Written By Crmetec of Cremtec
  
  In between Cymru Taith and the Race of the Minuteman it is the time of year to visit Russia for Perm Tour. And this edition looks to become an interesting one as a few surprises already occurred even before we have started. No Finz, Nikita or Dittrich this year as NightmareChaos could not sign up. Although the last seasons Dittrich could not live up to expectations, he was always one of the pre-race favourites. Another pre-race favourite for the last five seasons and one that did deliver results is not allowed to captain his team this year. Read more to find out who we are talking about!
  
   Rostam Sirjani will captain Team Oasis, probably the strongest team in this years' edition of Perm Tour. Sirjani has heaps of experience riding in tours and with results in Race of the Minutemen, Monte Rosa Tour, Cymru and the Volta he is eager to add Perm to this list. Definite candidate for the podium and perhaps even favourite for the top spot.
  
   Velo Kiwi signed up with Angus Whitlock as their captain. Manager David however claims he messed up Whitlocks topform but I still consider him one of the contenders, especially if you have a look at his domestiques Tamati Lima and Isosio Nepia.
  
   Evans is back. After three podium spots in a row and after bringing home one jersey a year for the last four seasons in Perm manager Cremtec ca not hide the fact anymore that people consider him a favourite. No top form though and he might lack some support for the king stage.
  
   The winner from last season is back! Manager Danenberg from Oekiewakkie hopes Felipe Maximiliano can defend his title, even though he misses top form this year. With the experience gained last year he might come far but we can not see him riding home in another purple jersey.
  
   No Tom Bella for VC Botafogo in this tour. Is he recharging? So Ukrainien Gerasim Filatov will have a crack at it. He only just turned 25 and therefore still eligible for the YC. Although team manager Pele claims he has no expectations we still consider Filatov a real, and perhaps only, contender for the YC.
  
   English Sprinting Team with Lambert Scown made the SC as their goal. Same line up as for the Rotterdam Classic. His leadout train still needs some work, but if Scown reaches his topfrom as promised he should be in with a good chance for the Perm Parade.
  
   PEKAC B is in Perm for one reason only, to get that sprinters jersey. The winner of the first stage last season, Duardo Salgada, has just won the Tour of Hawaii and his topform will continue for a while so he is the man to beat in the first and last stage of Perm this season.
  
   Onie's captain for Perm, Nicolaas Arnolds, is an experienced sprinter and surrounded by a great team. If he can hold on in the king stage he might even be an outsider for the GC but their main aim should be the SC and perhaps one or two top nine's in the timetrial with Mulder and Ruano.
  
   Pekarna Grosuplje brings Timotej Adamec, the Slovakian captain, to Perm and is together with Salgada the main favourite for stage one. The Parade should be another possibility for a podium spot but I am afraid with the competition from Salgada, Arnolds and Scown the SC might be out of reach.
  
   Team Red Gold Green is back and aims for the SC with the best skilled rider in this tour,

Maas de Wolf. The team only made it to third division just in time to sign up and the riders have been performing for weeks now so if they can keep this form up de Wolf might get some stage results in the first and last one and Yushua in the timetrial.
  
   WalrusPT with Frenchman Brendan Huynh in the best climbing squad so they should do well in stage two. He finished fourth in Perm last season and has had results in the GC of Race of the Minutemen and Monte Rosa Tour. Tomas Rosa, one of the young domestiques, can be an outsider for the YC.
  
   EricV brings Robert Thomas to Perm. Thomas has had a great season so far with three results in the Volta (first, second and third) and two other wins. He has some good support too for the mountains so if he can break away from the peloton in stage two he might have a chance to bring home the GC.
  
   Hartley Rich comes to Perm again but team manager Hur from Ocana is not too optimistic about his chances. Looking at his past results we must agree that for a guy with those stats he is not living up to the expectations. This season, we wish Ocana, he can top the sixth place in the GC from a couple of seasons ago.
  
   Cyclocomotiv is built around Dutchman Olivier Wittendorp. Too bad for him he is just too old to compete in the YC but he can do well in the GC with his decent climbing skills combined with a good technique and the ability to push on the flat. The reason why we do not consider him a favourite? He still has to prove he has what it takes in tours. Besides one first place in a Minutemen stage, his record in tours is still empty.
  
   Noe Rubio from Designa Legends PPDB made the step up from division seven team ukulele and has the chance now to prove himself in tours. Jaroslav plays down expectations but with his skills he should at least aim for the top nine GC or even higher. Might miss some support in the king stage. Ulrich Orsted is their hope for the timetrial.
  
   Julius Creemers is Pro Cycling Manager's hope for a result in stage four. He is a bit of an odd sprinter with his high technical skills. With Westby they also have a contender for the timetrial.
  
   Beardy Bikers comes to Russia with Pablo Cousin as their captain. A result in stage two is possible. After his second place in the GC of Race of the Minutemen last season nobody will underestimate him!
  
   Team Revolutie comes to Perm with a living legend, Jens Waesbergen. Although he would have topform we do not think he stands a chance for the SC considering his age and competition. But the thing with legends is that you never know...
  With Anastasio Mamita and Gudmund Foss the team has two of the favourites for the timetrial as well.
  
   Pomada is in with Carlino Laino, a 32 year old, Italian allrounder. Although he has some support for the king stage, I think competition will prove too strong so anything he can take from Perm will be a bonus.
  
   Burren Connemara is in with... Drew Weiss??? Surely this must be a mistake? What? It is not? Although he should have TF according to manager Cillian Cassidy we can't see him winning the SC, let alone contend the GC. Up to him to prove us wrong.
  Awesome support though with Freek van der Werf who finished on the podium for the last five seasons!!!