Written by Rupon of Rupon CC
  
  A few days left for the start of the Race of the Minutemen and one hundred twenty brave cyclists from thirty three different countries are concentrated with their teams in some hotels near Concord in Massachusetts, trying to be in the best form possible. People in Concord are excited to welcome the cyclists every season. The tenth edition of Race of the Minutemen will be an exciting race with victories and defeats, joys and disappointments, crashes and injuries. But most of all, it will be full of enthusiasm, effort and a beautiful competition to achieve glory. Now it is time for the participating teams.
  
   DCM
  For this Swedish team, the tenth edition of RotM will be its first tour. They are a strong sprinting squad. Sebastiaan Pruischer will be the captain, very well supported by five good lead outs. They will fight for some stage results and and surely will be fighting to win Sprinting Classification.
  
  
  Rupon CC
  In his second tour after having previously participated in the Danish Fast on Wheels, all their hopes are deposited in a young Spanish rider named Abelardo Girón. He will try to do it good in stage two and six but there is much competition in sprints. Also they have Bernard Milters that will try to surprise in the mountain stages with a break away.
  
   THE DUTCHIES
  Again a sprinting squad, Thomas Bailey has nice chances in the second stage as a hill sprinter and also in stage six. They have a good set of lead outs, but we can not forget Sondre Tveit on the climbing stages. Definitely they will fight for at least a top three in the Sprinting Classification and nice results in the individual sprint stages.
  
   Twente Cycling Team
  For only two seconds Roman Petrescu did not win last edition of Fast on Wheels, now he arrived in the USA and he wants to win the General Classification this time.And he will be in Top Form, he is very good at climbing and at the timetrial. The mountain timetrial surely will be for him with Petrescu or Hållkvist. Hålkvist, last seasons number four will support Petrescu. We can say that they are one of the strongest squads.
  
   Supernutz
  Wesley Meadows has under his belt a Youth Classification victory, and a third and four position in past editions of his home tour. Now he will try to get on the podium again, for he has some good team mates. He will race at home and he will be motivated with the support from the local people.
  
   Britcycles This team got a real General Classification contender, his name: Karsten de Maerschalk. Unfortunately for him he will not be on Top Form because he had a few stomach bugs and he could not recover well. Nonetheless they expect good results in some stages especially in stage five and at least a top nine position in the General Classification.
  
   Treaty City CC
  Ireland is represented in the Race of the Minutemen by this climbing team. They will try to get the Youth Classification with Kehrwecker and Wilkin if he does not lose too much time in the timetrials. We can not forget that they have a few potential stage winners on the team.
  
   Storm Sandefjord
  Bjarte Petersen will be on Top Form and that makes him a serious candidate for the Sprinters Classification, his lack in experience will be a problem. Despite his youth, last season he won Fast on Wheels. Stages two and six adapt to their characteristics.
  
   Joss
  The last Race of the Minutemen winner Friedhelm Kuhlmey is here to revalidate his victory last season. He is one of the big favorites and he will be on Top Form but his best support will not be able to race because Dirceu Scahisi crashed in a race earlier and he is injured. Anyway this Norwegian team will

try to get his fourth top three position in the General Classification.
  
   Velo Club Bored Man
  If previously we presented the last winner, now it is time for the runner up of last season, the English rider, Fergus Harrold. His manager told us that his star will not be on Top Form but perfectly they can get a podium in the General Classification. He will fight to repeat the victory that he got two seasons ago.
  
   ekaitz team
  His climber Koert Zomer will try to get a good position in the GC. In the timetrial stages, Estebe Pimental has good chances to win and if he does not waste much time on the mountain he could get high into the Youth Classifcation. Due to his last transfers their team spirit is not very good.
  
   Teh Awesome
  The second Swedish team does not have chances for the General Classification but in the first stage Sas Çaglayan and Carl Aspengren can score very well. Maybe even wear the leaders jersey at the first day. On the other stages they will put riders in a break away looking for a stage win.
  
   jmtoler
  For this team this race will be to gain experience to prepare for the next Fast on Wheels. Second stage adapts to the characteristics of Eduardo Vasconcelos but in the rest of the tour they have no chances. The captain is not decided yet and it could be between Vasconcelos or Lanchbury.
  
   teamsi
  Hoping for top ten in the General Classifcation, with that thought they arrived here. With Mentzer as their strong man they will try to repeat what they did last season. They can get a podium in some stages with this good team.
  
   The Hippies
  Scottish rider Byron McVining is the best rider of this team and he could get some nice results in climbing stages and when everything goes perfect he can be in the top nine in the final General Classification. His lack of support is his main weakness.
  
   VogeltjeCycling
  Garcia Parilla is the man to consider in this team. Last edition he did really good, he finish seventh in the General Classification, top three in Sprinting Classfication and podium in some stages. This time his aim is to repeat and even improve.
  
   BCTeam
  This Italian squad will be lead by all-rounded Nari Iacone and he also does well in the timetrial. He might get a top-nine in the Genral Classification if he does not waste much time in mountain stages. An occasional break away attempt is also expected from their riders.
  
   Bubadelas
  Coming from Portugal we have this climbing team. Their captain will be Ernst van Weenen, he can get some results in climbing stages and in the final General Classification. This edition of Race of the Minutemen will be their first tour and they want to gain experience.
  
   Optimus Prime
  Obviously they are here to repeat the victory in the Sprinting Classification with Heinrich Matthäus in Top Form. He will be very well supported and probably is the great favourite to get the Sprinting Classification jersey again. He can win stages two and six.
  
   Silver Giant
  The only African team of this edition comes from Burundi. Van Engelen will be their captain, last edition he was third. This year the competition is strong but he will try to get another podium in the General Classification or at least top nine.
  
  Now we have seen all the teams and the favourites but I am sure that we will see some surprises. Finally, I want to wish to all the participating teams good luck!