Written by Finz from NightmareChaos
The state of New England welcomes the riders and teams that have entered this year's Race of the Minutemen.
After a highly succesfull inaugural venue last year we wanted to exceed the expectations for this year.
To make this year's Minutemen race even more exciting the organizers have decided that last year's top finishers are eligible to sign in for the tour to defend their respective crown's.
After the invitation had been send to the Australian team Telstra, Danish Team Crazy Downhillers and the hometeam lastplace1414, they excepted it with pleasure.
At that moment, the point of interest shifted from the tour to the particpants. According to the majority of particpants these teams had no right to enter this American tour.
The federation of Russia exploded in anger and they rallied other federations and teams from accross the world to protest against this new form of match fixing.
The three teams where a mixture of shame, ignorance and arrogancy and allthough they ment no harm, their actions where not welcomed by the teamowners and they are urging to see changes in this feature.
Race of the Minutemen officals stayed low profile, for being the instigators of this revolt amongst the teammanagers against the treacherous three and their invitations.
But harm was already done. Arguments amongst cyclists fora and at the local pubs. People where against it or supported it. There was no middle way.
This was something that was never seen before and, everything that is new. is dangerous.
Untill this race has been done people will discuss it. Is it good, is it bad, what does this experiment give us and will it lead to a better league or not.
The three teams are well aware of their dubious status now, they are outcasts, and will have to prove they are worth it.
Are they? According to the race results from last year, yes they are. But according to their division they are in, no they are not.
This will bring the other teams to watch carefully the treacherous three and might give this tour what it needs, excitment.
But the Minutemen race will be run over six days. In those six days things can shift from one way to another.
Two timetrials and two mountain stages will be the key stages to be watched. This is where the difference will be made. Will it be a timetrial specialist or a climber that will get the flowers at the end.
No mather what outcome this race has, it is a race to be remembered.
Watched by the OCM management because of the invitations given by the organizers and watched by the people that will see a great race on American soil.
Will the treacherous three be beaten by the division four's or will the division four's be beaten by the treacherous three.
While being low profile, the organizers of the Minutemen, where profiling the teams that have entered.
Faustus
The Finnish based team, that entered this Minutemen race first, is relying on their Lebanese rider Thaqib Yushua.
This rider is having sprinting abilities and knows his way on a time trial track.
He will not race for the General Classification but is having his eye on the Sprinting Classification, together with Jaakko Virén the Finnish Catapult.
Known for the fact that Faustus manager Mefistophulus has a pact with the devil, we think he can score some points,
SJShark
SJShark from America was eyeing this tour since the start of division four. They will shine infront of their sponsors and relying on the skills of Zebadiah Gillet.
This allrounder can do nothing perfect but can do everything just enough. That gives him the power and strength to hang on untill the end to secure valuable points for his teammanager.
For this tour, we believe, they like to be in it, not win it. Yes, Rudolfo Osario can sprint fast and may surprise, and Gillet is eyeing for a top 10 place.
Surprise us SJShark, and do America proud
TACXkin
A full Belgium squad presented by TACXkin. Gaetan Dauwe and Freek Dehaese will lead this team of Belgium cyclists.
Dehaese is a sprinter, no questions asked, and is aiming for a win in the flat stages, and maybe even a good result in the Sprinting Classification.
Dauwe is aiming for a GC spot. We believe he can get a spot in the General Classification for sure, the question is, will it be in the top ten or way behind.
Fertiberia Cajasur
The | | Isle of Man, a tiny spot of land in the middle of the Irish sea, is home to a Spanish named team. Rumours are that this operation is mearly placed there for tax reasons.
They do hold a strong man in the name of Alben Sergent, from Luxembourg which is also a place known for money that is not known to the taxcompany.
Fertiberia Cajasur will be monitored intensivly by the IRS taxing bureau of the United States of America.
Sergent is the guy for this team to win in the flat stages. A great sprinter.
Martijn van de Populiere, will he be the surprise of this tour. A climber, a sprinter and a time trialer.
He will go for the General Classification and will be there at the end.
NightmareChaos
The Russian backed team of NightmareChaos is joining this tour with a mixture of youth and experience. Slavomil Dittrich is the teamcaptain and will do his best in the climbing stages.
The experience comes from Stefanus Lubbers and Andrej Pandula, they want to score points in the timetrials and the flats.
Both riders might get some top ten positions in their stages but, we do not think they will score high in the General Classification.
The experience of riding a tour has to be the reason that they entered this tour.
Sexo Bank
Venjamin Fuente, that is the reason Sexo Bank is entering in America. Kazachstan's best team will put all his money on this rider.
This Spanish cyclist can ride a bike through the mountains and on the flats, and is aiming for a General Classification spot.
He has some help, but will it be enough to make a stand against the other hotshots.
Offcourse, manager Michael Rissurkelmov will say. And we hope it with him.
Rabo Utrecht CT
The Dutch team Rabo Utrecht CT is backed by a known banking group's local office. They will attack the General Classification with Heiko Wortelaars, the 24 year old will be supported by his 28 year partner in crime Daan Luijten.
They will aim for a good ride when the mountains of New England come. This is where they need to make up time that they will loose in the flat stages and the time trial.
A nice result, most likely. But a win and a shot a the General Classification, no. But this experience will bring them further.
They will enjoy it and try to make the best of it.
CK Hymer
Sweden, the land of red reindeer and blonde people, are gonna tackle this year's Minutemen race with the winner of last year's Monte Rosa. Jeremy de Neys will be back in a tour.
His climbing skills are great and he has some nice teammates. He will attack the mountains of New England like he did in Switzerland.
But will it be enough to secure a place in the General Classification. We think he will get a good place and secures himself another good result.
CK Hymer will be pleased at the end of the Minutemen but, he will not win it. Jeremy de Neys will loose to much in the timetrial.
Cycling Nieuwegein
The second Dutch team that has entered. Coos de Maar as their captain is a bold descision. But a good one considering the rest of the team.
Teofil Ga??zka is the one to watch in the first stage. He will try to secure a nice result there.
General Classification is not something this team should have any hopes for.
Asymm Project
Aksana Putin. That is a good bet for the General Classification. This Russian climber has the skills, the age and the experience to win this years Minutemen tour.
This Malayan based team has build its squad all around their Russian star. Many teammates for the mountains, and the timetrial will not set him much behind.
The riders that want a good classification need to be around this guy in the race.
Wizzyweb
And again a Dutch team. They say there is a crisis going on but, Dutch teams get their funds from anywhere even if it is from some sleazy website.
They are tackling this Minutemen with an Iraqi sprinter and a cobbler from Cyprus.
The flat stages is what they are eyeing for and they probably will score some points there. When asked, they did not know of any General Classification and we will most likely not find them in the top region of it.
But to get the flowers at one stage is all that matters so they have build their train for it.
Trinity
Hometeam number two. Trinity is aiming for the mountains with the two mountaingoats Hilberts and Paterson. These two riders love mountains.
Hilberts and Paterson want to show the other riders how it is done. Will they finish on top, yes they will.
| | The question is, will they loose the time they gain in the mountains at the flats in the timetrial.
Yes they will to. A nice spot in the stages uphill for sure. And maybe, just maybe, in the General Classification.
Team Crazy Downhillers
Last year's winner Otto Hagman is back. He was invited by the organizers to gave him an opportunity to defend his crown.
And he will try to defend it although he knows every other team is eyeing him. He has his team ready, but the invitation came late, so is he prepared to win it again?
No, but a good race he will ride. He promised it last year.
Telstra
Australian based team Telstra is also present with an invitation from the organizers. Goddard Scothern is aiming for the General Classification this time. A great climber and good on the flats.
This will give the Minutemen much presence in Australia, because every Australian is having him as a General Classification winner this year.
Australians are known for their national pride, but maybe they are right about this one. A great rider with a good team behind him.
Will he get all the jerseys is no longer a question, the question is when. It could be this year.
lastplace 1414
The American based team of lastplace1414 is totally counting on Joachim Lowik. He has TopForm and is aiming to get revenge. This is his tour he always says and manager Brain Place has the rider for it.
Will Lowik give Place what he needs. A win in the American tour will satisfy the American backers and that will give the Place manager some rest.
His funds are secured, his points are needed and his press releases are better then.
Joachim Lowik will give Putin a good run for his money.
mapei bianchi
Mapei Bianchi is joining the American race all the way from Italy. The womb of cycling. But they rely on a timetrial specialist from Slovakia.
When he has his day he might get some results in the two stages that are against the clock. But a General Classification is not what mapei bianchi is aiming for.
He wants his team to be known in Italy and then this Minutemen is perfect for it. His sponsors are proud and will back him another year. Maybe next year a new Italian star will shine in America.
Rigana
Africa's representative comes from the south. South Africa is the home of Rigana. Their hopes lay in the hands, or on the legs, of Douglas Crawford.
Hills and flats are his speciality. He will go for a nice result in the flat stages. Maybe even a top ten in the Sprint Classification.
Rigana does admit he has no reason to believe that he has any chance on the General Classification. We support him in that judgement.
azeitonense
Humberto Canto is the man of Portuguese team azeitonense. He can climb his mountains and is capable on the flats. He is good allround and can score high.
The only downside is that he will loose in the timetrial. And that will be so much that he is not a contender for the top places in the General Classification. But he will score points and maybe do better then expected.
azeitnonense Will go for a good result in a stage but, will not win it and is in it for the fun. Unless Bernardino Mota surprises on the flat.
Windy Millars
England is represented by Windy Millars. They are only here for the flats, Ethen Zurek is aiming for a win in the sprint. If he succeeds depends on the other sprinters. Will they let him or will they not.
But England gives us more, Konrad Gilberthorpe is the one for the mountains. He is from the north of England, you can not understand him at all, they say his grandmother was Scottish, but he can ride his mountains.
A few good places in a few stages. But these English will show those New England people what it is to be real English and that is what drives them, so maybe, just maybe, they can win a stage, driven by national pride.
Hommerts Cycling Team
The first Frisian team. They claim to be from the Netherlands but that is a lie. Susumu Miyazaki is the one they work for. Japanese by birth, cosmopolitan by nature, is aiming for a good result in this years Minutemen.
Miyazaki did not do well this year and needs some points to keep his contract at Hommerts safe. He will tackle the General Classification and try to get a good result but lacks the team to support him.
This is a flaw of the management of Hommerts. Miyazaki however will have to deal with this fact and show his best. Hommerts however can not claim responsibility of any good result by Miyazaki but is fully responsible for any bad result by him.
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