Did you know that the highest temperature they’ve ever recorded in Perm in the month of February is a mere 5ºC? Unfortunately for us, this record is not going to be broken while racing the Perm Tour… But hey, if Will ‘The Russian Jamaican’ Ferrin survived in the last edition, why shouldn’t we? Last season all the spot holders (coming from Top Division) were kicked off, so now we are in third division’s business exclusively. Fears of a reigning Drejbo were erased by an unknown Italian, which is contesting again but we are reluctant to consider him the man to beat. Who is in for some ice sculptures contest?
  
  The General Classification:
  
   SprintingKings
  After coming just 4 seconds short in the previous edition, Erwin Caluwé is going for the win, and he can certainly achieve it. Even if he lacks of a strong support, a podium is more than feasible.
  
   sivac
  Evaristo Gusmao is the element of surprise of this race. If a manager relies on a man as faithfully as to give him Ommen and Burov as teammates, he certainly owns more than a slim chance to succeed. Coming from Brazil is the only thing I don’t like about his chances.
  
   Rannoch
  Landing in his first Tour, this Scottish outfit is hoping for a nice classification with Byron Kantner, but I see that as almost impossible. Hugo Horn will try his luck on the sprints, but all I think they can get is a minor top9 placing.
  
   Peloton Pushers
  Luis Prangsgaard is a great climber and somehow a complete rider, but the lack of support and time trialling abilities may cost him the top9 of GC. The team is testing their abilities to race in higher ranks than what they are used to.
  
   nrk
  Isak ‘the Pulverizer’ Dammen won last year’s Race of the Minutemen, but he is sacrificing his reserved spot to attend this Perm Tour. He is determined to win, has an experienced manager, the best helpers (100% Norwegian power), and has been reported training in Norway at -20ºC. We got our favourite.
  
   Burren Connemara
  The Irish outfit comes with the always dangerous Freek van der Werff, but they haven’t prepared for this Tour thoroughly and so they don’t arrive to Perm in the greatest form. However, anything outside a top9 will be a surprise.
  
   arrano
  Emanuele Manale won his

first Tour, last edition of Perm Tour, and is contesting with an even better set of teammates. However, his manager is not very confident to repeat success, and neither are we. A top5 is more likely, but everything will depend on how far he can go in the king stage.
  
  The Sprint Classification:
  
   Auro Team
  Harris Harwood will try his luck in the starting stage, where he will try to take advantage from the pure sprinters. He is not the main contender, but is one to watch as he arrives in good form.
  
   DCM
  Arriving to their first Tour, this young Swedish team brings, however, an experienced sprinter. Laurens Roosendael, 34, already raced in Perm back in season 10 (to a decent third place in the YC). They may have a chance for a top5 on the sprints.
  
   Dormilon
  Leandro Lizarraga will captain this Spanish team in their fifth Tour participation. He is not the top contender, but has one of the strongest leadout trains, so their expectative of a top3 in the SC may be fulfilled.
  
   Faustus
  Even though they may be focused on stage results, Jaakko Virén can be a surprising and tough contender for the SC if he manages to score some points in the Time Trial.
  
   Lusitano
  Tiago Grego saw himself into troubles when claiming his reserved spot for this very Tour few editions ago. Now he is back with another team, another rider (the 34-years old Swiss powerhouse Hanke Vibbard), and wants sportive revenge. Watch him out if you are willing to grab the blue maillot.
  
   team tdb
  team tdb wants no less than the SC win with Jakub Lewicki, and they are not weak enough to be discarded from doing that. While they will try some breakawaying during the second stage, they are going with full support to Lewicki on the sprints.
  
   Wizzyweb
  Rafael Boezeman got a fourth place on the SC last year, and he will try to improve that and step into the podium. The team is strong, and he has the skills to achieve that.
  
  The Stage Seekers
  
   karelracing
  Anton Levin got

injured prior to the Tour, and won’t be attending. However, they still bring Enting, Lindahl and Nellisen to do a great Time Trial. They will throw the dices during the other stages.
  
   Manisaspor
  This will be the first time in OCM history we will see a Turkish team out of one-day racing. They want to use this Tour as a test, as they don’t arrive to the Tour with the greatest form.
  
   Lots o Huggin Bear
  Mohamed Nuri Mosbah will try to forget he comes from the desert to outshine in the King stage. He will try to get some advantage from the GC contenders as he will ride for free (with very few support, on the other hand).
  
   speedyb
  Depending on Warwick success, this team will think about setting the GC as a goal, but they are convinced to focus on the Time Trial (with Iuccaro, Warwich and Gill) and do some breakawaying on the meantime.
  
   Team Albatros
  Wolfgang Baranski is the main option of this team, and will try to get something out of the first stage. However, their actual lack of strength may make them think about some attacking strategies.
  
   thedutchies
  Even though Mark van Basten can manage to get some decent placings on the sprints, thinking about breakaways is probably a good option for this team.
  
  Stage 1
  *** Vibbard (Lusitano), Boezeman (Wizzyweb)
  ** Lizarraga (Dormilon), Dammen (nrk)
  * Harwood (Auro Team), Lewicki (team tdb)
  
  Stage 2
  *** Dammen (nrk)
  ** Caluwé (SprintingKings), Gusmao (sivac)
  * Mosbah (Lots o Huggin Bear), van der Werff (Burren Connemara)
  
  Stage 3
  *** Roosendael (Auro Team)
  ** Iuccaro (speedyb), Warwick (speedyb)
  * Lindahl (karelracing), Virén (Faustus)
  
  Stage 4
  *** Vibbard (Lusitano)
  ** Boezeman (Wizzyweb), Lewicki (team tdb)
  * Lizarraga (Dormilon), Virén (Faustus)
  
  GC
  *** Dammen (nrk)
  ** Caluwé (SprintingKings), Gusmao (sivac)
  * van der Werff (Burren Connemara), Manale (arrano)
  
  SC
  *** Vibbard (Lusitano)
  ** Caluwé (SprintingKings), Boezeman (Wizzyweb)
  * Lewicki (team tdb), Dammen (nrk), Harwood (Auro Team)
  
  YC
  *** Roosendael (Auro Team)
  ** Mosbah (Lots o Huggin Bear)
  * Holmblad (Faustus), Langbjerg (Rannoch), Dinis (Wizzyweb)
  
  
  Written by pundit Holger Czukay from Asymm Project to OCM Magazine