Written by Don Hamstre of don hamstre team
  
  Ten reasons why this Essex tour should not get a preview:
  
   1. Montelbano is going to win it any way
   2. It is too short
   3. Almost the same teams join every year and the main contenders never change
   4. The tour is almost always decided by a time trial
   5. The Youth Classification only has about four contenders
   6. Montelbano is going to win it any way
   7. There is no Youth Classification jersey
   8. Essex most famous landmarks include a pier and the church of St-Peter-on-the-Wall
   9. It is the oldest tour, so it is almost imposible to make an original preview
   10. Montelbano is going to win it any way
  
  Reasons why I should write a preview:
  
   1. Because I can
   2. Because I can use my useless facts to bore you again.
  
  I think that convinced us, let us write a preview. But not team by team, but stage by stage. I have to do something different, right?
  
  Stage 1: Colchester-Saffron Walden
  
  This stage is officially the King's stage, although it has not quite been the decider in the past seasons. With the Time Trial becoming more and more important, you can not win the tour in this stage. But you can lose it, so it is very important to finish up front in Saffron Walden.
  This seasons favourite for the win is Evan Tomkins, Gradient levellers. The Englishman has been very successful in hilly races before, but has never been able to win his home tour. Now he has great form and a super team, so this stage should be his. And with a good timetrial he could even surprise the great Montelbano. Another rider who should do great in the hills of this stage is Giovanni Faulk, Die Tour Phantome. The American has never ridden in this tour before, so maybe he is the man that can beat Super Sandro? Angel Ghidarcea, WV De Dommel, has been the super star of hilling for many seasons. He is the last winner of Essex tour before Monty came and crushed all competition, so he has got the experience. But is experience enough?
  A man who is not very experienced, but a promising talent, is Wilfried Doderwinkel, Hommerts Cycling Team. If he performs

good in this stage, the Youth Classification could be his.
  Ejanar Rosenborg, Il Grillo, is actually a climber who seems to have lost its way, but he could get a decent result in this stage.
  
   Stage 2: Maldon ITT
  
  Montelbano will win or at least get a podium. That is certain. But is there somebody else who is able to perform well in the timetrial? Sven Orsted is captain for Red Star and also a big contender for the Youth Classification. If he wants to win it, he must perform at his very best in this time trial. Gracjan Sowa, nonnies, may not be a favourite for a good General Classification, but he could surprise if his timetrial is good enough. Bard Shkreli, NECFTW, is certainly one of the favourites, but if he wants to get a podium, he should not lose too much time on this stage, certainly his weaker discipline. He could however also make up lost time to some of his competitors, because of his flat road skills, which are very much needed in this Time Trial.
  And of course there are the pure racers against the clock, who will only fight for victory in this stage: Mitrofan Ryabkin, Team Majones, Isac Tingmann, Nairobi City Cycling Club, Celso Leitao, blast, Xever Teodro, Megaman and Gunter de Cuman, Team Revolutie are only a few of these riders, so the competition will be tough.
  
  Stage 3: Maldon- Chelmsford
  
  The final stage will almost certainly not cause time gaps, but nevertheless there will be a fierce battle for victory. Because a lot of sprinters have made their way to Essex. Tadaki Ko, Yuri Superteam, Brian Hitchens, Jonas Pro Cycling, Jan-Joost Dussel, peddelen, Kristiaan Roels, California Mist, and Arne de Brouwer, Drapeau Noir, are only here for this stage. Also, I think this is the first time I have seen such a strong sprinting field in a tour with just one stage for sprinters. Amazing to see so much big names. And it does not even stop there. Carrol Mullan, Team Revolutie, also has strong chances of winning this stage, but could also surprise with a good General Classification, as he proved in Fast on Wheels that he is very much able to win a hillers tour. Cuartia Canas, Club Ciclista Riaza, could be the surprise of this tour. With his good form he could win the Youth Classification. But if he does not achieve that, he could still get a good top nine in this stage with which he should be very pleased in this amazing field.