Written by Scotterpop of Scotterpop
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to our Volta ao Porto Preview Dinner! Please, everyone, grab your last round of drinks from the bar and make your way to your tables. Hey! Hurry up! I haven't got all day and we have a lot of material to cover, you bunch of stinking alcoholics! cough Excuse me, I do apologize for that outburst. Thank you all for locating your seats. Let us proceed, shall we?
Before we begin the stage-by-stage overview, let us review some quick bits of trivia:
* Oldest Rider: Umberto Impellitteri of Team Crazy Downhillers at 34 years 88 days.
* Youngest Rider: Algernon Sessions of Darkwave Recordings at 22 years 65 days.
* Highest Average: Four riders are tied on 56.0
- Co Posthuma of Darkwave Recordings
- Fergus Harrold of EricV
- Robert Thomas of EricV
- Dominik Ucinski of Legia
* Lowest Average: Oh, come on. Who cares? It's going to be some scrub toting water bottles. Let's move on.
This year we will see the return of two-time GC Champion Maruyama Dai of SilenceLotteFan is back again. In top form, again. Hey, anybody who thinks he won't win it again this year raise your hands!
You know what, there are are 10 riders in top form for this tour. I have an idea. Let's try to predict who will do the best without a visit from the Green Doping Fairy! Who's got ideas? Anyone?
grumble Did any of you actually | | read the stage overviews!? Do any of you have thoughts about this tour!? No!? FINE! We will go through the stage overviews now and see what we can make of it.
Stage 1 - Porto Prologue
This is a flat 4km time trial. Don't expect anything more than the riders making sure their bikes have pedals. Well, the Time Trial crews will be out for glory. Personally, I expect to see THE DUTCHIES taking away most of the top spots here with some competition from Team Kernow. As with every prologue, there will be some climbers in great form who will bury themselves and surprise us all.
Stage 2 - Porto - Viana do Castelo
Clearly a sprinters stage. This is where Malina started his SC points record run two seasons ago. Watch closely to see which of the SC hopefuls establish themselves early. I expect big things from Franz Amelung of Team JAN and possibly Evan Topper of PEKAC B. HEY, YOU IN THE BACK! WAKE UP!
Stage 3 - Viana do Castelo - Portelinha
This is the first stage where we'll see the GC hopefuls showing their colors. Some of them may have worked hard in the prologue to gain spare seconds knowing they could rest a bit on the sprint stage. Interestingly, the last GC winner to actually win this stage was Chris Bauwens way back in season 9. He won it 4 years straight, but that first season was his only GC win. It would seem the strategy is to stay in the lead group, but save some energy for harder stages to come.
Stage 4 - Porto - Aveiro
Another sprinting stage, but with more hills this round. In season 8, Susumu Miyazki won this stage
| | and went on to win the SC. In the past two seasons the same was done by Malina and then Philbert Seaman. Take heed, you teams with SC hopes.
Stage 5 - Aveiro (ITT)
Here we are, half way through the tour and it is unlikely that our GC winner is clear. On the bright side, we'll see another slow parade of guys going fast all alone. This time, we will watch them go fast alone for 47 km. wake me when it's over, please
Stage 6 - Aveiro - Penamacor
It is time now, to break out the big guns. Stage 6 takes us up and down and up and down and...well, you get the idea. It's time for the GC men to make themselves known. The overall champion does not always win this stage, but if they do not show well it will be too late. Look for Dai to show up, as well as guys like Sahin Volkan of Peloton Pushers
Stage 7 - Macedo de Cavaleiros - Vinhais
This is where it all happens. The big men of yesterday must come back again today with power, or they must hope they can make up time in the final time trial. Look to stare into the same faces on TV today that you saw yesterday.
Stage 8 - Vinhais - Vinhais
Stage 8 will finalize the hopefuls for the SC, though we may see a hilly breakaway give some excitement to the early part of the stage.
Stage 9 - Porto (ITT)
Stage 9 will give away even more points and money to the TT squads. The Volta gives much glory to the men of the clock, and also bountiful opportunities for the leadout trains to show their individual skill.
Stage 10 - Porto - Porto (Parade)
Finally, the Parade. We will decide the SC while the YC and GC men will be riding wheelies, kissing babies, and drinking champagne.
Is anyone still awake!? Why do I even bother.
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