Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
  
  In Concord we have again twenty teams ready to start the Race of the Minutemen. Who will succeed Senel Nedim, the winner of last season. Will he succeed himself, as he is present at the start or will we see a new winner. The mountains will be decisive and my picks for the favourites of winning the jerseys are; The stars and stripes go to Sven Førde. The green jersey goes to Jørg Lundberg and Erwin Rolfes wins the white jersey.
  
   Bussen
  
  Bussen entered with their star rider Sven Førde who will be in topform. This good downhiller is surrounded by a decent group of climber to guide him up the mountains. When he reached the top they let him go and he will go downhill all the way. A decent rider in the prime of his life and a possible rider for the General Classifcation victory.
  
   Qvibra Pro Cyclingte
  
  Qvibra Pro Cyclingte is trying to work wonders with Birger Varg. This great climber that already performed good in the Monte Rosa Tour is trying to be better then last season. He failed to land a decent result and a top nine in stage three was his best effort. This can be easily improved if he has a little bit more luck.
  
   Starmans
  
  Jef Pragt is another rider that is in topform and a great climber. This season he has no results yet but, this will most likely chance in the Race of the Minutemen. Being in topform and being a great rider in the mountains he too is a contender for the General Classification.
  
   Team EksilFG
  
  The Faroer team of Team EksilFG has in Hafsteinn Sveinlaugursson a young and upcoming star. This team is keen to win the Sprinting Classification with their young sprinter Sveinlaugursson. A great rider for the first stages and the last. They will go for the green jersey.
  
   Team Albatros
  
  Where the previous team is trying to win it with a pure sprinter, Team Albatros has Jørg Lundberg. This rider can start the tour with a good result in the first stage and collects points for the Sprinting Classification along the way. I do not believe he will win it but, he can.
  
   FretexHIBAS
  
  After two teams that only go for the green jersey, FretexHIBAS is keen to see Erland Almås shine and win the General Classification. A great climber with a very nice squad around him and in topform.
  
  

src="http://www.cyclingsimulator.com/Flag/Belgium.gif"> de stamper
  
  Belgian de stamper has entered America with a team build around Gerard Kurek. This Polish rider is a decent climber and can ride very well in the time trial. We do not think he will win it but he will give it a try on the stage to Mount Washington. If he can win the timetrial there he could pull off a more then decent result.
  
   Peloton Pushers
  
  With a name like Ahnfeldt-Mollerup expectations are high. And Peloton Pushers is hoping that he will perform on the first stage. Their Welsh backup plan, Eugene Massengill, is having topform and could outrun the competition for a surprise win. The first stage is what matters for Peloton Pushers.
  
   Borussia Milano
  
  Italian Borussia Milano is having Bart De Moor as captain and they want to do good in the General Classification. They have a decent team of climber and good old Henny Traa for the first stage. In the end the team will have a hard time following the better teams and a top nine after the race is what they can expect.
  
   Help
  
  They Australians of Help have faith in Brooke Diuguid. This young Scottish climber could have made a difference in America if the management of Help done their job better. They missed out topform and that is a shame. It probably costs them a victory.
  
   CC Est
  
  The Estonians of CC Est are having faith in Dieter Ulmendorf and his sprinting abilities. The team is prepared for the flat stages and are willing to do their best for a good result by the young German rider. A result would make this tour a success for the team as they expect points and money but no result.
  
   Andeby
  
  Andeby is having three timetrial specialists and is trying to get a one, two and three finish in the first stage. My pick for winner will be young Johan Skogstad as he is the best of the three and this would boost the morale of the team if they can do it. After stage one it will be all out attack for the riders and see if they are lucky that day.
  
   KRV Rapid Habsburg
  
  Is Erwin Rolfes ready to take the Youth Classification. This young Austrian champion missed out topform and if he had he would have won the Youth Classification for sure. He is good and will give it a try and I would put my money on him. He could even go all the way and win the General

Classification.
  
   Songolooz
  
  From Poland we have Songolooz who is more than excited about joining his first tour that we wonder if he remembers to use the tactics for his team every stage. They have Cadman Kantor and want to get many points for the Sprinting Classification. The overall team however is not good enough to give him a victory in either the Sprinting Classification or a stage.
  
   Pasiegos cycling
  
  Another interesting rider is Durango Lazaro of Pasiegos cycling. This Spanish climber is experienced has a good team around him to give him that little edge. If he manages to perform well in the time trial at Mount Washington we might see this rider in the top ranks.
  
   Herens Cycling
  
  They know there mountains in Switzerland and Herens Cycling has a very good team for them. Matúš Bakoš is most likely the rider that will go for the flowers in the climbing stages and could go for a good result in the General Classification.
  
   WEST COLUMBIA
  
  WEST COLUMBIA has send a team headed by Felix Fencl and they want to win or at least get a result in the first stage. With three time trial riders they have many options. After the first stage they can shift their focus on the scenery. Nothing else is expected than.
  
   Manisaspor
  
  Manisaspor from Turkey has flown over from Perm where they tried win the tour with Senel Nedim. He is in topform but failed miserably and that might have an effect on the team. He is good and has topform and the all Turkish team is well balanced. A favourite, just like in Perm. Can he do it now?
  
   Bilal
  
  Bilal has not been racing in tours lately but he found time to sign up for Race of the Minutemen. They have a team that will go for the green jersey and we believe Archer Sikes is the man that should do it. A good sprinter, with a decent team around him. Could they land their first jersey in their trophy cabinet.
  
   Drollevangers
  
  Last one entering is Dutch team Drollevangers and they have a team that wants to compete with the bigger teams for the General Classification. With Gerasim Filatov they have a good climber in topform and he could bring a great result back from America. The Ukrainian champion is not my favourite but he could do good.