Race of the Minutemen faces its third edition as a consolidated Tour praised by managers and fans. When sign up opened many teams jumped into it, and after a day no empty slots remained. Telstra and Skils were the last teams to sign up using the controversial reserved spots. I, as the third spot holder, can say that no managers complained directly about us but to the way the reserved spots work. It’s true that the reserved spots are a useful thing, but as many expressed in a discussion started by Quick Step Minded, it’s not that great when it comes to Top division teams signing up for fourth division Tours. However: cheer up division 4, you can conquer reserved spots as I did!
  
  
  Once again we are about to test the riders in the “Midnight Ride” of Paul Revere, the lakes of New Hampshire, the scenic view along the Kancamangus Highway and, of course, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington’s ascents to finish in Faneuil’s Hall marketplace. This time, however, things will be a bit different: Otto Hagman will not be the winner as he is not participating.
  
  
  
  
  
  The GC
  We can divide the major GC contenders in two groups: those with proven Minutemen experience and those without it. In the first group, we find Putin, Scothern and de Wortelaers. In the second, Kling, Dammen, Gasquilan, Massicot, Ommen or Crawford.
  
  
  Asymm Project
  Aksana Putin finished third last season without doing a great race, but after winning in Porto he has cheered up and is very confident of himself. He touched the top 25 of the OCM, and has a nice support, so no reason to see him off the podium.
  
  
  Telstra
  Goddard Scothern had a decent set of teammates in the first edition, and finished third. He had a good set of teammates in the second edition, and finished second. He has a very good set of teammates in the third edition…third time lucky?
  
  
  Rabo Utrecht CT
  Heiko de Wortelaers finished ninth last season, enough to grab the YC. Now, one year older and one year better (he did some great wind tunnel sessions), he’s hoping for a top 5 or even a podium. Daan Luijten is the teammate everyone would like to have, but apart from him the team is weak.
  
  
  skils
  Douglas Kling is not what you’d call a famous rider. He is Swedish, 32, and has done pretty much nothing in his carreer. However, if Harwin gave him the captain role despite having other things to do (Bemmel for time trials and Niek Schaars for the sprints), he deserves our attention. A top 9 should be doable, but as seen in Perm, his riders are tired…
  
  
  nrk
  Isak “the Pulverizer” Dammen is my main bet for the GC. He has lights flashing on the paper. Perfect teammates (100% Norwegian), great form, and a manager that knows

what to do. This is the first Tour after 5 seasons for them, so I (as a rival) just hope they’ve forgotten how to do good on Tours…
  
  
  Alpha Plus
  A+ will try to save the American pride in GC. However, their leader is the Andorran Jesus Gasquilan. Their veteran-American-trio will do their best to help Gasquilan, who is not “a real winner” alone.
  
  
  Cheetah Chase
  England is the country with more teams signed up for a total of four outfits. Cheetah Chase is so proud of Ivan Massicot that I’m sure one million dollars would not be enough to buy him. Hoping for a top 9 in the GC and, better, to prevail on the mountains, Fuller faces its first Tour.
  
  
  Sivac
  Serbian team brings Jochem Ommen to the Tour with the aim of a good GC. The team may lack a bit of climbing skills, but is suited for Tour racing, so we expect to see them in the battle.
  
  
  Rigana
  Douglas “DC” Crawford was a hill climber, but wind tunnel trainings and mountain improvements have made of him a rider capable of anything. He’s the biggest non-climber candidate for GC, but a podium is not likely to happen.
  
  
  ***Dammen (40%), Scothern
  **Putin (20%), de Wortelaers (20%)
  *Kling (10%), Gasquilan (10%), Ommen
  
  
  
  
  
  The SC
  Scothern is here again to defend SC. Having won it two times, he will be battling it again, however his team is more mountains-oriented and he may find himself alone in the sprints. Niek Schaars from Skils is a clear candidate too, as it is Douglas Crawford from Rigana. The second and the sixth stages of the Tour are a must for the SC contenders, but scoring in the mountains can be the key for what looks like a close challenge.
  
  
  Auro Team
  Harris Harwood has nice chances in the second stage as a hill climber. The support is not great, but this young team promises to be a fighter one. Roosendael will try on the time trials.
  
  
  Britcycles
  The German Hanno Albrecht would have enjoyed this race in the past, when the roads were tougher. As a cobbler, he has nice sprint ability, but top placing will be complicated.
  
  
  cway
  This is the first Tour for Cway after 5 seasons, so they hope to resume their palmares (they’ve already got 3 maillots from Tours) with the RotM SC maillot. For that, they have Kuwaiti Nasir al Din Nawfal backed with a nice train. They bet for the YC too, as Melazzo (only 22 years old!) is an amazing prospect.
  
  
  Dormilon
  Leandro

Lizarraga is a good sprinter and has a good set of leadouts. His team is all in for him, so they may expect a top 5 on stages two or six. They had many problems with last year’s inrace delays, so they want to get even of that.
  
  
  Fritzyhat
  When you are about to start your first Tour, you doubt. Will Parr be good enough to do something on the sprints? Will Seabra be good enough to show his great form in the mountains? My answer: maybe.
  
  
  Lusitano
  Portugal’s manager Tiago brings 34-year-old Dutch Harm Rijaard as his main man. He is a proved sprinter enjoying a last season after years of inactivity, but the help of inexperienced is a problem for him.
  
  
  SJShark
  Second American team will be battling on two fronts. One of them will be the sprints. Rudolfo Osario is not a great rider, but he sometimes sprints perfectly. The other front is the climbs with American Tony Headley in perfect form. That can be a dangerous man.
  
  
  ***Scothern (33%), Schaars (44%)
  **Din Nawfal, Crawford (11%)
  *Rijaard, Lizarraga, Harwood
  
  
  
  
  
  The YC
  Hagman and de Wortelaers have been the winners of this classification so far, with Löwik hanging around both times. In this edition it will be hard to find a Dutchman battling for the white maillot. Norway, Italy or France are more likely to get it.
  
  
  JV pro Cycling
  Norwegian young outfit faces the first Tour participation after just a season of existence, which is a good proof that there is quality on the management. Klaus Westby is allegedly the man to beat in the YC, but his support is a bit limited.
  
  
  Oekiewakkie
  With Sidney Treece at home, Daneberg is trying to get a young Dutchman (Max de Ruijter) to a good YC. They have a nice support for that task, but weak overall.
  
  
  Nowak s Team
  This young French team is hoping for a good YC with Venceslas Soyez, 23, who is a nice talent in the mountains. This is their first Tour and they’re so shy they even didn’t accept our interview…
  
  
  RD FC
  Last but not least, Denmark’s aspirant comes with a pair of young time trialists hoping to do well on the solo efforts.
  
  
  ***Melazzo (33%), Westby (67%)
  **
  *Soyez, Benet, de Ruijter
  
  
  
  The BA numbers:
  53% of the teams will never go on break.
  47% will go in one or two stages.
  
  Written by pundit Holger Czukay to OCM Magazine