It’s that time of year again , the time of year that the teams in Zyte division dream of glory in Portugal , that time of year that the managers can already see the fishing boats next to the boulevards and the vineyards in the mountains, that time of year when the plan comes together. So who made these fantasies a reality?
  
  
   Hommerts Cycling
   Hommerts is no stranger to tours and has come well
   prepared. He even questioned his own tactics by stating
   that a two pronged attack might still only lead to success on one
   front. He hopes to win the GC with Vitaliy Bayer , while defending the teams honour
   on the wide straight roads with Duardo Salgada.
  
   Lusitano
   Lusitano is here to contend for the SC with Tadaki Ko , however he lacks a lead out or two , will this prove to be a decisive factor in the ride for glory? No matter what the outcome the result will spark controversy in the community , all I can say is , if he wins then he was the fastest man in the tour. Lusitano is also a local team wich will inspire this rider even more.
  
   minions of static
   Minions of static will be bringing Vincent Aerssen to Volta. The team hopes that this might be his year. He has finished 2nd two seasons in a row. Team management said that last season should’ve been his , but sadly it wasn’t. Can he finally give that final push to win Volta and possibly retire with the knowledge that he had what it takes , or will his hopes fizzle out in the mountain stages?
  
   Hard Gaat Ie
   Hard Gaat Ie will be bringing Marius Lassen to the tour. This is a very interesting rider , but with no downhill the team will be hoping for all mountain top finishes. He is also able to hold his own in the sprint. Perhaps a few points gained on the climbing stages will pull him into the hot seat of the SC if his gc prospects fade away early.
  
   nonnies
   Nonnies is brining a sprinting outfit too the tour. The team has opted for no support in the mountains. They are going for the SC with Salvador Yocemento. The team manager has also been caight saying that he might give the local boy Santiago Dinis some freedom in the time trails. not much to see here , but the teams intentions are clear.
  
   Onie
   In spite of being a Dutch team the fans will chant Onie as the peleton passes them. No , the fans are not Dutch , they are showing their support for the local sprinter Jacinto Aldeia. He is a new talent and a very likely successor for his role model , Pires. Will this diminish his ability to win if he and his fellow country man draw level in the sprint , or will it give him that extra kick to surge for the line , I guess that we will just have to wait and see.
  
   Legia
   Legia will be packing some punch in the mountains. The team hasn’t gone public like most

of the gc favorites , but remember the name Timothy Connor.
   He might jus make winning a reality. If the in fighting gets serious he might sneak away and steal some precious seconds from the favorites. However he will be able to hold his own and finish strong. I would put an outside chance for overall victory in the hands of this rider.
  
   Cremtec
   Cremtec , a team in shambles. No sign of the famous Jude Evans. Rumor has it that he had been injured whilst training for the tour. The team still has a small gamble in the form of Vischkens in the mountains. The team will also go for the early breakaways. The team will be happy with any results as most of their hopes vanished with the connection between body and tar.
  
   Oekiewakkie
   Some uncertainty in the camp is clearly visible. The team manager is hoping that Felipe Maximiliano will reach topform , but the rider might have plans of his own. None the less Felipe will be going for the YC , a strange tactic indeed. How does one contend for a classification , while it is based on your gc standing, luckily YC competitors are not that many this season , as a lot of the teams have decided to go with Old Uncles or “velho’s” as known by the locals. This might just be a realistic goal , watch this space!
  
   Alpha Plus
   Isidor Spoelberchs will be the gc hope for Alpha Plus. The team management is backing his performance and says that this might be his last chance to race as a captain in a tour. The team bring plenty of experience to the table , with a former Race of the minute men winner in the form of Gasquilan . The team might struggle in the tt’s , but other than that it should be smooth sailing on the road back into Porto.
  
   scuppernong
   Is it a bird is it a plane , no it’s the new English climbing sensation known as Rolf Enoch. He will scare some of the gc contenders with his reputation. The only real question is , will he have the form in the mountains. Well and how will he handle the flatter parts of the course. He is a man to watch closely, he will rise over the mountains , destroy the hills , but crumple on the flats. He is also a man who needs to perform very well in the mountains to succeed.
  
   Rode Stier
   In an unlikely turn of events Leezer will be Rode Stier’s captain on the road. The team is hoping for a major time gap in the mountains. This is a tried and trusted tactic wich will work most of the time. The team clearly read a thing or two a famous cyclist once said , it only takes one big day in the mountains to win a tour , perhaps this time it will be the case.
  
   Peloton Pushers
   The team who will be here for 3 stages and three stages only. Well that is the clear plan. peleton Pushers will push on the tt stages with Rictor in top form. The team is confident that he will deliver, however do not be surprised if the team gets a minor placing on some of the other stages as teams like this will have riders going crazy on some of the non tt stages. We

will see how this develops , let’s just hope it adds some much needed speed to the tt’s.
  
   Telstra
   Telstra will be coming to the tour with an ex winner of the Volta. Goddard Scothern needs no introduction and is definitely a race favorite. He might be older than most of his rivals, but he has support for everything the race can throw at him. Will he be able to win Volta twice, or will it be left to his foes to re-write the history books?
  
   mirabelle
   Mirabelle will be one of the teams supported by the locals. Inspite of being
   Spanish this team comes to the tour with the hope of winning the SC with a Portuguese legend “Velho” David Pires. Inspite of being 33 years old he still defies the laws of friction and flies across the finish line, this is definitely a team to watch, even if you just want to see the effects of experience.
  
   The Doomsday Bunnies
   Doomsday is coming to the tour with high hopes. The team hopes to win the tour with Damario Crusellas. This rider is very well known thanks too the resent rewards gala. Will he live up to his reputation built up in tours last season , or will his Achille’s heel be exposed when he needs that 5th team mate. He managed to do it last year so will he make history and double up?
  
   Team Zero1
   Conrado Pando will be leading the charge for Zero1. He looks like he will ascend the rankings once the mountains come into sight , but will his lack of flat road experience cost him towards the finish Porto? We will have to wait and see. An ambitious move in the mountains may be enough to hold on to a gc position.
  
   Greenride
   What’s not to like, Greenride is a local team , has one of the race favorites in the form of Gilberto Morais and impeccable support from most of the Portuguese national team. The only thing that can stand in the way of glory for this team is a better prepared oppenent or losing time as a result of being swamped by fans on the narrow mountain passes.
  
   Leukefans
   Leukefrans will be coming to Volta with Casper Jill in form. It is clear that he might be a top 9 gc contender due to his climbing and hiller abilities and with great support in the form of Sigurd Lange. However he might just feature in the sub-race a race for the sc , whatever the case Jill will be a real threat to some of the ambitious teams.
  
   Team Crazy Downhillers
   Another familliar face. Yes this time it is Chris Bauwens , also a former winner of this tour. Rumour has it that he is here to dampen the hopes of Morais. From the outside however it looks like Bauwens is a clear favorite if his mindset is to win the tour. The team manager might just have to give him a speech before the tour , because his team mates are willing and able to deliver.
  
  Written by freelancer aarin from
  nonnies to OCM Magazine