Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
  
  Three stages in the Welsh countryside. From Welshpool to Cardiff the riders will ride through the green meadows and pass many sleepy towns to battle it out for the Dragon's Jersey that the winner receives from the most beautiful girl in Cardiff. And you can not deny that it is every man's dream to be kissed by a beautiful red head and look into her mysterious green eyes and dream of a Welsh night with this luscious ginger and a good glass of whisky. And then she eats your soul.
  
   omega pharma lotto
  
  First team to secure a spot was Belgian omega pharma lotto. They lay their hopes in the hands of Latvian champion Aldis Meijers who is good in both the mountains and the hills. And with a decent time trial in his legs he could secure a nice victory in a stage or even the General Classification. If he reaches topform.
  
   Team JAN
  
  Not far behind was fellow Belgian team Team JAN. We can not tell for sure if they use Antonino Tumini or Gijsbert De Nooy as captain but we hope they go for the Dutchman. He is better in the end and with the support of the Italian he has a good chance to score points. If the Italian is captain, they finish top nine, maybe.
  
   Opium Fueled
  
  Opium Fueled is the top team of Hong Kong but, he needs a good run in Wales to keep it that way as he is closely followed by number two, Limpid. His faith is in Zimbabwean Tapuwa Mathema. A rider with a local name but, descendant of a Frisian math teacher. He could surprise at the time trial and maybe even keep up with the best guys in the hills. With his topform, he could be the surprise of this edition of Cymru Taith.
  
   Peloton Pushers
  
  Hunter Sawyer is the rider who has to score points for Peloton Pushers. As an Englishman in Wales he will lack the support of the locals and this could turn out to be a problem when he wants to finish close in the first stage. His sprinting skills are not enough and he will loose time that he can not get back in the following stages.
  
   EpoTopTeam
  
  EpoTopTeam wants to win it again, just like in season twenty-four. And with Reinhard Holtslag they can do that because he did it. With twenty eight he is in his prime and with topform he can repeat his victory again. An interesting team, a bit weak but, with possibilities.
  
   AKROBATE
  
  The Serbian team AKROBATE is focused around Dutch climber Staas Grommers. An interesting rider with a more then decent palmares. Victories in most allround races and results in some prestigious races in the mountains. This could give him a little edge in this tour and we heard they are preparing for a very good form. If he can reach it and he can do it, will he be our surprise of the week. Perhaps.
  
   California Mist
  
  When something is bullocks it usually does not mean something good. When something is

Bullocks at California Mist it means Jonathan Bullocks won again. With two victories behind his name already he is the big captain for California Mist this season. He is good, he is young, he is signed up for two races and in topform. He will be the rider you must write down, for next season.
  
   Rantanplan
  
  Rantanplan could enter so this French team did enter. He signed up a team of interesting riders and we can bet on it that we will see them in an early break away to surprise the big teams. Rumours are going around that he is the infamous “number five”. But with an injury for his Finnish rider and lack of quality from his teammates we can only hope for miracles for this team.
  
   Ponika
  
  From Croatia we have Ponika, a team well known to win great races. With a different approach as his opponent AKROBATE, Ponika signed up with a nationalistic team. Only one rider from Luxembourg in a six men team with five from Croatia. Vid Lazic is the national champion, captain and all time favourite of brzovozi, and he is capable of securing a nice position in the General Classification. With topform is the general idea.
  
   Wizzyweb
  
  Wizzyweb wants to copy the success formula from Matrix team. Sign up with a time trial specialist who can ride in the hills and secure a victory on stage two. And with a decent rider in Armando Francisquito we fear it is just not enough to do a clean sweep the Matrix style. Too far behind on the first stage, just not good enough on the second and the third, well, there is no hidden sprinter in Armando. Some points and money but, no flowers this time.
  
   blast
  
  When you have no connections you have to be smart. And blast is smart. A Top Division team switching between division two and one for some time and able to sign up for Cymru Taith. Without a wildcard they have achieved many great things. With Marcos Jurada they have a nice rider in their team for stage one and they want to do good there. The lack of creativity will lead to the downfall of this team we fear.
  
   Velo Kiwi
  
  With three time winner of Monte Rosa Tour Tamati Lima as their captain for Cymru Taith, everybody can figure out what their goal is. Victory in another tour. And if he has top form is to be seen and this rider and manager know how it is to win a race. We do not for see a victory however. A top nine is within grasp though. Tamati should be watched in the first stage as he can score some valuable points with a possible result.
  
   Team Majones
  
  Team Majones joined from Norway with Belgian star Rik Roosendael. A more then decent time trial rider with the power to ride over the hills. Could he be the man that can beat Montelbano from a second victory? He could and it would be a great personal victory also as this rider has not won a race since season twenty-five.
  
   radu
  
  Rasto, the manager of radu, has his hopes on Spain's

Senon Ledesma. This twentysix year old from Almendralejo is a decent rider in the hills and he can keep up with the best when it is flat or uphill. He will however lose time on the first stage as he will not be able to sprint for the bonifications. On stage two he is having a very small chance and stage three is just a bunch sprint where we will not see him. This rider might get a top nine result in the General Classification but only when others fail.
  
   Designa Legends PPDB
  
  Who will lead the Danish Designa Legends PPDB, is it Mirel Matei or Shamus Worthen. If it is Matei he better be in topform as he only can get a result in the second stage. If it is Shamus Worthen you should question the management capability of Jaroslav as he already was captain at Haute – Normandie and he will be not fully prepared for this race. A result in stage two is expected.
  
   Oekiewakkie
  
  Brasilian champion Felipe Maximiliano is the captain of this team when they enter a tour. Their best rider will never pass an opportunity to show off his national champion jersey to the world. And a tour is the best place to do it. They have a decent team and Felipe can stay up front to score some points and money and a possible top nine overall finish. He will not be good enough to fight for the General Classification.
  
   old town racing club
  
  When the Scots enter Wales you can be sure something will happen. With Griswald Pepper old town racing club has a decent rider for this race as a third place in the General Classification of season twenty-six showed. He used his reserved spot to try and do better then last season. Topform is expected and with that they should again do good in the first stage. Another podium finish is possible.
  
   NightmareChaos
  
  NightmareChaos is a former winner of this race and knows how it is to stand on the highest spot. With their veteran Aleksander Saprykin they gamble on experience rather then juvenile enthusiasm. With a seventh place in season twenty-one Saprykin knows how to get a top nine finish. They might try to breakaway early though to surprise the competition.
  
   ABK
  
  Will Joachim Kerch be able to carry the weight of the Ahnfeldt-Mollerup legacy or will he collapse under it's immense weight. With twenty-two he will captain his first tour and his goal is a Youth Classification first. His legendary teammate is still around to help him and guide him around but already the manager is expecting a lot from this young rider. He will loose in the timetrial and will be no competition for the General Classification but he wants the white jersey, for now.
  
   Matrix team
  
  They say you only need one good team to perform well, one captain to shine but, when you have Sandro Montelbano, all logic goes down the drain. He will be prepared very well, he has the luxury of having a teammate that won Germany Tour. He is the man to beat and we think, he will be beaten this time. No victory for Montelbano. He will be back next year as he will finish second though.