Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
  
  From the Antwerp Christmas fair we want to wish everybody a merry Christmas and some good quality time with your loved ones. But some people still need to do their job and so we have here the first tour of the season. Tweedaagse van Antwerpen is about to start and the top cobblers of Top division are eager to show their worth. When every year we see the same teams signing up there are newcomers every time.
  
  
   Squiffinator
  
  With Bret Brunton they have a reason to sign up for Tweedaagse van Antwerpen. This full Canadian squad is build around the national champion of Canada and probably one of the most succesful cobblers. With a Pre-Roubaix win he set his competitors at bay. And with the classic, that is not a classic, win, he reveals a tip of the vail of what he is capable of. He might be a bit too tired.
  
   Nairobi City Cycling Club
  
  Nairobi City Cycling Club is joining with a bunch of time trial riders. Staying what he does best they want to secure a nice result on the first stage and see how it goes from there. No real competitor for the General Classification and should be left alone after stage one.
  
   Drapeau Noir
  
  When you want to see a real competitor for the General Classification you have to look at French team Drapeau Noir. With Cristobal Zubizarreta in topform they want to win this Tweedaagse van Antwerpen for the third time and they can do so with the team the have entered. Looking at the trackrecord of Drapeau Noir this could be an easy task. Top favourite in my book.
  
   Team WonderDee
  
  Will they go for Johannes Nymoen or Knud Øgendahl. They probably have more faith in the tough behind of Nymoen and make him captain. We fear that he will be no match for the real cobblers and that he will be left behind when the tough part of the stage is coming. An interesting pick indeed and could turn out for the better.
  
   ekaitz team
  
  The faith of this dominant Spanish team lies in the hands of Torstein Høyland. The Norwegian that is more then decent on the cobbles but desires that important big win. It has been too long ago after his CoN Paris victory and Tweedaagse van Antwerpen is the place to do it. This rider can surprise the big teams and we hope he gets a win somewhere. It would boost his morale and might even secure a podiumfinish in the end.
  
   Wizzyweb
  
  With Hristofor Uzunov, Wizzyweb has gold in his hands. This young Bulgarian cobbler has a bright

future ahead of him and his target is most likely the Youth Classification. He has the potential to do great thing and has the help of some experienced cobblers and sprinters in his team. Being the national champion surely helps.
  
   Gradient Levellers
  
  With Gradient Levellers we have some ancient history signed up for this tour. The start with Teun Swin to do good in the first stage. We will not see the team again in front as they lack the experience in the cobble races and that is a shame. Riding a great cobble tour with no cobblers, shame on you Tim.
  
   NECFTW
  
  The only non wildcard holder in this tour is NECFTW. A great achievement to be without wildcard and be in Top division. Oh. Never mind, it now makes perfect sense why he signed up with Pétur Snælaugursson. With Eric Isnard they still have a good rider for stage one.
  
   Jonas Pro Cycling
  
  Sigurd Guldhammer is a great rider and extremely good on the cobbles. This would be his last opportunity to win a major race. Being a veteran and seasoned through many races he could be able to perform well in different stages. We fear he will lack that little something to take home the victory.
  
   Avataria
  
  Norway brings us Avataria. The only thing Norwegian is the manager, Jeremy Murphy is their captain and he is a great cobbler and in topform and therefor a major favourite for the General Classification. Some decent support but not super. He should do it on his own but we have seen sometimes it is possible.
  
   superduke
  
  The full Dutch squad of superduke is build around Erwin Eltink and he is a decent rider with some nice support around him. They can count on some points and top nine finishes in the stages. He will lack consistency to bring in the big win but who knows, maybe they score on stage one.
  
   Asymm Project
  
  The Malayan Asymm Project has moved his headquarters to Antwerp. They say it was for personal reason but we believe they have a cunning plan. With Qi Yiqun they have a great cobbler from the east and he is probably in topform and with that and the knowledge of the terrain we see this rider as the big favourite, if he has topform.
  
   Team Majones
  
  Although this is a cobble tour we see too many teams that only go for the timetrial. It is a shame and a waste of my time. Amadeu Filipe is another rider that only wants to win the first stage. Compared

to the teams that have entered this is a lost cause. Maybe an early breakaway could surprise us.
  
   Die Tour Phantome
  
  Die Tour Phantome invested heavily in Tweedaagse van Antwerpen with Abraham Valladares. He is in in topform and his team is in great shape. With his peaking age and his good performance in Roubaix Classic we believe this is a rider that can score good in the tour. An easy pick for the betters amongst us.
  
   peddelen
  
  Can Lowell Shingleton do it at his age. He could, Julian Pope did it, so why not he. But withouth the super form we fear his age is taking the better of him. A surprise top three would be stellar but in the end he will not maintain the consistency to do great in the Generall Classification.
  
   YCO
  
  Where one Canadian team relies on a Canadian, YCO trusts in Raivis Rukmans. The Latvian cobbler is a great cobbler but he needs to do great things. He should deliver and this is the tour he could deliver it. We have high hopes for him winning a stage and do great in the General Classification.
  
   Opium Fueled
  
  Will Rodolfo Gomez still be able to win the races as he was when he was a youngster. Winning both Youth Classifications of Tweedaagse van Antwerpen and Haute Normandie he sure is a good cobbler. Too bad he has no topform or he would have been a real challenge for the others. We hope to see him next season in a better shape to challenge the General Classification.
  
   Cremtec
  
  With Cremtec we have the only Belgian team in a Belgian race. A shame indeed to see so little Belgians that embrace the cobbles. Max Ballette is one of those Belgians that did. And he could surprise us all by doing very well and even winning a stage and end up high in the General Classification.
  
   Rigana
  
  South African Rigana joined with Carmine Damiano and this rider should have had topform but we fear he will not have any form. Missing topform would give a big blow. But if he does this rider can easily beat all the others. Great Italian cobbler with many wins already. Topform dependent.
  
   The Killers
  
  Last team to sign up, killed the competition for last spot. The Killers joined with Brecht Naets, great sprinter and a good cobbler. He could win the Youth Classification and maybe even go for the General Classification. The first jersey is more likely to be his and we think it is a safe bet.