Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
Monte Rosa Tour is about to start and the Swiss Alps are ready for the twenty teams. Many teams are nervous at the start because this is a big moment in their division five carreer. Big favourites in my book are Miroslav Arbenz, Jef Pragt, Brooke Diuguid and Filip hamre.
Schiavi di Don
The Italian team of Schiavi di Don has topform for his captain Cosma Giron. He is a nice climber but his training is not finished and thus, a waste of topform and not able to battle for General Classification.
Herens Cycling
The homeriders, Swiss team Herens Cycling is in topform with Miroslav Arbenz and he could win this tour. Fully trained and with a great team behind him, topform, he is a favourite.
ABK
Sebastian Høj is captain of the Danish team ABK and he will be ready for the hills. Switzerland has little hills and he might do good in the sprintstages. No real expectations for this team. And I am using this space for getting the Argentinian flag into place because ABK is just using this tour to get back up again, because he is a top division team stealing points.
Keegan Cycling Team
If you talk about great riders, Jacque Van Haerschot is one of them. Yes, it is only in division five but, this rider can win anywhere. A good result is expected.
Un Deux Trois Racing
The French rider Marco Ziani is targetting the Youth Classification and maybe the General Classification. He is not fully trained but, he is very well equiped for the climbing stages.
Starmans
Starmans has entered with | | Jef Pragt, in topform. This means he is one of the favourites. A great climber that lacks downhill skills, that costed him before, will he be able to win this time?
Desassossego
The team from Macau is working for Gerard Kurek and this rider can go uphill with the best. In the end he might be able to secure some time in the timetrial because he will lose a lot in the mountains.
Pacharán
Pacharán is targetting the timetrial with Michel Aelemans. A result there would make this tour a success. The others are just training their teamspirit.
Driehoek
Driehoek from Bermuda is asking for trouble. Athony Dabe is a good climber but his teammates are cucumbers. And you do not win with a team full of cucumbers.
Help
Help entered with the help of Brooke Diuguid and he is in topform. This climber from Scotland is the number one favourite for this race. Great climber with the experience and team.
Pasiegos cycling
Durango Lazzaro is a good climber for Pasiegos cycling. He could win a stage in this race and that is what he wants. In the end a good top nine classification is goals reached.
Larouster
From Albania we have Larouster, with Rei Marku, the king of Albania is a good sprinter but they can only shine in the end in Switzerland. Maybe a win in the last stage for this team.
TACXkin
Placido Rincon is targetting the Youth Classification and he could do it, but in the end his team is the weaker of the other favourites. A top nine is
| | possible.
Zero Tolerance
The Argentinian team of Zero Tolerance signed up for a tour again. With Raymon Marcari they want to win the timetrial. The rest are just cucumbers. Where is your all Argentinian team, you have forsaken me.
Skeel
Skeel from the Netherlands are in the tour with Marcelino Santambrogio and he can do everything, and therefor he is a favourite. Not really because he will lose too much time in the climbs. But in the end he will do fine with a top nine.
SolenTechnology
Say Colombia and you say climbers, with SolenTechnology you are wrong. Renaldo Ibanez is their captain and he is a hiller. There are too little hill races and therefor he joined Monte Rosa Tour. No expectations, everything is a victory on its own.
Siuntio Bianchi Team
The Finnish team Siuntio Bianchi Team entered with a team of timetrial specialists. Their jersey suits this tour and we will see their pink jersey infront on the first stage. That is about it.
Team FKH
The Danes of Team FKH enter the tour with a great rider. Filip Hamre is a name to reckon with. This is a favourite, only by name alone. A nice team around him could make him a winner here.
ACAB
The Romanians are here working for Tanguy Ibanes. The Luxemburgian rider will have decent support but will lack overall power to succeed in the end.
Belmonte Pro Cycling
Last but not least is Norwegian team Belmonte Pro Cycling. Well, they are least. A sprinting team and not even a good one. Fingers crossed I guess.
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