This season's edition of the American Tour has ironically been named the Race of the Last Minutemen. The preparations of the teams were disrupted by a huge scandal. Even before the start of the race one team was discovered as using doping. Dr. Impellitieri has admitted that one or more teams that signed up for this years edition of RotM have made use of his expertise in the near history. Following a huge investigation it was discovered that the African team named Coffee Company was the team that Dr. Impellitieri was referring to. Therefore the entire team has been suspended from cycling. As a result a clean Japanese team was allowed to join in the last minute. Now, despite all the rumours, the Race of the Minutemen is about to start.
  
  
  
   Vientiane Cycling
  Their manager has already compared his team to Team Sky, and this means the expectations are high. With Gorden as captain and Keovilay as a team mate, this team has two of the best climbers in the tour. The other team mates provide decent support, and therefore Amos Gorden has to be considered an outsider to win this years edition of RotM. Since Keovilay is a team mate in this tour it is not expected that he will be a contender for the YC.
  
  
   Ron Cycling Team
  Has a very talented young rider as their captain. Timoteo Gavaldon might have a lack of experience, but what he lacks in experience he makes up in skills. Just recently he has won the Criterium the la Grasse Classic. With Fabian Sauer among his team mates and a green triangle he should be able to contend for a top-9 . Furthermore, Gavaldon is surely a contender for the YC.
  
  
   VC Botafogo
  Brings the clear favourite to this years edition of RotM. His name is already famous: Tom Bella. The Aussie with an average of 57 does not have his expected green triangle but he is still considered to be the big favourite. With team mates like Elizondo and Filatov this team does not lack support either. A minor downturn, Bella has not yet been the true winner you would expect from his skills. Still we think Bella is the main contender for the GC/YC. And he might even win the SC as well.
  
  
   BurgerQueens
  Is in for the TT’s in RotM. His captain Henrich Orum would have been the big favourite for the first time trial, but unfortunately he got injured while preparing for RotM.
  Orum’s injury will probably mean that this team will not really be competing for anything in this tour. We expect them to try breakaways during the stages, but with all the big shots present in this tour the chance of a successful breakaway seems limited.
  
  
   Sons of the Desert
  Not the most intriguing team in this years tour, but they have a solid sprinting squad.
  This team is returning to the Race of the Minuteman and they had a good edition last year with Kim Madsen finishing 1st in stage 2 and 3rd in stage 6. Furthermore he also ended up 2nd in the Sprinting Classification. Considering the lack of competition for these stages he might be able to provide his team with similar results this year.
  
  
   Teamsi
  Mentzer is absent

due to a injury and that is unfortunate cause he might have been the fourth young gun in this years edition of RotM. Even without Mentzer teamsi is able to field a decent squad which should be able to grab some top-3 finishes. We think that Carderas, the reigning Columbian champion, is the big favourite for stage 2, and he might be able to contend for the Sprint Classification if he has a good finish in stage 6.
  
  
   Twente Cycling Team
  Although this team has some very nice riders it seems that they are suffering from a failure to attract the green fairy. Fabia was to be their captain but the failed attempt to reach topform made the teams manager change his mind. Therefore Hallkvist is their captain. Hallkvist isn’t in great shape either, but due to the lack of competition in the time trials he is still the most likely candidate to win Mt. Washington ITT.
  
  
   Velo Club Bored Man
  The Captain that is going to compete in RotM for this team does not suit his team name at all! Mister Harrold is far from boring with his aggressive style of cycling, this rider does not let any opportunity go to waste when it comes to getting results. His manager expects a top-3 classification in the GC and that might be a realistic expectation. Harrold lacks TF and perhaps a bit of support, but on his own this rider should still be capable to get results in this seasons edition of RotM.
  
  
   TheRhys
  Ebersold and Mulligan will be present for yet another tour. Wherever they go Mulligan and Ebersold are always among the top favourites. Yet this status has not paid of for them in tours. They have competed in many tours but in general this duo has not been able to impress in them. The main question is: Will this years edition of RotM be another disappointment for the Americans, or will Mulligan finally be able to make a impact in his home-countries tour?
  
  
   EixampleATH
  This team probably has the strongest squad with riders like Taveira, Welling, De Meulder and Visoovsky. All of these riders should be capable of scoring results in Rotm. This time Taveira has been chosen as the sole captain because he is in top-form. Since Jirion has already agreed to a deal for Taveira right after RotM this will probably be Taveira’s last opportunity to score for his current team. With his topform and the support he should be able to finish in the top-5 of the GC.
  
  
   ekaitz team
  This team from Spain heavily relies on the time trial in this tour. They can do this because they have Turkish specialist Demirhan Tuncay.
  Stage one and five are im portant for this team. Maybe Wagner can surprise the rest on stage four when the finish at Mount Jefferson.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Cyclomotiv
  Olivier Wittendorp is the star of this team. And he is a great climber. Only 24 years old and already a seasoned winner of races.
  The only problem he has at the moment is a shortage of team mates. But he has the skills to become a winner in this Race of the Minutemen.

  
  
   Beardy Bikers
  The French team of Beardy Bikers are a fully equipped team for this tour. Some great team mates accompany Pablo Cousin to America.
  Their team spirit is very high and they will go for a result or two in the stages and a top three in the General Classification.
  
  
   speedyb
  All American squad speedyb sends a team with balls. And the rider with the biggest balls is Jonathan Bullock. Very good in the hilly areas he wants to become the first American rider to win the tour of the minutemen. The team might lack in support as only half of the team is trained. An occasional break away attempt is also expected from speedyb's riders.
  
  
   Team Albatros
  adamborch sends his Danish team to America with the young Danish captain Udo Grau. A reasonable climber that can race against the clock. This rider might hang on all the way and surprise the favourites in the timetrial uphill. Can he make enough time there to upset the fans or is this team just mere filling?
  
  
   Super Velo
  American team number three. Not all American but only half. Bruce Thomason is the captain and he is a great sprinter. They want to win the second and the last race, as these are two flat stages.
  The team is well prepared but they look tired. We fear a top 9 in the stages is all that will be achieved.
  
  
   Joss
  Brasilian wonderboy Scahisi is ready. And not just ready, but super ready. He is in top form and wants to win this tour. Great up hill and he can ride against the clock. His top form will make him one of the biggest favourites. This rider will bring the jersey to Norway and Brasil. Watch out it is DS time.
  
  
   WalrusPT
  From Russia with love. That is what WalrusPT is, coming from Perm where Brendan Huynh finished a good 4th place in the General Classification. They have what it takes to become good. He still has top form. Will he shine in USA instead of Russia or will he finish just outside the podium again? They are tired. Another fourth place it will be.
  
  
   BCTeam
  Italian BCTeam will go for the time trial this tour. They have a climber as their captain but Theodoor Langenbach will fail support and class. Gilian de Schutter is their best hope for a nice result this tour. Maybe even wear the leaders jersey at the first day.
  
  
   Godzilla
  The Last Minute Men. When the coffee was spilled the empty seat was taken by this Japanese team. Danek Kiik is their man. A rider that can do everything except race against the clock. With four Japanese the surely promote Japanese cycling but, we fear it will be not an optimistic show. More a motivational effort that you can join a tour even when you are from Japan. We wish them the best, and hope they do have fun.
  
  
  
   Written by freelancer Pha That Luang from Vientiane Cycling to the OCMagazine