Written by Michael of English Sprinting Team
Welcome to the 15th edition of Tweedaagse van Antwerpen! This is the only cobblestone tour on the calendar and it’s one of the pinnacle points of the season for the cobblestone riders in this tour.
Review of the stages for this tour:
Stage one: Hoogstraten Prologue
One of the shortest races in the entire OCM calendar, the Hoogstraten Prologue is a dizzying series of blurs as the time trial specialists look to steal a race victory. The serious contenders for Tweedaagse van Antwerpen GC look to gain crucial time gaps before three stages of grueling cobbles. The flurry of effort as riders launch will spin the Salm-Salm Molen and the riders will give maximum effort until reaching the shadows of the St. Catharina Church. It is here that they will hope for answered prayers in the form of small fractions of time. (written by ScotterPop)
Stage two: Hoogstraten - Arendonk
Stage two will lead us east. We start in Hoogstraten and venture to Arendonk.
This stage is the King stage. Roads of cobbles await the riders when they follow the country roads through Flanders. Only the toughest riders will manage to finish upfront. And here we will see a big rift within the peloton usually. The riders that compete for the overall classification will show their faces here. (written by Finz)
Stage three: Arendonk - Geel
Still in Flanders, we move to the Duchy of Brabant to continue the Tweedaagse van
Antwerpen. Stage three leads us to Geel. The arrival in Arendonk will have left many with time
gaps and this stage will answer the question, "Do I have what it takes this year?" After a demanding stage on day two, this third day of Flemish roads will create openings for this years general classification attackers to play their cards. The first to cross the finish at Geel will relax in the famous orchid fields while the rest will contemplate their strategies under the care of Saint Dymphna. (Written by Finz and ScotterPop)
Stage four: Geel - Antwerpen
The final stage in Tweedaagse van Antwerpen will see the men test themselves with a third day of the infamous Flemish cobbles. The cobbles will collect Antigoon’s toll and the spoils of Brabo will go to the fastest man of Antwerpen. Cobbles are still abundant in this stage but as we approach civilization they have been smoothed by centuries of travel. At the finish line, an enthusiastic crowd will wait for the riders to arrive. They will have started the festivities with the famous "Bolleke" and will cheer to the winners of Tweedaagse van Antwerpen. (Written by Finz and ScotterPop)
And now to the teams in this year’s tour:
 Die Tour Phantome: The first team to enter this cobblestone tour has not even got a cobbler. They bring their new American time trial rider, Freddy Beaulieu, to try and win the prologue. They bring another two time trial riders and a few team mates.
Team Revolutie: This is the best team in the game currently and they bring two potential captains to the race. They are Aaron Bailey and Aldric Persson. They should both be in top form for the tour and will be looking to get some results. They also bring two time trail riders and two time trial/sprinter riders to the tour.
 Red Star: They entered in third place for this years tour and they bring one of many Spanish captains, Dino Velloso. He is the only rider with talent for the cobbles in this team. They also bring superstar sprinter Rytis Kondrotas and two time trial riders, Sven Ørsted and Teun Swin, the first of which is in top form. To complete their team, they have a lead out and another time trial rider.
 Luveaucek: This team brings the 25 year old Serbian called Vojislav Bogicevic to this tour. He is certainly one to look out for in the YC. They also have Mikuláš Malina and Damario Barba, both of them ten years older than their captain, true legends of game. Johannes Schoenmakers will be a water bottle carrier to the young Serbian because of injury. And to complete their team they bring two Average 42 riders, one a sprinter and one a team mate.
Team Majones: Another team coming for the prologue. They bring five time trial riders and one young Romanian. I suppose they will be looking for breakaways in the cobblestone stages of the tour.
 TACXkin: The TACXkin team has two jerseys to their name here, both in YC. They bring both of their previous jersey winners, Rogerio Echave and Ignacy Pajak, and a French Terrier. Two Dutch relatives come with them and a polish all-rounder.
 blast: Estebe Mauri makes his tour debut for this team. He is an amazing cobble sprinter and he is only 25 years old. One for the future indeed. Heis accompanied by a very experienced time trial rider, three cobblestone riders and a sprinter.
 Conero cycling team: The best rider on this team is 23 years old Benito Falconio, a time trial rider. They also bring two cobblestone riders, two sprinters and one more time trial rider. They will want to impress in the prologue.
 Team Tirilla: Rowan Baird, another cobblestone sprinter, is captaining this team. He has a wide range of helpers including sprinters, time trial rider and cobblestone riders. This team has quite a bit of potential.
Comfius: Frank Dodge will be their biggest hope. We do not know if he will be in top form or not. They bring three cobblestone team mates and two sprinting lead outs to challenge for the YC.
 Vientiane Cycling: The best chance for this team to win, is with their awesome Danish cobblestone rider called Sigurd Guldhammer. It is a shame he is not time trial centered, but who knows what is going to happen in the prologue. He comes to Belgium with his three cobblestone team mates and one lead out. They also have a 24 year old Italian time trial rider in top form. He will have a good chance at the prologue.
Jonas Pro Cycling: Another Spanish rider in top form comes to this tour as Captain. He is the experienced Severo Vivas. He won the YC with Greenride seven seasons ago! This is his third time here, and his right hand man is another Spaniard called Jeremias Enrique. Jonas also brings two time trial riders for the prologue and two lead outs.
 SierraEspadán: This team brings an expert in the cobblestoned roads of Belgium. He’s called Rio Loredo | | and he is another Spanish captain. He is only participated in this tour once. He is already 33 years old, but like what we have seen in other tours, age is not everything. He accompanied by a total national team and they are five sprinters.
 YCO: This team has had a setback too. Their 24 year old cobblers, Falls, got injured in Roubaix classic. He will be a big lose. They have three of the eldest riders in the race, including their captain now, Titus Stauffer. They also have three cobblestone riders and one lead out with them.
Glamourade: They bring a complete Spanish team. Their captain is the one and only Mauricio Viola who has participated in this tour an amazing eight times (this being his ninth). He has already won this tour and come close to doing so in the past. Can he do it again? Another big challenger for the prologue is David Ballesteros. He is made for prologues! They bring four lead outs to help Viola.
 Asymm Project: You Xiang captains this team. He has experience in this tour and he has won this years Roubaix classic! He does not have the best of DPs, but he has TF and anything can happen. He comes to Belgium with two lead outs, two cobblestone team mates and a water carrier.
peddelen: Lowell Shingleton. He has entered in this tour four times, and has won it three times and got fifth once. He enters in top form again, with five lead outs as usual. He got sixth place at Roubaix classic this season. The last time he got sixth, he won it. Will he win it a fourth time and make it his tour? Who knows, but I wouldn’t bet against it.
Nairobi City Cycling Club: This is the ultimate prologue team for this tour. They have won the last four prologues and will be looking to make it five times in a row. They bring three great time trial riders with very good DP. Also participating in this tour is Hal Terrell. He is coming back from re-top forming. They will be looking for BA wins in the cobblestone stages.
omega pharma lotto: Guess what. Another Spanish captain and this one is extremely dangerous and in top form. He is Bartoli Rivera. He got second in this years Roubaix classic, so he is a big favorite. He has got a mixed selection of riders to help him. He has got three cobblestone team mates, one lead out and one hill team mate. He has the team. Has he got the legs?
 Drapeau Noir: And last but not least is Delion and his captain Julian Pope. No top form for Pope this time, but this team has been full of surprises in tours recently. They also bring, home grown rider, Melvyn Jégou to the tour. He will want to do well in the prologue. They bring four lead outs to help Popes chances in this tour.
What the managers say
What are your expectations for TvA Tour this year? Here are their responses:
Red Star: I am in with Dino as capt, no Topform. 2 TT’ers for the prologue. Aiming for 3 times stage top 9
TACXkin: No expectations at all. Today my team participated in Pre-Roubaix. Alexis Terrier finished 19th as my best rider. Rogerio Echave had an off day. Alexis Terrier had an off day. Jan-Joost van Asseldonk suffered from a mechanical issue.
Conero cycling team: This is my first tour in 1st division. I hope in a good performance of Benito Falconio in timetrial stage (5th in the last World Championship ITT). I do not have a good cobblestone rider so I have no expectations for general classification. I hope for a good result in the sprint stage but it is very difficult because of the high level of the 1st division teams.
Team Tirilla: My expectations are quite low this year, since my captain is neither one of the best captains nor is he in top form. However, I think Baird could be a joker in the top 10 since he can perhaps benefit from a strong team in great shape!
Glamourade: My captain, Viola, is very old. I do not think I reach higher than 5th position. All the podiums I get in stages, better for me.
Team Revolutie: I am in with two captains in TF, Bailey and Persson. Both are not TT-centered, but random tour-TT's might let one of them rank high in the TT anyway, if that happens that rider will be my captain. If not, i think i will go for Bailey. My 4 other riders are TT-ers that can function very well as leadouts. I expect a top 9 in every stage and a top 9 GC. Podium would be nice, but without TT-centered captains, i won't regret not getting a podium.
Asymm Project: I don't really know what to expect, given that Xiang is doing worse than I expect in recent times, but he has top form so anything could happen.
Die Tour Phantome: Only goal for us is the TT, as in years past. Afterwards, it is just jump with a breakaway. Oh, and Sidery will not be in Topform, a small miscalculation.
Drapeau Noir: Coming in without TF and after both Roubaix races, my expectations are lower than usual: a 9th stage win and a few top5 results. I will aim for a 6th GC podium nonetheless but it will be tough.
SierraEspadán: In the last edition of this tour, Loredo came 10th in the general classification, with 6th as his highest stage result. My idea is to get Loredo into the top 9 in gc and to achieve a top 5 in one of the stages
Comfius: My captain Frank Dodge doesn't ride in the Roubaix Classic because he will start in top form in the TvA. His teammate's are also in a good condition, so I have a good feeling for the next TvA.
blast: I do not have big expectations for TvA. It is the first time Mauri enters and till now he did not deliver in any big division one race. I did not TT center him yet. We will see what happens.
omega pharma lotto: I'm only happy with a win for Rivera. It will be his last shot for glory as I will try to sell him afterwards. A win in TvA will make his career complete. The plan is to lose as less time as possible in the prologue and go for podium spots in all stages.
Nairobi City Cycling Club: None.
Jonas Pro Cycling: Very Excited my first run for Gc in a tour and first TVA as well. Servero Vivas in tf hoping for a top 9 in Gc and same in all stages. Had a very good general test with a second spot in Championat des Ardennes with almost identical team as in tva. Also aiming for a podium in the prologue with thanassis dadakos.
Vientiane Cycling: Hoping for a top nine in at least two or four stages. That is it really.
YCO: Today in Roubaix Classic, one of my leaders got an injury, Travis Falls, so he will be in TVA but he will not be able to help. Big disappointment for me.
Luveaucek: Bogivic will have TF. Schoenmakers is injured after Pre-Roubaix (out the entire tour). Old leadouts as support, they will be tired though. Hoping for a better showing from Bogi than last season, but the field is strong and full of TF riders again. Happy with anything that comes our way.
I hope you like the preview, and as always, leave comments about what you liked and what you do not like
Good luck everyone!
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