Written by Finz on NightmareChaos
  
  Being the first tour with twenty four teams it is interesting to see how this experiment will work out. Rumours say this experiment will last and that we will get used to it eventually. Personally I think it will be changed sooner or later as there will be resistance, because there is always resistance to things we can not control. But for now, we are happy with it and find other ways to express our unhappiness.
  
  With the following race, the Giro di Sicilia, we see many teams with sprinters signing up. They are all keen on winning one of the sprint stages.
  
  The Catania Prologue is set in downtown Catania and is only 4 kilometers long. Starting at the Corso Italia and moving towards the harbour. And from the harbour to the finish at Castello Ursino. The riders needs some technique if they do not want to lose time in the midsection and they must gain their speed on the first kilometer.
  
  Favourites:

  Jovan Sesto, radu
  Bazil Mohora, Fighting
  Niek Zomer Storm, Sandefjord
  
  Catania – Siracusa is stage two and is an almost flat stage that leads the riders north to the ancient town of Siracusa. The famous Archimedes has found his maker here and will there be a rider that is already losing the tour on this stage.
  
  Favourites:
  
  Casper Ramsgaard, Snooman
  Jan-Joost Batenburg, Holwerda Cycling
  Andrez De Ridder, DJMS
  
  Stage three is the Siracuse – Messina stage a long stage that leads us to the strait of Messina. Once Odysseus sailed his ship here and now we see sprinters battling in the streets of Messina for a much earned ceremony.
  
  Favourites:
  
  Altun Burak, Vitória

FC
  Arkady Nesterov, En trailer med vin
  Jan-Joost Batenburg, Holwerda Cycling
  
  The last stage is Messina – Palermo the longest stage and most likely the stage that gives us the winner of the Giro di Sicilia. Following the coastal road the riders most climb over the hills that are numerous around the northern coast. We will see a select group arrive at the Foro Italico.
  
  Favourites:
  
  Renaldo Ibanez, SolenTechnology
  Leandro Queirós, qazpl
  Per Olsen, En trailer med vin
  
  In the end the winner will come from the riders that will do good in the last stage. My money will be on the rider from Colombia, Renaldo Ibanez, he is very good in the hills and will secure at least a Youth Classification jersey. His hill skills are very good and he is a close finisher..