Volta ao Porto, the tour so many dream about winning. Last season all the jerseys were won by Portuguese riders. Morias, Aldeia, Matos: they fulfilled the dreams of not only their teams, but also this cycling mad country. This year things will certainly be different. Aldeia couldn't sign up, Morais has changed teams and has a weaker team now and Matos has a lot tougher competition. Which teams look the strongest, which teams look destined to fail? A preview of all the teams:
  
   Wizzyweb
   This Dutch team brings 30 year old Boje Damm as their captain. He's a decent sprinter and has some strong lead-outs, but will that be enough for contending for podiums and the SC? I don't think so, but he could surprise me. Predictions: Top-9 stages 2, 4, 10
  
  Team Oasis
   The Iranian team brings a Portuguese captain, Ludovico Raposo, which will certainly help them get support from the Portuguese fans. This climber could be a contender for Top-9 in the GC, but his manager didn't give him the best TM's he had. If that has an influence on his performance, is the most important question for this team. Predictions: Top-9 stages 3, 6, 7,
  
  Telstra
   The team brings former winner Goddard Scothern as their captain, a certain GC-contender. Whit some great support, he could win the Volta again, if weird TT-results don't spoil his chances. Predictions: Top-9 stages 3, 6, 7, 8 Top-9 GC
  
  ABK
   The beast has come to Portugal, and he only wants one thing: the SC. And the odds are not against him. With tons of experience and a decent LO-train, he is the clear favourite, but there is no room for haughtiness, as that has proved to be deadly many times. ABK also brings some Ttérs, making their chances at success even bigger. Predictions: Podium stages 2, 4, 8, 10, Top-9 stages 1, 5, 9 ,Podium SC
  
   Oekiewakkie
   The team has only one goal:the YC with Felipe Maximiliano, but they are realistic. With the amount of competition, a third place , like last season would be the best they can get. They will have to fight hard for it and with the huge time gap they faced last year against Matos, I don't think they can get it with this field. It's up to them to prove me wrong. Predictions: Top-9 stage 3
  
   fc barca
   The Belgian team makes his debut in the Volta with a sprinter as captain, Sebastian Dewitte. As they don't have the best LO-train ever, I don't think they have a realistic chance at the SC, but a podium result should be doable. Predictions: Podium stage 10, Top-9 stages 2, 4
  
   Darkwave Recordings
   The team would have had a serious SC-contender with Kristoph Villumsen, but unfortunately he is even older then the Beast, making him only an outsider for the podium. Also the decision not to sign up their Portuguese rider Luis Landim, will not make them popular with the home crowd. Let's hope they can overcome this. Predictions: Top-9 stages 1, 2, 4, 8, 10
  
   ultrajectum

   With Phillip Plagge as their captain and an amazing LO-train, this team is certainly the biggest opponent for the SC of The Beast. The train also features some reasonable TT'ers like Benjamin Zkumavka and Lippai Attila, so top-9's in the TT's are to be expected. Predictions: Podium stages 2, 4, 8 ,Top-9 stages 1, 5, 9, 10, Podium SC
  
   Team Crazy Downhillers
   The Danish squad brings Chris Bauwens, who has an amazing record of five Volta podiums in a row. He will certainly be looking for his sixth and also for his second win. As always his team is strong, making him again one of the favourites. Will he be able to extend his amazing record or will he fail under the pressure? Predictions: Top-9 stages 3, 6, 7 ,Podium GC
  
   Greenride
   Last season Manager Raimundas' dream was fulfilled with winning both GC and YC. He decided to sell his team and start again, but he wanted to win the YC with Gualter Matos one more time. So after dismantling his former team, he bought some 'old uncles', to support Matos this time. Although it looks like the support for Matos isn't as good as last season, you might be wrong there, as he is the solo captain this time, giving him full support of a team that is still not to be called weak.
   Predictions: top-9 stages 3, 6, 7, Podium YC
  
   The Doomsday Bunnies
   The team from St. Lucia have won the Volta in the past with Damario Crusellas, but now they have a new sprout to lead their team. Robert Lefevre is their captain for this seasons Volta. He isn't one of my favourites for a stage win or GC, but he is a great contender for the YC. Predictions: a top-9, Podium YC
  
   Cider Riders
   A TT-squad will try to get manager CiderJ a result. I see no other chace for them than in the TT's, but you can never rule out break away's. Maybe one of Ciders riders is this years lucky BA winners. Predictions: Podium stage 9, top-9 stages 1, 5
  
   Indurain team
   To be honest with you, this team shouldn't be here. Because of a bug and some misunderstanding, both Greenride and this team signed up using Morais's wildcard. But the Portuguese crowd will certainly forgive the team for that, as they give their home-favourite a second chance to shine on the roads of Portugal. He hasn't got the great support he had with Greenride, but is still one of the clear favourites. Predictions: Podium stage 3, 6, 7 ,Podium GC
  
   Leukefans
   The team will try to make it to the podium again with last years second place, Casper Jill and the SC is also within his reach. One slight disadvantage is that he won't have TF. Will that cost him his results? Only time will tell Predictions: Top-9 stages 2, 4, 8, top-9 GC,
  
  blast
   The Argentinian team will try to surprise like they did in Nederlandse with Celso Leitão, but for the TT'er it will be hard to survive the mountains. That won't stop him from getting his results in the TT stages though, and a break away is always a possibility. With Jan Thomsen they could have a contender for the SC, but with Leitão as

first captain his chances are not as big as they could have been. Is this a tactical error, as you don't need TM's in a TT and Leitão is only a TT'er, or will it prove to be a golden idea and surprise us with a good GC. I think the first, but the home fans will certainly hope the second. Predictions: Podium stages 1, 5, 9 Top-9 stages 2, 4, 8, 10
  
   EpoTopTeam
   The Dutch team does not only travel to Portugal with their beloved doping, but also with a seriously good sprinter, Spiridon Apetri. The Romanian will try his best to surprise the Beast, but with less support and less experience it will be very hard task. Predictions: Podium stages 2, 4, Top-9 stages 8, 10
  
   Velo Kiwi
   Angus Whitlock will be their captain and with an 55av, support of great rider like Tamati Lima and Iosia Nepia, the is a dangerous outsider for the GC. If he has some luck in the TT's, he could surprise with a great GC. As I like New-Zealanders, he is certainly the one I will be cheering for Predictions: could be in the top-9 of every stage, Podium GC
  
   Peleton Pushers
   Like last year, Eli Rictor will try to get some results in the TT-stages, but the team also has a captain for the GC this year, Danilo Ilha. I don't give him a single chance, but it would not be the first time I 'm surprised. Predictions: Podium stages 1, 5, 9
  
   Rode Stier
   We have another YC contender here with Rodolf Leezer. He will try to make the difference in the mountains, in which he is has a good chance of succeeding. His team will without of doubt try to give him wings in the TT-stages, that usually ake the difference between a top ranking or a wasted tour. Predictions: Top-9 stages 3, 6, 7, Podium YC
  
   superduke
   The final team to make the sign-up in time was this Dutch TT team. It won't be hard to guess what their goals are for this tour and they have the team to reach them. Predictions: a podium in a TT-stage, at least one Top-9 in every TT-stage
  
   My predictions given with those beautiful stars:
   GC:
   ****: Gilberto Morais
   ***: Angus Whitlock, Chris Bauwens
   **: Casper Jill, Guálter Matos, Goddard Scothern
   *: Robert Lefevre, Rodolf Leezer, Ludovico Raposo, The Rider I'Ve Forgotten
  
   SC:
   ****: Lean Ahnfeldt-Mollerup
   ***: Phillip Plagge, Spiridon Apetri
   **: Jan Thomsen, Casper Jill, Kristoph Villumsen
   *: Goddard Scothern, Boje Damm, The GC contenders, TRIVF
  
   YC:
   ***: Guálter Matos
   **: Robert Lefevre, Rodolf Leezer
   *: Felipe Maximiliano, Sevastian Torrens, Kim Pugh, TRIVF
  
   PLEASE don't take anything I predict seriously, as I not only don't know who's got TF at the moment I write this, but also have got very little knowledge about race tactics. All I write is written with my knowledge and it could very well be that I miss a brilliant tactic and say your rider sucks. Sorry if that happened.
  
  
  
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   Written by pundit Don Hamstre from
  don hamstre team to OCM Magazine