Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
  
  With the third edition starting of Giro di Montelbano we have twenty good teams signed up eventually. The biggest favourites are the riders from Cider Riders, Telstra and ekaitz team, Baldiun Lehmann, Darcy Rodwell and Estebe Pimental.
  Let us introduce the other teams that want to give it a go.
  
   nonnies
  
  The faith of nonnies lies in the hands of young Spanish rider Heriberto Radondo. The 24 year old is having his eyes on the Youth Classification jersey. And if he can bring that one home, why not go for the Generall Classification. But that is more a dream then a goal.
  
   mapei bianchi
  
  Agrin Emadi is the top rider for mapei bianchi. The Italians have had numerous victories already with the Iranian champion. He will not win the tour but a decent result is realistic and maybe he can repeat his stage victory from two season ago.
  
   NightmareChaos
  
  The Russians are back and with a veteran as captain. Korney Agliullin should bring the gold to Novosibirsk. We believe they are able to get a top nine result in the end. And they will do this to be consistent and not with a spectacular tour.
  
   Sons of the Desert
  
  Sons of the Desert are in the same boat as NightmareChaos. Terkel Lindegaard is a great rider but already a veteran. He could do well and snatch a top nine result in the end. We do not count him as a major threat for the Generall Classification.
  
   Darkwave Recordings
  
  Darkwave Recordings is going down recently being a former Top Division team. But with Luis Landim as their captain they should be more then satisfied with the little leftovers, left behind by the winners of races and tours. It is time to rejuvenate or we will meet Corum Jhaelen Irsei in division six soon.
  
   KAS KASKOL
  
  The full Spanish team of KAS KASKOL is being captained by Erasmo Velez. With a speciality in time trial and being trained as a tough cookie to crack, we think this is a rider that can surprise on stage two and secure a Generall Classification

victory.
  
   Silver Giant
  
  Silver Giant has some nice riders from his homeland Burundi. Mukamurenzi and Gasana are pretty decent. But Curro Calatrava is most likely the rider that will give a serious shot at winning the Giro di Montelbano. Good in the time trial and could be decent on stage one.
  
   Cycling Nieuwegein
  
  Cisco Piza should bring in money and points for Cycling Nieuwegein. Rumours has it that manager Liam de Kleine is asking for a Veteran Classification and is supported by the teams of NightmareChaos and Darkwave Recordings. No real fireworks should be expected but a steady tour.
  
   Rabo utrecht CT
  
  When Cycling Nieuwegein signs up, Rabo utrecht CT is there. It is almost suspicious. With Arne Sæter they have a nice rider that can do good in stage two. And when you do good in stage two, you are a contender for the Generall Classification. No super favourite but keep an eye on him anyway.
  
   Fissa
  
  Not sure if the team goes for the pure sprinter, Florentin Escallier or, Gilles Rouge, the overall rider.
  We fear Fissa will try to go for a stage win and not a good Generall Classification. Rouge is left in the dark again, when will he go to a better team, is the biggest question.
  
   Cider Riders
  
  Biggest favourite of winning Giro di Montelbano is Cider Riders with Balduin Lehmann. A good time trial rider and he could finish close on the first stage. If his teammanager does his work, he could enter the tour in topform and would be unbeatable.
  
   jmtoler
  
  jmtoler has many riders that can secure a victory on stage two. That would mean they could end up with multiple riders in the top nine of the Generall Classification. But the time lost on stage one would be too much to form a real threat for the other riders.
  
   Onie
  
  Onie is no Britcycles because, ryant assured me he was not there and, Onie is. Because he was able to. With an interesting squad we go

for Ward Van Eijcken, he could do well in all stages and secure a nice result for Onie without being great.
  
   Handelsbanken
  
  Swedish Handelsbanken are willing to upset everybody with Espen Bjørklund in stage one. He could win it and might have a big enough gap to finish in the top regions after three stages. Let us see how this Nordic team does.
  
   fc barca
  
  Graciano Sa could secure a good Generall Classification for fc barca. They left their surpreme sprinter at home and that is a shame for every cycling fan. But this would give Graciano Sa more support to finish high in the end.
  
   Silencio
  
  Where one team does not go for a sprinter as captain the Puerto Rican team Silencio is probably going for a victory in the last stage with Detari Catalin. This pure bred sprinter is able to show everybody how it works and could bring home the flowers on stage three.
  
   Bilal
  
  Interesting to see what team Bilal signed up for this Giro. As we look at it we can not see any rider that could really propell Bilal into higher regions. We fear they want to upset the bunch and sneak away and win in a breakaway surprise.
  
   Ponika
  
  Vid Lazic is the rider that captains Ponika, as Croatian champion. He is a pure climber and maybe they want to secure a nice result on stage one with his power. He will probably be passed by more tough hillers in the final meters but, a few points and money is possible.
  
   Telstra
  
  Another rider that wants to win this, Darcy Rodwell, and he will most likely arrive in Topform for Telstra. After finishing second and third already he really wants to win this race and he is my number two favourite. It will be a nice battle to watch.
  
   ekaitz team
  
  The winner of last season, Estebe Pimental is back to defend his title and he could win it again. Topform is most likely and with the Argentinian jersey around his should this is the third rider that is able to win this tour.