Another hilly tour, another review. This team I interviewed the managers and they gave me a catchphrase and their expectations. Here they are:
  
   Asymm Project: 'Amazingly high average AV for our team, hoping it does the trick.'
  
   'I've signed up to win the race with Husain. It suits him perfectly.'
   Essex tour might suit Husain perfectly, it suits lots of other riders even more perfect. So the GC win Holger wants will be very hard to get. His biggest weapon in the fight for the GC: His TT-skils, which are better than most hillers, while his hilling skills are higher than the TT GC favourite.
   Holgers surprise tip: Arfan Husian (if he's considered a surprise)
  
   Yuri SuperTeam:'We are a Team that would even make Superman proud!'
  
   'I signed the Tour to try to get a good Top9 finish. I do think a Top3 is possible and that would be perfect. We're also looking for a Top3 in the last stage'
   Sijmonds wants to beat the odds again. After nearly succeeding in being the first pure sprinter to win Vuelta SC, he will try to get a Top3 in this competitive hillers tour. Can he follow in the footsteps of The Beast and win?
   Yuri's surprise tip: Redman beating Montelbano
  
   Quick Step Minded:'We are underdogs, so nothing to lose, all to win'
  
   'It wasn't my intention to sign up, but 3 hours after the sign up opened there were still a few spots left, so I decided to sign up. I'm going for BA in the first stage, and a top-9 in 2nd and 3rd stage'
   With good TT'ers like Van Zeggeren and Stuyck, and sprinter Van de Put as captain, QSM has a very good chance of meeting their expectations. Will their decision to sign up un-planned work out?
   QSM's surprise tip: Farley Redman
  
   peddelen: 'BA,BA,BA,BA'
  
   It's clear what their goal is in Essex this year. So nothing more to say about them.
   Pete's surprise tip: BA
  
   Crackmasters: 'Crackmasters are ready to show that we are old but not extinct.'
  
   'Wanted to take a crack at a top division tour. We are not expecting any GC or Climbing results but maybe a top nine place or two in the TT stage would be a nice suprise'
  
   The Americans will try winning Stage 2, and have some old-uncle TT'ers to do the job.
   But with notorious overperformer Jim Ingels, they might have their best shot at a podium, or has he lost his magic after moving to the USA?
  
   Unus Cline's surprise tips: Jakob Rachlin, Elton Lonergan
  
   duvelke:'The team not to be caught in a catchphrase'
  
   'My expectations are rather low as I don't have a TT-er with tour talent. My ambition is to take as much as possible in the 2 stages with Klaus Villyn an Arcilio Olaio. As TTs are sometimes a lottery, so they might surprise in classifications.'
   They might surprise, but they have to be very lucky to do that. With Klaus Villyn they have a very decent hiller, but it's a real shame he isn't TT-centered.
   Duvelke was surprised about: Klostergard appearing to be better than The Beast
  
   Die Tour Phantome:'Former Fast on Wheels winner Reginald Haney will try his luck in the English hills'
   'Why did I sign up? Hey, it's a tour. They are the

most fun of OCM. Goal is top 9 in the TT and/or GC with Haney'
   Reginald Haney has won Fast on Wheels with his TT skils, so why not Essex Tour? Alexx will want to get revenge for his disastrous Vuelta, will he get it here?
   Alexx's surprise tip: Urbano Menem
  
   Kremer:Best hilly team EVAH!!!! BEST TEAM EVER!!!
  
   'As all of you know, I count being 2nd as a failure. I failed enough times in this tour so far. I have finished this tour as 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th. I wanna victory finally! Drimalas deserved win in this tour! He is the best and he brought the best team with him this time'
   I personally think he will fail again. But I also personally thought Joep van Deudekom was de Mol and he clearly wasn't, so I might be wrong again (I don't think many of you know Joep nor de Mol and therefore won't have a clue where I was talking about, but you should have a clue)
   Wojciu won't be surprised if: Drimilas wins
  
   Drapeau Noir:”What you call luck is what we call strategy”
  
   Essex Tour is the only tour where I had several deceptions (including missing it because of a signup hour completely messed up). So I’m going there with a very weak captain: I don’t expect much of Liuni, who is defintely not a hiller, so he can’t disappoint me (although he has got great support of Hyder and Wolfs)!
   My sprinter, Buchinx, will try to get a top9 in the last stage.
  
   Liuni is again not really my favourite. It would however be more of a surprise if he failed, because he never fails. We'll see what he does this time
  
   Delion's surprise tip: Sokolowski on podium of the YC
  
   ABK: 'WAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!'
  
   'The goal is to get at least a top 9 in GC. It will be hard to get a top three like last season'
   With the Beast as your Lead Out or team mate, you really should get a podium. So if Klostergard doesn't perform, I will be very disappointed in him!
   Andreas' surprise tip: Urbano Menem
  
   WV de Dommel:'A HL&CL oriented team that strives for eternal glory (jerseys & trophees)'
  
   ' Menem goes for the yellow and nothing else'
   Marc very much enjoys his old uncle project, so he has signed up with oldie Menem in this tour. Menem has got some amazing qualities, but will he still have the energy to perform at his best at the age of 33?
   Marc's surprise tip: Green Shrek from Noppes (aka Bard Shkreli)
  
   Team Trier: 'Up, up and away!!!'
  
   ' Roel Beetens is very exited about his first tour, we know he's no match for the climbers, but on the hills...
   We're hoping for a strong start and to dominate on the first stage and hope for the best on the following stages'
   Beetens is a very promising young talent. I'm sure he will perform well in his first tour (if he remains healthy) It's a shame there's no jersey for the Youth Classification, because Beetens would be one of the clear favourites to win it.
   Trier's surprise tip: Roel Beetens
  
   Matrix team: 'A team lead by Montelbano and built for Montelbano'
  
   'I signed up in this tour to defend Montelbano double crown, nothing else. But i know it will be very hard, so a podium would sound like a victory to me. and a podium in the TT stage too of course'
   The competition is hard, but Montelbano seems to me

like the only man who could win Essex Tour three times. There won't be another YC victory though...
   Thomas' surprise tips: Montelbano not winning, or Kremer winning his first Essex
  
   Red Star:'Red Star, the norwegian power house lead by top sprinter Rytis Kondratas.'
   'Red Star..
   has a good history at Essex. YC, GC and stage victories. Last year, the team took 2 out of 3 stages.'
   Big words of manager Petter, if they mean he expects to win 2 out of three again. Or does he just want to put his team under pressure so that they won't get lazy?
   Petter's surpise tip:Reginald Haney
  
   TACXkin: 'Just wanted to make my young talents suffer...'
   'Hope to get them all at the finish...'
   I will be hoping that with him. OCM's top-cobbling team will not try winning anything, and will hopefully get what they want. No injuries.
   Wesp's surprise tip: Koenraad van Loen (personal note from DHT: wow, he's truly amazing, certainly my favourite :p)
  
   Gradient Levellers: 'Born in Essex but can't seem to win races there.'
  
   'Haven't missed our home tour for many seasons now and have come 2nd in the last 2 seasons in Essex. I still have a small hope for the Gold jersey but Montelbano will be very hard to beat.' (personal note from DHT: this quote was made before Redman won Vuelta)
   Tim is being a bit pessimistic about his chances. Redman is certainly one of the favourites. I hope he will win his home tour and get pole position for Tour Rider of the Year Award.
   Tim's surprise tip: Reginald Haney
  
   NECFTW: 'Shrek and his merry men'
  
   'I signed up because I could and wanted to. I expect to do better than last season (6th) and hope to finish on the podium once again, 7 seasons after the infamous Marinus van Someren did. Shrek is in the form of his life and the first stage fits him like a glove. We just hope we bought the winning lottery ticket for the TT...'
  
   Lusitano
  
   With Boaventura being a good sprinter, they should get a podium in stage three. Will they gat it?
  
   omega pharma lotto
   'Top9 in stage 1 and hopefully the GC for Ilic'
  
   While real life omega pharma got great results in Quatar, this team was preparing for as tour in rainy Essex. With Florian Ilic, they have a dangerous outsider. Will a German win the battle of Britain?
  
   Contador's surprise tip: Florian Ilic
  
   Connaught
  
   Jordy Wekenburg is a very good hiller, so the team could surprise on their home turf. Will the jersey stay in England?
  
   Predictions
  
   GC: 64% of the managers who voted thinks Montelbano wins
   only 11% for Drimilas, Klostergard and Redman
  
   YC: Beetens is the clear favourite with only two of the managers who voted not voting for him. They voted for Rachlin and Tungate
  
   Again a big thankls to all managers who responded!
  
  
  
  Feature: Clickable Team Names!
  
  
  
   Written by pundit Don Hamstre from don hamstre team to the OCMagazine