written by Elliotone of Team Kernow
  
  So here I am, I do not exactly know how, but I find myself in Portugal after all, facing the beautiful and imposing, Grand Hotel Oporto. I would love to say that the lovely publisher of the OCM magazine had booked me a room in this five star establishment, but unfortunately he is not that lovely. Instead I have a date, with someone, who I am informed will give me a detailed low down on this seasons Volta ao Porto.
  
  As the hotel room door swings open, I see an instantly recognizable smile, "So your my blind date", "I must admit I have had better looking dates, Keegan", I replyed. After a warm embrace and handshake, I was instantly taken aback, because sitting down, talking amongst themselves, was almost a who is who, of past Volta's. Yasir Sahir, Herbert Andersson, Noe Bello, Ian Defley and Knut Pave were all sitting down comfortable on sofas.
  It took me a second or two to realize myself, firstly because I wondered how the OCM magazine, could afford this and then secondly what a great team this bunch would make, although choosing a captain would be troublesome.
  After exchanging handshakes I sat down facing them, ready to proceed with the interview.
  
  Elliotone: "So who will win, Volta ao Porto, edition fourteen."
  
  Defley: "God!"
  
  Bello: "Gilberto!"
  
  Pave: "Goddard Scothern!"
  
  Elliotone: "Come on guys, you gotta give me more than that."
  
  Shiable: "You can tell they sent an amateur here, a proper journalist questions would be less close-ended."
  
  I interupt the sniggers.
  
  Elliotone: "Ok lets start again, I name a team, you tell me who to watch out for, their chances etc..., indulge me, you are being paid, right?, so Penendal Racing."
  
  Yasir Sahir: "Who?, no just joking. This is a first tour for them, Reinier van der Sar is a young talent there, and they have a couple of nice timetrial specialists, I believe."
  
  Elliotone: "Riemer Veneberg and Mracskó Zsolt
  
  Yasir Sahir: "Yes, ok chances in the timetrials stages, and maybe a top nine for Reinier van der Sar."
  
  Elliotone: "rooney17, who would like to give me the low down here?"
  
  Knut Pave: These guys are the weaker of the two Danish teams enrolled. Will rely heavily on Afanasy Tyannikov timetrial ability, he has had success in the Race of the Minutemen, despite stiff competition, I would not put a stage result or two behind him.
  
  Elliotone: Los Sprinters Locos
  
  Herbert Andersson: More like Los Climbers Locos these days, they have been in Portugal already for a while in preperation, Floris Zenden is one to watch, a complete mad man on the descent."
  
  Knut Pave: "Yer I would like to add Zenden. Good prospect here."
  
  Elliotone: "One of OCM oldest active teams, Darkwave Recordings.
  
  Keegan Shiable: "The old villain is back, at 35 and still going strong, although Kristoph Villumsen has hinted that this might be his last tour. Can not see any improvement with last season's second place in the sprint competition, unfortunately."
  
  Elliotone: "Hard Gaat Ie
  
  Knut Pave:"Marius Lassen is as comfortable sprinting as he is climbing, has good allround ability, however he lacks courage, to be able to compete for overall classification, any success will come from the squads timetrial specialists or in the sprints."
  
  Elliotone: "Fancy en-lightening us on Conero cycling team, Noe?"
  
  Bello: "I was hoping not, my mother always told me to say nothing, if I have nothing nice to say."
  
  Elliotone: "That bad? "
  
  Bello: "It is a credit to the manager, that they have reached it to this level of competition."
  
  Elliotone: "OK, Finlands

Finest - Faustus"
  
  Defley: um, an experienced team, much depends on Nalinda Mallawathanthre."
  
  Shiable: "I am impressed with that prenunciation, I wonder if he has improved his time trial abilities."
  
  Defley: "Yes, could be a dark horse, if the hard work has been put in at the time trial center."
  
  Elliotone: "I hear Wryen at Luveaucek is looking to top the sprinting classification."
  
  Bello: "Definately, Mikuláš Malina will be team captain, had a poor season last year, however has already won in Lyon this season, so looking like he should be a real sprinting contender.
  
  Elliotone: "Another one for you Noe, Wizzyweb. "
  
  Bello: Had a good Volta last season, however Chester Frier, has been transfered on to Greenride and his replacement Alain Verduijn, has not as yet made an impact, repeating a stage win this time round, it is hard to picture.
  
  Elliotone: "I hear Rabo utrecht CT have a very young climber as there captain, I know how you admire climbers of incredible ability Shiable."
  
  Shiable: "Well lifes a lot easier when you have Jesus on your side, could even be God vs Jesus. On the positive, Milan has added some experienced riders, to help in the mountains, however a split team with a couple of sprinters, may prove costly."
  
  Defley: "I have no faith, I don't believe in Jesus."
  
  Elliotone: "Thanks for that Defley, how is your faith in SilenceLotteFan."
  
  Defley: "High, very high, clever manager Brecht, picked up some very good climbers and assembled a superb team, I am a fan of Marcus Haussler and I know you know the talents of Isadoro Xerez."
  
  Elliotone: "Yes unfortunatly I had to let him go."
  
  Defley: "Great support, Maruyama Dai should win the Youth Competition.
  
  Elliotone: "General Classification."
  
  Defley: "No, not this season, maybe podium."
  
  Elliotone: "EricV."
  
  Herbert Andersson: "May I?..., American Robert Thomas was an awesome find, been in top form recently winning in Turkey, he will be looking to continue it as far as he can into Volta. Another yank Cody Bright, would make captain in many a team here.... . Sorry you want a prediction..., top 9 in the General Classification.
  
  Elliotone: "Sahir are you still here? Team Oasis, how do you rate their prospects?"
  
  Sahir: "Excellent team, which is well organized by the manager Nooky, I like the way that he is not afraid to try new things, mix things up (team mates, Rostam Sirjani and Erwin Geitz, have both podiumed in past tours). Recent recruit Mas''ud Qutaiba is captain, he is 34, so might be his last tour outing as a captain, but his age doesn't concern me, what does, is his tour history, has a much better track record in day races and classics. I would love him to win though.
  
  Elliotone: "CGPBMARCH, Pave?"
  
  Pave: "I always wondered about there name, what does it mean?"
  
  Elliotone: "How about the team riders and prospects?"
  
  Pave: "Sorry...., fairly under stated arrival here in Portugal, SoKoM has down played his riders chances, publicly saying that they are not in the best of shape. He could be doing this intentionally , but he did sound genuine to me. Captain Jamie Hagan is still waiting to make his OCM break through, despite his obvious talent, it would be nice to see him make it here.
  
  Elliotone: "Englands

Peloton Pushers!"
  
  Shiable: "Don't you mean team, Eli Rictor?. There actual captain is the unknown Turk, Sahin Volkan. Quite rightly they have left Sigurd Guldhammer and Hunter Sawyer at home, both fantastic riders but Volta does not suit them, which leads me back to why I called them team Eli Rictor, because he is their only chance of a result during this tour.
  
  Elliotone: "Cremtec."
  
  Herbert Andersson: "As I remember, they had a disappointing Volta a couple of seasons ago, but in Jude Evans, they should fair better this time round, if I was Cremtec I would be quietly optimistic, given Evans form and past tour performances, although too short in support to make podium."
  
  Elliotone: "Can you read my mind? - who is next, its The Killers."
  
  Defley: "What?"
  
  Elliotone: "Nevermind, Defley I know you would like to talk about Telstra, so how about Sahir."
  
  Sahir: Top nine for Roni Bosmans at best, not overly convinced, not sure how Noe would rate their sprinting chances but I feel overall their not strong enough to win stages or threaten the general leaders or the sprinting leaders."
  
  Bello: "I concur."
  
  Elliotone: "The three last prediction are for teams and riders which are former General champions, to begin with blast, who won with Celso Leitão seven seasons ago."
  
  Bello: "Do not forget this Portuguese legend, was on the podium last season, he has been consistent performer in tours, especially here, his native country."
  
  Shiable: "Its seems a life time since Celso Leitão, won the Colta and he still only 31!"
  
  Bello: "When did you win yours, three life times ago? "
  
  Pave: "No I can not count him out."
  
  Bello: "Can't count him out?, he is Gilberto's main challenger!"
  
  Defley: "Not the defending champion then?"
  
  Herbert Andersson: "May I?..., Celso Leitão has all the experience and ability to trouble anyone in this tour, possibly win it again, however in my opinion, both Goddard Scothern and Gilberto Morais will edge him.
  
  Elliotone: "Indurain team, Bello?"
  
  Bello: "The peoples rider, he is still hurting after being unable to defend his title, I have no doubt, he will right this wrong!"
  
  Defley: "Pfff, what wrong?"
  
  Knut: "Too close to call."
  
  Bello: "Have you seen his support, if it wasn't bad enough for his opponents already, look at the support he has!"
  
  Defley: "Oh yer, the might of Lichtenstein."
  
  Bello: "Awesome rider, Awesome home support, Awesome team support, Awesome victory!"
  
  Elliotone: "Defley -Telstra
  
  Defley: "I don't think the great man will be fazed by the home support, it hasn't hindered him in the past, I did think after a couple of average seasons, 21 and 22, his star might be on the wain, but I was more than proved wrong last season and I have no doubts, that he will become the first 3 times winner of the Volta."
  
  Bello: "Your wrong!"
  
  Defley: "I wasn't aware that you had any winning experience!"
  
  Bello: "I wasn't aware, you had!"
  
  Elliotone: "OK OK, lets keep this civil."
  
  Shiable: "Again, poor journalism."
  
  Herbert Andersson: "Thanks Kernow, but we got other press appointments, if you wanna stay behind to type up, your welcome to use the facilities here."
  
  Shiable: " Yer, help yourself, order a drink, we have!"
  
  I noticed several empty glasses on a table, outside on the balcony. I say goodbye to the guys and settle down, to try and collate my notes into a legiable article, when there is a knock at the door, "Would you like to settle up, sir".