Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
  
  With twenty teams signed up an interesting shift in favourites occurred. Team Revolutie, the hot favourite to win this race, got expelled from competting in this and any other upcoming race. That gave PEKAC B the opportunity to take the available spot and join the tour with a lucky loser squad to upset the others. With again twenty teams we are awaiting an exciting four stage race in Normandy, and hopefully with good weather.
  
   YCO
  
  With Raivis Rukmans, YCO has a great young Latvian cobbler. Every team would want to have this rider and probably offered a large amount of money for him. Raivis Rukmans could be the winner of the Youth Classification this season but, the biggest threat is that the support is weak and YCO should be very lucky to win it. Decent results are expected.
  
   Vitória FC
  
  Portuguese Vitória FC is always trying to impress the opposition with his rainbow coloured jersey, pretending he is World Champion. Romao Rocha is a decent cobbler and has a more then decent team behind him to join the rank of riders that could go for the victory in Haute - Normandy. A General Classification would be wishful thinking but a stage result is possible.
  
   THE DUTCHIES
  
  With Severo Vivas, THE DUTCHIES has a decent cobbler. The biggest threat for this team is the average age and the fact they have run into a double injury lately. This did not do good for the Team Spirit and the riders are probably very carefull when riding the cobbled streets in Normandy. Major time loss is predicted due to being scared for this team.
  
   Scorpions POPRAD
  
  With the youthful Adrian Vegaso as captain, Scorpians POPRAD is trying to secure the Youth Classification. With a nice leadout train to support this young rider they could end up high in the General Classification and Youth Classification. And if it is not this year we could still see this rider for many years to come.
  
   NightmareChaos
  
  Russian team NightmareChaos invested heavily in a new cobble section and with Viljo Teravainen they have attracted a very nice rider to ride Haute – Normandy again this season. This time with a bigger goal then last year and they want to improve their single result from last year. A result and a top nine finish and a possible top three.
  
   IndieRock
  
  IndieRock is a secret favourite with Adley Freeney. This rider will probably lose some time in the first stage but will finish in front in the following stages and probably score enough points, money and time to make IndieRock manager Eugenio proud. With a balanced team of leadouts and teammates he could make the other teams nervous and battle for the General Classification.
  
  

Cremtec
  
  Max Ballete is here to defend his General Classification jersey and he is in great shape, he will lose his Youth Classification as he is no longer eligable for this battle but he will give a big fight to secure a successive victory. Cremtec manager Cremtec is not at ease though and already stated that he would not be disappointed if Max Balette would lose his title. Is this the truth or is he throwing smoke bombs.
  
   Designa Legends PPDB
  
  Shamus Worthen should be the captain because he is young, the best rider and in topform. This rider could become the yellow jersey winner after Max Balette. With a nice team of teammates he should be able to stay in front the complete time and win Haute – Normandy. With is thirty years he is experienced and already has a nice set of results behind his name. The General Classification would be his biggest victory ever.
  
   Comfius
  
  Can Frank Dodge secure a second Youth Classification. He won it in Tweedaagse van Antwerpen already a few seasons ago and he is now ready to repeat it in Haute – Normandy. The rider has a nice team with him but, the recent results are not that good to give him the confidence that he could be able to secure a nice result here. Only luck could bring him far. We fear he should be glad with a top nine finish in a stage.
  
   Pro Cycling Manager
  
  Axel Ravn is the star of Pro Cycling Manager. This top Danish cobbler has a nice set of result already and is a stage winner in Haute Normandy last season. With a third place he had a wildcard and as a solid second division team, Pro Cycling Manager is more then ready for this tour. Axel Ravn is not as experienced as you would think he is and, that is his weak spot.
  
   1 2 Cycle
  
  Darian Hadfield has already won Minsk CBGP and Hamar CB this season and with a second place in Luxembourg – Vianden he showed his form in cobble races. His goal is to win at least one stage and perhaps more stages this tour and do very well in the General Classification. A top three or a victory is not expected but anything less is disappointing for 1 2 Cycle.
  
   Darkwave Recordings
  
  Egbert Plumpton is the rider that should score some points for Darkwave Recordings. A decent sprinter and able to get some top nine finishes in flat stages that end in a bunch sprint. This tour is filled with cobbled streets and Egbert will fall back as he is not capable to stay in front. Only a breakaway victory would make this tour a success for Darkwave Recordings.
  
   lastplace1414
  
  Full American team lastplace1414 has Jeremy Murphy as their captain. A very good rider that can secure a wildcard for next season's tour. The only problem would be the injured Desmond Lawrence, not a very special rider but he could get the team spirit

down with his injury. Will they get over this and improve themselves to win this tour or will the stay in negativity.
  
   Seeds2
  
  Scottish Seeds2 signed up Dean Sinnott as captain. This Irish champion and winner of the Volta ao Porto Sprint Classification is eager to show his power in Normandy. The stages in Normandy are covered with cobbles and are not as good as those in Portugal. We will see him in front probably but not as far as he was hoping he would be. Top nine finishes will come but no victory in France.
  
   nonnies
  
  Just like Seeds2, nonnies signed up for Haute – Normandy because they could as division two team. They have entered with a team of sprinters in the hope one of them is strong enough to stay up front long enough to secure a top nine place in a stage. This would bring some points and money. No real expectations with aarin, only dreams.
  
   radu
  
  Could Mike write history, his presence is always interesting as this obnoxious and arrogant person always demands the attention from everybody. Mike, is Mike. Nothing more, nothing less and with his twenty two years he is able to win the yellow Youth Classification jersey. Let us hope Sebastien Persoens can bring some sense in this rider, because at this moment Mike is a terrible person.
  
   The Killers
  
  Radomír Andrle is the captain for The Killers. Last season he was not lucky but he is able to win some races if he gets the opportunity. Will he win a stage or get a result, it is possible, and he could even finish high in the General Classification. A decent leadout train should give him the confidence to win.
  
   Team Wonderdee
  
  With Team Wonderdee we have an interesting team at the start. An experienced manager with a team as old the roads leading to Rome. No real contender and with two injuries in his team he lost all hope before the start of the tour to secure a nice result. Every point and every coin earned is a bonus for this team.
  
   Luveaucek
  
  From one oldtimer to another, Luveaucek is joining with a complete different set of goals. As a Top division team he wants to win this race. Vojislav Bogicevic is in Top Form and is ready to win the red General Classification jersey. As the best team in this race everything but a victory is a failure for team, rider and manager. Luveaucek should be under enormous pressure.
  
   PEKAC B
  
  As lucky loser PEKAC B signed up straight after the departure of Team Revolutie. Unprepared, under funded and with no real rider suitable for this race, their only hope is to surprise on the first stage and to surprise even more on the last stage. Good luck honzas, you will need it.