A new tour is exciting and it is even more exciting when you only have a small window of opportunity for signing up. As i write this, the difference between the leader and the lanterne rouge in division 5 is only 54 points. One unexpected result and you can see the signup vaporize. Still there was much anticipation for this tour, so let's get ready to rumble.
  
  We will have a look who is in and with what expectations and who will win his own weight in Danish Blue once on the stage in København (Copenhagen).
  
  The Teams
  
  Britcycles
  Britcycles was the first on the startlist and entered with allround sprinter Prieto who, like good wine, gets better with age. He should be able to get a top 9 in stage 2 and 3, and maybe even a podium spot in the paraderace.
  
  Team Zyte
  One of OCM oldest teams is back with a bang! And his name is Efrain Maze. Really, who can beat this guy in the form he is in now. He brings Piedrahita as helper but maybe lacks support to go all the way, and to be honest, this tour doesn't suit him and he lacks TT skills. Must secure the YC.
  
  Cyclistsss
  this Dutch team signed up with sprinter Bel as captain and he looks good enough to secure a few top 9's and maybe even a top 9 in the GC and should do well in the YC. Timetrialer Troy is looking for a podium in both ITT's.
  
  SilenceLotteFan
  Theodor Bagger is a great allrounder and he brings good support too, with Ponsaert, Bay and Méan he has got excellent leadouts to go all the way. Unfortunately he does pretty bad in TT's. Bay is an outsider in the ITT's
  
  POM Wonderful
  The Yankees in their first tour outside the states, are looking for a result with Dutch hilly sprinter Looze (can you guess his nickname?). He has to do most things by himself since he hasn't got the riders to deliver him to the finishline. Maybe he scores some points and cash in the king stage.
  
  Joss
  The vikings had a plan: Renting a rider suited for this tour. And so they did. They enter Fast on Wheels with a hilly TT'er Reginald Haney (on lease from Ultrajectum) as captain and if all goes well he is a dark horse for the top spot in the GC. Joss sends good teammates but poor leadouts. Is this enough? Only time will tell.
  
  Fritzyhat
  Joins with sprinter veteran Lance Par who is aiming stage 2 and the paraderace, and with the great Mexican Seabra as teammate he just might go beyond one day success.. unfortunately Par has problems when he has to compete against the clock.
  
  KK Perutnina Ptuj
  This Slovakian team, HUH wait, Slovenian team (an easy to make mistake) has great training facilities, and they are in with there latest trainee Cruceru. He is heavily depending on teammates Roj and van Engelen. No

results expected traditionally, but maybe Dante should try a breakaway
  
  BCTeam
  One of the weaker teams, with captain Langenbach who has no skills in hilling nor sprinting. So what to expect? Maybe a top 9 in a TT or a succesfull breakaway if one of the cucumbers gets lucky. They are here and that is all that matters!
  
  Velo Club Bored Man
  They have been around for a long time and have been focussing on training recently. And with what success! Hairingtons proudly presents Fergus "Fergie" Harrold. This tour has not enough climbing for him to excel but with his skills he might win the king stage. One minor issue; His team sucks. But i am pretty sure this is not the last we see of Fergie
  
  Patras
  The Swiss climber outfit of Patras joined with 2 great riders for the mountains. Unfortunately Fast on wheels is a Danish tour so they are quite useless here. Maybe an escape or a result by swedish TT specialist Stenlund. Gak send his riders in this tour to enjoy themselves. But keep an eye out for Lieni Grin in Århus - Vejle.
  
  De rijdende rechters
  The name translated in English means "The riding Judges" and yes it is judgement day. They went in with Nabutaka San as the leader, however Julian Pope looks better suited in most stages except stage 4. They have one of the better teams but will the struggle for teamleadership have negative effects on the outcome?
  
  Honor et Patria
  "Honor and Fatherland" sends a great TT-er in Gerhard Michala. He is the big favourite in both TT's. We won't see him in the other stages as his teammates are hardly good enough to ride without sidewheels. Will he deliver and will his timegap be enought to reach a high spot in the GC too? For sure he needs a lot of Audacia et Devotio.
  
  Tears and Saints
  Tears from joy or tears from grief, that is the question. Belgium climber Kint won't bring joy, but argentinian tt-ist Mancho Heras is up there with the favorites in the ITT's. My guess: Tears from grief
  
  SprintingKings
  Oh yes they are here... and they have a king allright. The great Gasperoni is in! Mothers hide your daughters, children hide your candy. In the land of the Beast Gasperoni will take what is his: 68 KG of Danish Blue. He is a favourite for both GC and SC, and frankly i would be amazed if he doesn't deliver.
  
  Super Velo
  Bubba McSmyt crossed the ocean with young sprinter Aiden Rodgers. He is aiming the flat stages and he might deliver some points and money. Stage 2 suits him nicely, but i would not get my hopes up too much as there are a bunch of good sprinters around.
  
  Vogeltjecycling
  Seriously, Vogeltje must be a real good sponsor, who wants to be seen with that name on the chest! Tjeerd Oorschot is a nice climber but

he won't be able to compete in this field. Take my advice and go for a breakaway in stage 4!
  
  Huagro
  African cycling is surging and one of the best examples is Tadese Guish. The Ethiopian champion has the skills and the support to go a long way. Unfortunately he has no timetrial skills whatsoever. But for the love of Africa we support you! WAKA WAKA
  
  Nowak s Team
  Oh no! Marek Nowak made a bad mistake! He signed climber Soyez up as captain while tt-sprinter Cervantes was a much better choice. Now what? Cervantes can surprise in the prologue and maybe even in Odense - Odense (ITT). Maybe he can ride as secondary captain and get results in the sprint stages too.
  
  sivac
  Last team to sign up was sivac. The number 2 team of Serbia brings a good climber with some tt skills. I bet this team could have done real good in a climbing tour. This tour is just not difficult enough for them. Still they can bring some cash back to Serbia.
  
  
  
  Esbjerg Prolog (ITT)
  **** Michala (Honor et Patria)
  *** Haney (Joss), Troy (Cyclistsss), Heras (Tears and Saints), Bay (SilenceLotteFan)
  ** Cervantes (Nowak s Team), Gasperoni (SprintingKings)
  * Pope (De rijdende rechters), Stenlund (Patras), Looze (POM Wonderful)
  
  Esbjerg - Holstebro
  **** Gasperoni (SprintingKings)
  *** Rodgers (Super Velo), Bel (Cyclistsss), Maze (Team Zyte), Parr (fritzyhat)
  ** Bagger (SilenceLotteFan), Prieto (Britcycles)
  
  
  Holstebro - Århus
  **** Gasperoni (SprintingKings)
  *** Maze (Team Zyte), Bagger (SilenceLotteFan)
  ** Harrold (Velo Club Bored Man)
  
  Århus - Vejle
  **** Harrold (Velo Club Bored Man)
  *** Gasperoni (SprintingKings)
  ** Maze (Team Zyte), Bagger (SilenceLotteFan), Grin (Patras), Guish (Huagro)
  * Looze (POM Wonderful), Haney (Joss)
  
  
  Odense - Odense (ITT)
  **** Michala (Honor et Patria)
  *** Haney (Joss), Troy (Cyclistsss), Heras (Tears and Saints), Bay (SilenceLotteFan)
  ** Cervantes (Nowak s Team), Gasperoni (SprintingKings)
  
  Odense - København
  **** Gasperoni (SprintingKings)
  *** Rodgers (Super Velo), Bel (Cyclistsss), Parr (fritzyhat)
  ** Prieto (Britcycles)
  
  GC
  **** Gasperoni (SprintingKings)
  *** Maze (Team Zyte), Bagger (SilenceLotteFan)
  ** Harrold (Velo Club Bored Man), Haney (Joss), Michala (Honor et Patria)
  
  Written by pundit pees from
  ultrajectum to OCM Magazine