Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
Who can not remember the surprising finish of the first Giro di Sicilia. When everybody thought it was finished it was a surprising win from Mohamed Yassine Medressi that secured his first tour victory and made the manager of Ahmed cycling team very proud. They are back and try to repeat that result. The competition is fierce though and we can look at the riders and teams that have entered.
Joensuu
With Veijo Vuorinen we immediately portray a possible winner of the Giro di Sicilia. A very nice sprinter with decent support in the flat stages and the possibility to stay in front on the last stage. A rider with twenty four national team appearances and keen to do well here. Keep an eye on him.
En trailer med vin
En trailer med vin is here not only to re-supply his wine cellar but also to win stages with Kjartan Kolstad. He should be able to get a result or even a win this tour. The biggest thread for this team is that the longer the race continues the more HerrKnudsen will be distracted by the Sicilian wines. In the end the team will be all smiles anyway.
Oekiewakkie
Oekiewakkie enters with a rider in topform. Pierre van Loen is most likely the winner of the Youth Classification and could also win the General Classification. A very good team with A-class leadouts should help him finish close in every stage and with the final stage on hilly terrain he could surprise everybody and claim both jerseys.
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime has many good riders. Most likely captain will be Vidar Lien, a rider build for sprints and in topform. With Heinrich Matthaus as leadout he can not go wrong. He will finish with the best in the sprint stages and if he can manage to stay in front on the last stage a top nine result is in the making. He lacks support in the hills to be a real contender.
Manisaspor
Erdal Ozkan is in topform and with the support of Sabri Rashim he should be able to secure a couple of good results in Sicilia. And with Sabri Rashim also in great shape he could even opt for a double captain assault on the flat stages. Manisaspor could surprise this tour and score many points.
Lysskar Nabolag
The tactics for the Giro di Sicilia will probably do very good on the first stage and win it with Jens Haugland, grab the leaders jersey and hang on to it untill the end. In topform he should be unbeatable in the prologue. Will he be able to hang on in the remaining stages, that is the question. He will not win the tour though.
Quick step minded
Jeger Laszlo | | in topform should propell Quick step minded to his old spot in the higher regions. This young Hungarian rider is a pure sprinter and will probably win at least one stage that ends in a bunchsprint. In the end he could go for a Youth Classification but, his problem will show on the last stage. He can not ride on a road that goes uphill. He will lose much time and will end in the back.
EricV
Another fallen team has entered Giro di Sicilia, EricV has paid a large sum for the services of Silvano Fayad. And this is the time to repay him. As a Brasilian champion and a very good sprinter, he could finish high in the result lists. If he manages to score a result in the last stage his debt to EricV is repaid and that large purchase sum is forgotten.
Team Albatros
With an injured rider in their team their morale took a real blow. Especially when they saw the competition they are up against. Jorg Lundberg should be their captain but he lacks support and the moral to do well this tour. They can only hope for a top nine finish in one of the flat stages.
Borussia Milano
Henny Traa is only thirty years old and he has been leading the team for many seasons already. His goal is to win the first stage, and do well the rest. Only the first stage matters and he can bag some points and cash for his team that is desired to improve the team. For the flat stages they could rely on Mees van Deinze but, we fear he is too weak to be of any impact.
Draken Giants
With Theo Bruintjes we focus on one of the main contenders for the victory. A great sprinter who can make a difference on the last stage as he is build for the hills that await him. With decent support around him he will not lose time on the first stages and even the prologue should be no dangerous stage. Top three in the General Classification is expected.
Silver Giant
Erik Van Engelen could be able to win the last stage. If he is able to stay in front in the sprint stages he could secure a nice result in the General Classification. There is always a change he could win the tour but, a result or two is expected, if he manages more, that is considered a bonus. Good rider, but lack of faith will cost him dearly.
Elmeros
Elmeros is only focussed on the first stage. Oystein Ottesen is a great sprinter and he can win a stage if he has a good day but, Herman van Putten is the man of the team that needs to secure vital points and win the first stage. The team lacks depth to do very well but a surprise result could always be possible.
Sons of the Desert
Terkel Lindegaard is the usual
| | captains for Sons of the Desert. With his thirtyone years of age he is very experienced and he could secure the General Classification in the last stage if he is able to score top nine results in the previous races. This rider could win the Giro di Sicilia in the last stage and should not be forgotten when he is still on fifteenth place before the end of the tour. A possible winner with Sons of the Desert.
Darkwave Recordings
With a Perm failure in his bagpack, Darkwave Recordings tries his luck one division lower. Giro di Sicilia should be a race where Gudmundur Þórmarsson should get his glory. A sprinter when the final sprint demands a technical approach, Gudmundur wants to win at least one stage. When he does that he could be able to finish in the top nine and score a result. A stage win is the highest goal for him.
Gradient Levellers
With topform Santiago Campelo could win the Giro di Sicilia. For now Gradient Levellers should be pleased when this rider can secure a stage win, or two, and the Youth Classification. If he does that the tactics have worked and topform is saved for an even bigger race to come. A result or two is expected in the flat stages.
Team Blund
Norwegian Team Blund has Al Lenard and he is ready to take the first stage with a victory. Only the first stage counts, the other stages we will find these riders of Team Blund in the main field or even further down, in the back. But a victory in stage one would make it all worth.
Welsh Phoenix
Welsh team Welsh Phoenix wants to relive the victories that manager Mr Washington has celebrated in earlier days. With his new team there have been some successes but the big ones could come here in Italy. Iver Vanhoosan should be able to finish in the top nine in the flat stages and maybe even deliver a top nine finish in the General Classification. A stage victory would be awesome but far fetched.
Ahmed cycling team
Defending champion Ahmed cycling team has returned with Mohamed Yassine Medressi as their captain. We believe they can not repeat their surprise victory from last year but, who would have put money on their victory in edition one. A decent team has entered and with the taste of success still there, they want to surprise the other teams.
Team Kernow
Many famous riders have chosen Team Kernow to try and shine once more. This time on a lower level. Aaron Bailey is one of the riders, still very good and able to win races we will probably see him in front. Mainly as super leadout for another great rider, Jan-Olof Holm. He should be able to secure a top nine finish for Team Kernow. It will be not enough in the end and a finish in the middle of the pack is more likely then one on top.
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