Written by Oliver B of Rotational Symmetry
  
  A very strong field of riders are arriving in Porto for what should be a spectacular Volta ao Porto. So many of the General Classification hopefuls here are ready to hit their very best form that the winner of this tour will have surely earned every thread of the jersey. A strong field of sprinters are also here with a respectable array of time trial specialists meaning that there will be fierce competition in this keenly awaited feast of stages in and around Porto.
  
  We will look at the teams shooting for the General Classification, those shooting for the Sprinting Classification and those just plain shooting.
  
  General Classification Teams
  
   KK Fajfa
  
  Mitja Škerjanc carries the General Classification hopes of KK Fajfa. He is not even the best rider in his family with a younger brother called Andre but that is nothing to be ashamed of. Make no mistake, Mitja is a great allrounder and a real contender in Portugal.
  
  Climbing ***
  TT ***
  Support ***
  
   CK Hymer
  
  All Swedish outfit are led by Sten Hållkvist, a former tour winner at Fast on Wheels who finished fourth in this tour last season. With a rare combination of solid climbing credentials and outstanding time trial ability he is well equipped for Portugal. He is joined by Helmer Sahlin another fine time triallist who will be a good bet for the prologue and to be the first to carry the leader's jersey out of Porto. Sten is likely to lose time in the mountains and gain it in the time trials and the size of those time differences is likely to be the key to whether he features strongly.
  
  Climbing *
  TT *****
  Support **
  
   WalrusPT
  
  The Black Mamba is ready to pounce in WalrusPT's home tour. Well supported by four Portugese and one French climber the twenty six year old from Cape Verde has a very good chance here and is one of many talented riders in excellent form with a good chance of some results in the mountain top finishes and in with a shout for the General Classification.
  
  
  Climbing ***
  TT ***
  Support ****
  
   depadvinders
  
  The balding Englishman Clarence Shamray looks set to lead depadvinders. His lack of time trialling ability will put pay to any General Classification hopes and he will have to ride out of his skin to win a stage in the mountains but he is likely to score some top nine finishes on the three mountain stages.
  
  Climbing **
  TT *
  Support ***
  
   Joss
  
  Arild Selnes is a recent signing by Joss in his first full season in Norway. The key question is whether he will be in top form for Porto or whether he will target his home tour in Norway, the technical route of which favours his ability. That question will determine whether he leads the team or not. Kuhlmey and Kazuki are waiting in the wings for their chance if Arild's priorities lie closer to home.
  
  Climbing *****
  TT ****
  Support ***
  
   Rotational Symmetry
  
  He can climb, he can descend, he saw a wind tunnel once but Arnold Latey doesn't like it flat or technical. The Canadian rider's best tour performance was a third place in Race of the Minutemen and he rode as a team mate in the Volta last season behind Brett Graham, who has since fled to France. Arnold is likely to perform well in some of climbing stages but he will need to perform very well in the time trials to stay with the best in the field.
  
  Climbing ***
  TT **
  Support ****
  
   Die Tour Phantome
  
  The

Portugese climber Tomás Belo has raced out of Porto three times but each time it has been up to Castelo Branco rather than as part of the Volta. He is experienced, close to the top of his game, a climber of the highest caliber and can time-trial. Die Tour Phantome also bring Rolf Lejeune and Freddy Beaulieu two time-trial riders who are racing for their own glory. There are very few individual riders here better than Tomás but some have better support.
  
  General Classification
  Climbing *****
  TT ****
  Support ***
  
   mutants madrid
  
  Sam Telkamp's climbing should see mutants madrid earn some money and pride in the mountains. The three time-trial stages are likely to see Sam lose time on key contenders so that single stages rather than the overall standings are the realistic target here. Michel Archer will likely feature in the time trials, the windy ITT in Aveiro will suit him particularly well.
  
  General Classification
  Climbing ***
  TT *
  Support ***
  
   Rantanplan
  
  A lack of a quality climber or anyone with time-trial ability seems likely to limit Rantanplan's involvement in the General Classification battle. The quality of the field in Portugal will very possibly see Wei Wang finish outside the top nine in General Classification. A breakaway may be the best way for Rantanplan to gain some glory.
  
  General Classification
  Climbing *
  TT *
  Support **
  
   VC Botafogo
  
  The exceptional Tom Bella has been a home grown star at VC Botafogo and is the the finest allround rider in the race and well suited for the Volta. Tom Bella is a former Youth Classification winner at Race of the Minutemen but his best tour General Classification result was a third place here, last season. He is a better time triallist than many of the General Classification contenders and with fortune on his side this could well be his year.
  
  General Classification
  Climbing ****
  TT ****
  Support ***
  
   peddelen
  
  The second best rider in last year's Volta has arguably the fourth best chance of leading this team. peddelen have no shortage of backup options with an embarrassment of talent available. It is Raul Lita who is due to have the backing of the team. Raul is a strong rider going up and even stronger on the descends. He will have strong competition, not least from within his own team. peddelen's palmarès are impressive but a Volta jersey is missing from the collection, thirty-five seconds was all separated Alfonso Melazzo from victory last season. Perhaps he can help a teammate bring the General Classification home this time around.
  
  General Classification
  Climbing ***
  TT **
  Support *****
  
   NECFTW
  
  NECFTW grace us with their presence by virtue of Marcus Bøgh.
  The Youth Classification jersey was won by NECFTW in Season sixteen and Marcus Bøgh is a red-hot favourite to take it again. He is well rested and ready to hit his best form in Portugal. You may say he is not the best climber or that he lacks experience, but none of that stopped him last season as he outperformed Joppe Marant to take the lead role in Team Crazy Downhillers' victorious parting tour.
  
  General Classification:
  Climbing ***
  TT ***
  Support *****
  
  Sprinting Teams
  
  We now look at the teams fighting for the Sprinting Classification. With stages two, four, eight and ten likely to define the Sprinting Classification battle it will take a strong team with a consistent fast man to earn the jersey.
  
   Borstelharen
  
  With the experienced Mason Mulligan, a veteran of ten tours, recently

transferred from Die Tour Phantome, Borstelharen have a fine rider to guide their sprinters over the mountains in Portugal. Conrad De Graef seems likely to lead Borstelharen's hope in the sprints but his lead out train is not the best nor the best motivated.
  
  Sprinting Classification:
  Captain *****
  Support **
  
  
   nonnies
  nonnies
  
  Otto Landa has the benefit of some excellent lead outs but their motivation is low. Two time triallists will stand a decent chance of some top nine results themselves. A solid team with plenty to gain from this tour. A South African won the Sprinting Classification last season, and this South African team may claim it for themselves.
  
  Sprinting Classification:
  Captain ****
  Support ****
  
   Team AEK
  
  Team AEK have solid team who will take a strong interest in the sprints and have an outside chance in some of the time trials. It seems Joe Stanton is likely to be the rider carrying their hopes and he will have the benefit of an exceptional team. A number of options for captain and no career water carries here.
  
  Sprinting Classification:
  Captain ***
  Support *****
  
  
   blast
  
  blast have previously won the General Classification and Youth Classification here in the seventh edition and look to complete the set. It looks like that goal will fall to Brandan Wehrl. He has gone three seasons without a result and never crossed the line first, so a triumph at this stage in his career would be a surprise.
  
  Sprinting Classification:
  Captain ***
  Support ***
  
  
   PEKAC B
  
  By some distance Cyrus Wyatt has the most outright power in the tour, although his technique is not the best. The clean sprint in the final stage will compliment his abilities best and if he is close to the top of the Sprinting Classification before the final curtain he could replicate PEKAC B’s triumph with Evan Topper the season before last. The Australian Jaxon Weyman will look to impress in the time trials.
  
  Sprinting Classification:
  Captain ***
  Support ****
  
   Team WonderDee
  
  Team WonderDee bring an excellent captain in the shape of Knud Øgendahl and if his lead out train can put him in the right spot then he stands a good chance. This team looks short of a lead out or two though and this may damage Knud’s hopes.
  
  Sprinting Classification:
  Captain ****
  Support *
  
  
   Seeds2
  
  A solid and motivated team with a fine sprinter in Dean Sinnott mean that Seeds2 have a great chance in the Sprinting Classification. Their palmarès cabinet is empty but may not remain so for long. Dean Sinnott has had an impressive career and has the experience to fight strongly for the Sprinting Classification.
  
  Sprinting Classification:
  Captain *****
  Support ****
  
   Dormilon
  
  Dormilon cross the border from Spain with some high quality riders including excellent hillers, a reasonable time triallist and Antoni Zaborowski, a highly technical rider who could perform well in the sprint stages, but probably lacks the power to challenge for the Sprinting Classification itself. Amets Carranco will look to involve himself in the General Classification and is eligible for the Youth Classification and is in top form, but probably lacks the support and time trialling ability to seriously threaten others in the quest for palmarès.
  
  Sprinting Classification:
  Captain **
  Support *