Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
  
  A new season and the first tour has arrived. The Belgian race around Antwerpen is starting soon. And again many teams have found time, space and resources to conquer the cobbles.
  
   Scorpions POPRAD
  
  With Adrian Dudziek Scorpians POPRAD have a more then decent rider and a contender for the General Classification. With his specialilty in cobbles and his topform this rider could be the surprise of the tour.
  
   Cremtec
  
  Will Max Ballette work enough for Algernon Tunstall. Cremtec is trying to win a jersey and he thought his best shot is to do it with his young Englishman. The Youth Classification is all that matters. A decent General Classification is bonus for this team. Make sure you watch him on stage two and three.
  
   YCO
  
  Will Raivis Rukmans finally succeed in a decent classification for YCO in a tour. That is the big question in Canadian newspapers. We fear his fatigue will not be good as he is tired and wants a well deserved rest. But he won't be able to according his manager. No fireworks from this team.
  
   Rigana
  
  Carmine Damiano is the wellknown Italian cobbler riding for Rigana. He is in topform and already got a podium place in Roubaix Classic, this rider is more then ready. Can he repeat his great cobble season from last time and end it with a souvenir. We think he can do good in the General Classification.
  
   Team Majones
  
  This team solely comes for stage one. With a team build with time trial riders we will see these guys in front on stage one probably. The other stages are probably for gaining race shape and getting into an early breakaway.
  
   Hard Gaat Ie
  
  Malayan Muthu Chong should do it for Dutch team Hard Gaat Ie. His support is decent but, with only one real teammate in the cobbled stretches we fear he will have a hard time following the other cobble specialists. With his national jersey he sure is easy to spot in the

pack.
  
   NECFTW
  
  Again we have a team that will not do great if you only count the cobble stages. With timetrial riders in his team they want to win stage one and see what happens from there. Look in the back of the peloton if you are supporting this team.
  
   Jonas Pro Cycling
  
  Sigurd Guldhammer is the one that should do it for Jonas Pro Cycling. He is starting to become a veteran but in the cobble races that could be an advantage. He does not remember famous Julian Pope, winning Roubaix Classic at age 35.
  
   superduke
  
  With a full Dutch squad superduk is working for Sam Luijten. A nice young rider that gives it all for a decent Youth Classification and a top nine place after four days of racing. He could hang on and eventually surprise us all.
  
   Asymm Project
  
  Malayan based team Asymm Project is working for Qi Yigun. The rider from Hong Kong is in topform and ready for Tweedaagse after winning Pre Roubaix. With a national jersey and a teammanager that desperatly wants to win it, there is no room for error.
  
   IndieRock
  
  The Italians from IndieRock are cheering for Kyano Wit. Kyano is a new member in the peloton when it comes to cobbles. And he got some nice results last season. This season should be the one where he comes up first in a race. Maybe Tweedaagse could bring his maiden victory.
  
   English Sprinting Team
  
  A full English team with no real cobbler in it. English Sprinting Team tries to surprise the other teams by keeping the peloton together and win it in a bunch sprint. Good luck with that but I fear you fail short on every level in this tour.
  
   Comfius
  
  Winning Roubaix Classic should give a morale boost for Comfius. Gaspar Sarrazin should head their team and should give another good result here. With great team spirit and an awesome helper in Frank Dodge, Gaspar

Sarrazin is the man to beat.
  
   Nairobi City Cycling Club
  
  Welshman Abraham Valladares is working for Danish Nairobi City Cycling Club. He is decent and has some support with him to do well in the cobbled stages. No real results should be expected but a top nine here and there is doable.
  
   Avataria
  
  Avataria bring an American as captain. Big mouthing and bragging is Jeremy Murphy all week long. He is more then decent on the cobbles and can give a top nine or even a result for Avataria but he is not the future winner of this race.
  
   Legia
  
  Artur Radomski is their best rider. He just is not good on the cobbles. They are aiming for a sprint and in the end they might come close to a top nine finish. But no, do not put any money on this team as they will not deliver.
  
   Designa Legends PPDB
  
  Albert Nedergaard is the cobbler for Designa Legends PPDB. No real hero but still capable of doing something decent this tour. A mediocure rider with decent results and one or two top nine finishes is possible.
  
   Drapeau Noir
  
  Three times winner of Tweedaagse van Antwerpen, Drapeau Noir, has entered yet again. Cristobal Zubizarreta should bring in another jersey or podium finish for Delion. And the rider is capable of doing so. There is no topform available and that might just cost him the victory.
  
   Opium Fueled
  
  With Rodolfo Gomez we have another winner at the start. Last years Youth Classification winner wants to do it again. There is no topform for this rider also and again that could cost him a victory as there are a few good riders. But we support him in his effort.
  
   BennysBadekar
  
  Last one to arrive is Danish team BennysBadekar. They are here with an unfit team that only wants to do good on the first stage and with the competition and their lack of form we fear this will be a long tour for them.