Perm is a nice place to be… if it’s summer. The weather forecast predicts some snowfalls during the first two stages, and temperatures of -5ºC (stage 1), -8ºC (stage 2), and -3ºC (stages 3 and 4). In addition to that, the downgraded Tour features the usual parcours, so that is extremely long distances to what the riders are used. Those who have been in the upper divisions may have a bonus there, and that long, long time trial may put some inexperienced guys in trouble. Beating the spot-holders (who came from Top division) is the main goal for many teams, so you may expect a very nervous race all the way to Perm. Add the “icy conditions” of the road to that, and you have the film ready.
  
  
  Alberta 1: With Gilfoil in the sprints, Bilal in the mountains and Aleixo against the clock, they expect some results. They don’t care about GC at all.
  
  
  Arrano: Hoping for a top 9 in the mountain stage, manager induin brings Manale to the tour to let Romero try his own luck. They’re trying to win by luck more than by strength.
  
  
  Cider Riders: Travis ‘TP’ Plowman is a strong option for the GC, and his manager is hoping for a podium spot. Garth Duncan stayed at home, so the help is not superb. However, CiderJ has a clear goal that I know he will reach: “having fun”.
  
  Survey fact
  63% of the teams said they will not try to breakaway in any stage of the Tour. Were they telling the truth? 16% of the teams will try to breakaway “in one stage only”, while another 21% will try it “in two or three stages”.
  
  
  Duvelke: Duvelke is hoping to win the YC with Omblet, but also fearing about such a long time trial which is “torture near to death” in his own words. Nordby will try his luck in the first stage.
  
  
  Eixample ATH: This Andorran team is used to Tours, but will have very few to do here. Mantilla, their main man, was injured after signing up, so they have to rely on Vaquero to do something in the mountains.
  
  
  EpoTopTeam: Ludovico Raposo already knows what is being on Perm’s podium in first division, so he faces a curious challenge: incongruence of not living up to the expectations in a lower category. Svejstrup is the biggest opponent to Omblet for the YC.
  
  Funny fact
  Hur, manager from Ocaña, commented that they will look Braveheart to boost the team spirit. Be careful with them!
  
  
  Indie Rock: This is the first Tour for this Italian outfit, so they don’t know what to expect. They have small chances for a top 9 in the GC with Kerwin and

in some sprints with Geraci.
  
  
  Indurain Team: “Tours are the reason I joined this game, but are also my worst nightmare”. Tired of injuries, manager Thomas just hopes to end the Tour with all his guys being able to ride a bike. Adams is already injured (I can’t believe it…) but their helpers have a great quality and Rasmussen is a big candidate for stage two.
  
  
  Jannies: Eddy Aerssen may have a chance for a top 9 in the GC if he does not die in the time trial. The team also expects some results coming from Koen Reus, who shows a splendid form, but it seems difficult to me.
  
  Survey fact
  Many managers see in Omblet the winner of YC (only two voted Svejstrup). Well, Hur thinks that his rider Garate can do something (despite being 28)…
  
  
  Karelracing: Israeli national champion Anton Levin is the man to beat in the time trial according to his manager. This breakthrough Dutch team (for a total of seven from this country) has good chances in the time trial with Levin and Lindahl.
  
  
  Luke2105: Gregory Vinson is a renowned name in the cobbles, but they have not that in Russia. Luke2105 comes with a sprinters team, and Ferrin can score in the parade. They will try to impress in their first Tour participation.
  
  
  Mapei Bianchi: Very young riders from the Italian team, they do not have a great one but hope that quantity is enough to have some chances at YC.
  
  ”Funny” fact
  16% of the teams answered (despite not being asked about that) that they want to see Drejbo injured. Another way of saying who is the man to beat…
  
  
  Minions of Static: Vincent Ploeger is as capable as his friend Aerssen (not coming to the Tour) in the mountains, and is a candidate for the second stage and his support is good. Brando Noe has also a nice option in the time trial.
  
  
  Ocaña: Our funny friend hopes for a top 9 with Garate as they have “contacts with the Russian mafia”… They come here for tourism. What do they want to visit? “The black market”. What do they want to do? “Drinking vodka Tovarich”.
  
  
  Skils: Already back in the top 20 of OCM, skils will try to make Drejbo prevail in Perm again. They have the defending champion, Minutemen’s winner “just to help” (Hagman) and a strong option for the time trial (Bemmel).
  
  Funny fact
  Hur (who else?) said they were not trying to breakaway

as Garate needs full support. However, they plan some “breakaways” to the liquor store.
  
  
  Speedyb: Having changed their focus into time trialling, they have three guys very capable on this speciality. They hope to do such a good TT that they can finish with a good GC.
  
  
  SprintingKings: Erwin Caluwé faces one of the most important challenges of his career. He’s one of the favourites for the GC and comes in perfect shape, and is a nice bet for the first two stages. On the paper, it is a Caluwé-Drejbo battle.
  
  
  Squiffnator: Lucas Sander in the first stage and then Olstad and Fay in the time trial. That’s where Squiffnator has his eye put, but maybe the team lacks a bit of something to win. However they will not be far from it.
  
  Funny fact
  Hur called his butler to throw me out of his house when the interview was over…
  
  
  Team Jayco: With fingers crossed for some points and money, the Australians will try to score in massive sprints. O’Januschke has some slim options, but will need a good amount of luck.
  
  
  Wizzyweb: Bodker in the first stage and Boezeman in the last. Both riders are very capable to do the best, but we all know how sprints are. The team comes with a good train of leadouts, so that may help to clear the way a bit.
  
  Note: the numbers inside parenthesis mean they are favourite for the managers participating in the Tour, as I asked them about that.
  
  Stage 1:
  *** Nordby (19%), Drejbo (36%)
  ** Svejstrup (9%), Bodker, Gilfoil
  * Kerwin, Caluwé (36%), Reus
  
  Stage 2:
  *** Caluwé (18%), Rasmussen (55%)
  ** Raposo (9%), Plowman (9%), Ploeger (9%)
  * Omblet, Aerssen
  
  Stage 3:
  *** Levin (25%), Iuccaro (33%)
  ** Lindahl, Schild, Aleixo (42%)
  * Olstad, Noe, Schiphowuer
  
  Stage 4:
  *** Drejbo (70%), Boezeman (30%)
  ** Geraci, Reus
  * Ferrin, Nordby, Gilfoil
  
  GC:
  *** Caluwé (33%), Drejbo (33%)
  ** Plowman (8%), Raposo (8%), Garate
  * Hagman, Iuccaro, Rasmussen (8%)
  
  SC:
  *** Drejbo (82%)
  ** Caluwé, Reus, Gilfoil
  * Kerwin, Boezeman (9%), Nordby (9%)
  
  YC:
  *** Omblet (82%)
  ** Svejstrup (18%), Levin
  * Sargeant, Ramsak
  
  
  Written by pundit Holger Czukay to OCM Magazine