riders both for climbs and sprints, he is expected to finish high at every stage. Prediction: top 5 both in GC and SC.
IGF
Wit Feaux is, similarly as Miyazaki, a great allrounder, although a bit less talented and lacking TT skills, which will probably prevent him from entering the GC competition. But he will be the man to watch for during most of the race, trying his chance every now and then. Prediction: top 9 finishes possible on any mass start stage.
Legia
One of the late signups, Polish team surely can win a lot this race, especially with top form of most riders. Pascal Juszczak is the man for sprints, while Garcia Dabino and Radek Lukaszewski are GC contenders. Prediction: results possible on any stage, GC top 5.
Megaman
This team consists of very talented young TTer Frank Herbage and a few sprinters. They will seek their chances on every flat stage and take it easy in the mountains to let others get tired. Prediction: TT results and YC top 3 for Herbage, some sprint top 9 place.
minions of static
Vincent Aerssen and Vincent Ploeger, great climbers, lead this team. Supported by their team mates, they will be a treat on any uphill stage. Mickael Bourdin may achieve something on sprints, but lack of support will decrease his chances. Prediction: climbing results, GC top 9.
mortenryt
This sprinting squad will be led most of the time by young Dane Mark Studsgaar. On hilly stage 8 his more experienced team mate Vidal Lizarraga may take the captaincy, as the road there fits his skills really well. Prediction: top 9 places in sprints.
Oekiewakkie
Lowie van Buyten is one of the best climbers in the peloton and would be a major GC contender, but his TT skills are too low and he will loose
| | time there. Still he will be a favourite in the mountains, especially if his top form lasts long enough. Prediction: GC top 9, climbing results.
Primagaz AG
This team is led by Rogerio Aleixo, clearly the best TTer taking part in this race. He's got some climbing skills and team mates supporting him, but still probably he will loose time in the mountains. Prediction: TT results, GC top 9.
redop
The only Portuguese team taking part in the race is led by Monte Rosa Tour winner Vasco Assis and concentrates entirely on his GC position, as all remaining squad members are climbers. With great climbing support, top form, expected good TT performance and some seconds possible to gain on sprints, Assis may challenge the top climbers. Prediction: GC top 5.
Rode Stier
This team will be riding for Joost Tessing in the mountains and Fidel Mora on flat stages. Rumours are that Gamali Ala'' may try his chances instead of working as told by team manager, as it was announced today that he's free to look for a new team and he surely would like to impress potential employers. Prediction: some top 9 finishes.
Teschen
Czech team's best chance are TT stages and Edmond Maheult. It is also possible that Kevin Karlsen will have his day on one of the climbs. Prediction top 9 place on a TT stage.
The Doomsday Bunnies
This team focuses entirely on sprinting stages, with Joannes de Loose and Russell Gillenwater most likely to to perform well. The former rider is an ex-member of world number 1 Equipo Easy on, a transfer to lower level team where he can ride for wins himself helped him a lot and with great form he will try to finish as high as possible. Prediction: top 9 sprint finishes.
VC SRAM TACX LOOK
This team may look weak on paper, but they know how to surprise, which was best seen in today's Malmo Time Trial, where Erwin Dew took a win riding against a lot of theoretically stronger competitors. Their plan for Volta is the same – strength is in numbers, out of many riders someone may always pull off a surprise. Prediction: top 9 TT finishes.
|
