It's nearly that time of year again when some of the best tour teams gather in Perm, Russia to see who can fit the winners jersey on the Kama River bank. As Perm use to be called Molotov, it's only to be expected that it will be another explosive event with lots of twists and turns.
The first team to sign up was EricV who has their hopes set on the young American Cody Bright. Although his manager has no high hopes for Cody, we still think he will do well in stage 2, but we think he'll fall short for a top9 in the GC.
The Albanian formation Albatros seems one of the weaker teams present and they have to have some very good luck to do better then their 10th spot in Monte Rosa's GC. Honestly, we don't see it happen and their best shot is to go in breakaways.
Freek van der Werff is back and rumor has it he will have top form both for Cymru Taith and Perm. He is definitely one of the contenders for the GC and having won Perm before he has the experience that could make all the difference. We hope for Burren Connemara Freek stays in the saddle these tours.
Optimus Prime is taking German sprinter Heinrich Matthaus to Perm. Although his top form will be running out before we start in Ochjor, he's still one of the main contenders for the SC. The lack of climbing skills (or climbing support) rules him out for the GC.
ScotterPop hopes to win stage 4 with Diedrich Rinzema but we think manager Scott should be happy with a top3 in this stage. He does have nice support for the first stage with Borges but we doubt that's enough to get onto the podium.
Jude Evans from Cremtec is back in Perm to defend his title but the lack of top form and the fact he's racing in Cymru makes his manager lower expectations. Top 9 GC should definitely be possible and I consider Evans as an outsider for top 3.
Another sprinter team entered Perm with PEKAC B. Their captain for Perm, Duardo Salgada, has some good hill skills too and this makes him the favorite for the SC. If he survives stage 2 he might even surprise the GC contenders but he doesn't seem to have the teammates to push him up the Ural Mountains.
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Last season Hermann Herzog from Rantaplan came into Perm Tour after winning the Tour of Hawaii. This year he finished second there so his form looks similar to last years. He might get a stage result in stages 1 or 4 but competition for the SC seems a little too strong for him to compete.
SilenceLotteFan brings a very experienced team to Perm with windbreaker Maciel as their youngest rider (29). Yannick De Craene is captain for the oldies and a top9 in the GC should be possible.
The second Dutch team, Oekiewakkie, brings young star Felipe Maximiliano and finally wants to be on the highest podium spot in a YC. After coming third in the YC in Porto and Cymru in S22 and second in Porto this season, he now wants to take the jersey home. Top form means he's definitely the favorite for the YC and he a contender for the GC.
After all the problems they faced last year it's a wonder CGPBMARCH still wants to travel to Russia to race. Gustavo Fejos is their captain and with Colin Turner they have a YC top 3 candidate. The team lacks TT centered tour riders but the more then $150.000 in their bank account might change that quickly.
Eliot Wacker returns to Perm with IndieRock and wants to do better then last year. Although Wacker was once considered a major hill talent, he still has to deliver results and he might just start now. Top 9 GC should be a absolute minimum for him.
Erik Van Engelen from POM Wonderful is still only 23 years old and will compete once again for the YC where he came second last year. The winner of the Sprint Jersey of S22 will be fighting on all fronts and although good results are definitely possible, we don't see him taking home another jersey this season.
Frenchman Brendan Huynh from WalrusPT has some of the best climbing support in this tour and he should be the favorite for stage 2 and who knows for the GC as he's in good shape. With Teles, Rosa and Riviere they also have three contenders for the YC but for this, they must gain enough time in stage 2 because none of them has the TT skills some of the other YC contenders have.
Auro team had two
| | riders in the top9 last season and with Bernardo mejia for stage 2 and Rik Roosendael for stage 3 they will definitely be in the picture again, but neither of them is considered a major contender for the GC.
PRS is an English sprinter team with a Portuguese captain for this Tour. Ildefonso Avelar might do well in stage 4, but competition might prove a little too tough. After competing in MRT last season PRS does seem to become more familiar with division 3 tours so this is reassuring for manager Pete.
Old Time Racing Club hopes to get a good result in stage 2 with Jacob Roberts, although Dutchman Thomas Hummel looks stronger. Top 9 GC is a possibility if everything goes their way.
The nr. 6 of last seasons Tour, Viktor Bertovic from Croatian Ponika, is back to do better. He took the team back from division 4 so he could show everybody he is a good tour rider. Our prediction? Stage result in stage 2 and top 9 GC.
NightmareChaos is back with their manager Finz, their captain Slavomil Dittrich and most important, their PR Nikita who might distract some of the competitors with her stunning looks. Dittrich has promised to stay on his bike this year and he is regarded as the mean contender for the GC. Let's see whether or not this years everything goes according to plan.
The last team to sign up for this years Perm Tour was AKROBATE. They bring their young Dutchman Staas Grommers to compete for the YC. With Dalius Mikaitas they also have a good time trialist who will definitely be up there in stage 3.
Predictions:
GC : Freek van der Werff and Slavomil Dittrich will battle it out. Lots of outsiders this year with Huynh, Maximilliano, Evans, Wacker, Bertovic and Roosendael as main threads.
YC : Maximilliano has to be favorite, but he has to look out for Van Engelen, Bright en Grommers.
SC : Optimus Prime has with Roberts and Matthaus two very strong sprinters who could both take the jersey home. Competition will come from Salgada and Herzog.
Written by freelancer Cremtec from Cremtec to the OCMagazine
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