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20:03 GMT         Day 4 of 90, Season 69    

Netherlands Tour Preview
by Tim Johnson, at 23/9-10 - 00:12 GMT


  (written by Yuri of Yuri Super Team)
  
   After a difficult Germany Tour, the last Tour of the season is now upon. The difficult roads of the Netherlands will require riders with technique to avoid falls and teams must also deal with the crosswinds. This year sees an amazing bunch of riders present at the Tour, including no less than three previous winners, and predicting a winner is very difficult. However, here’s an analysis of the chances of each team entered.
  
  
   Team WonderDee – 40th in OCM
  
  Team WonderDee and their leader Gerald Karda were the first ones to arrive for sign up. Obviously they are hoping to repeat Karda’s GC success from season 10. However, the quality of opposition is much higher this year, Will Karda be able to repeat success?
  Tour Prediction – TOP 9 in the GC
  
   Kremer – 39th in OCM
  
  Kremer are a team trying to get experience in the big Tours. With only three riders capable of working as a leadout, it looks like a tough job for captain Cary Shutts, However, he has youth on his side and this may be enough to gain him a result.
  Tour Prediction – TOP 5 in the YC
  
   Shinboners – 31st in OCM
  
  If there is a favourite for the Tour, than it would be defending champion, Torben Sturmann. The German has not had the best of seasons with only one victory to his name, but he has the quality and a great team behind to make him the man to beat this Tour. Will he be able to do it again?
  Tour Prediction – Sturmann repeats GC Win
  
   Temora Tornadoes – 28th in OCM
  
  A stage winner from the previous two seasons, Grayson Bankston is another rider to keep an eye on. He is likely to win a stage and feature in the GC but a lack of timetrialling ability make winning unlikely.
  Tour Prediction – TOP 9 and a stage victory
  
   threshold1985 – 70th in OCM
  
  A surprise entry, threshold1985 have entered a climbing team to a sprinting Tour. A prologue success with Arnoldo Wife is about the only chance of success for this team.
  Tour Prediction – The team will struggle
  
   Poker21 – 80th in OCM
  
  Egan Moseley looks very good for stage 4 but will this low experienced Team give him the support he needs for the rest

of the Tour?
  Tour Prediction – Stage victory for Moseley
  
   Rode Stier – 22nd in OCM
  
  There are only 2 Dutch teams in their home Tour and Rode Stier is one of them. Their Italian leader Fabian Turco is already an experienced cyclist in this type of races and his high TT ability will be a great bonus for the Prologue. Will he do better than last year’s 15th place?
  Tour Prediction – GC TOP 9
  
   Team Hurricanes – 69th in OCM
  
  With one of the strongest teams present, Luciano Nibali is likely to be one of the favourites for the Tour. However, Stages 1 and 4 are so important that his combination of Timetrial and hills abilities may not be enough.
  Tour Prediction – TOP 5 in the GC and a stage victory
  
   cway – 88th in OCM
  
  cway have fallen down the rankings this season but have such a strong team that this Tour may launch them back into the top division. With so many strong sprinters it is difficult to know which rider will be captaining the team. Will it be Nasir al Din Nawfal, Miles Finnerty or Aedan Weaire, all of whom could have a shot at the title.
  Tour Prediction – GC TOP 9
  
   Legia – 17th in OCM
  
  Legia’s captain Pascal Juszczak is another great talent racing in this Tour. But he was only 12th last season and has no wins this year. With an injured lead out and a lack of timetrialling ability, will he be able to get a result this year?
  Tour Prediction – GC TOP 9 for Juszczak
  
   KK Perutnina Ptuj – 53rd in OCM
  
  Putting a timetrialler as captain in this Tour is risky but KK Perutnina Ptuj still decided to give the captaincy to Jimmy Lust. Other than Lust, they will bring Atalay Tezcan (who looks good for stage 4) and Raul Ruiz (who is their best sprinter). How will this team race? Who will be their best chance for the GC?
  Tour Prediction – Stage TOP 3 for any of these 3 riders
  
   El Svilandos – 52nd in OCM
  
  Don't underestimate El Svilandos’ young Kyrgyzstan captain, Yaroslav Chastakorlenka. He has already showed his talent and he looks ready to shine on this Tour. But with no lead outs it will be difficult.
  Tour Prediction – TOP 3 in the YC
  
   Luveaucek –

47th in OCM
  
  Last year Art Cruse surprised everyone on the timetrial and managed a final 4th place in the GC. This year he looks even better in the sprints and hills. He will certainly be one to watch.
  Tour Prediction –GC TOP 5
  
   North Shropshire Wheelers – 29th in OCM
  
  After a 3rd place in a Germany Tour stage, it seems that Jaroslav Brychta is ready for this Tour. Has Germany have taken a lot out of the rider or will he repeat his success from last season?
  Tour Prediction – GC top 3
  
   radu – 66th in OCM
  
  Rogelio Nadol might be the biggest surprise this season along with his team. His great sprinting ability may give radu many wins but will it give him a Nederlandse title?
  Tour Prediction – One stage victory for Nadol
  
   Bagger – 43rd in OCM
  
  Bagger is bringing a good sprinter in Paulino Saldamando, but like many others, he lacks an ability in the timetrials and hills. Will he still surprise?
  Tour Prediction – Stage TOP 3 for Saldamando
  
   Toma Pro CST – 65th in OCM
  
  Lowie Batenburg is a Dutch rider from a Dutch team which is racing at home. Despite having home advantage his lack of results this season suggest he may struggle in this Tour.
  Tour Prediction – Stage win for this Dutch cyclist
  
   Pomada – 35th in OCM
  
  No specialist or talented riders can be seen in Pomada’ entry to the Tour. It seems they will fight only in the Breakaways.
  Tour Prediction – A Tour struggle
  
   Yuri SuperTeam – 51st in OCM
  
  Patya Gordeyeva has had a successful season with four victories to his name, including a stage win at the Volta. He has the skills and a good team behind him. He will certainly be one of the favourites for the title.
  Tour Prediction – TOP 3 in the GC
  
   JJL24SS – 21st in OCM
  
  An ex-winner is always going to be considered one of the favourite, and Nicolai Hermansen is no exception. His performance last season was a disappointment but he is likely to be better this season.
  Tour Prediction – TOP 5 in the GC and Stage win for Nicolai
  



Comments


Gradient Levellers at 00:20 23/9-2010
  Apologies for getting this up late - the Tour started today. Yuri sent it to me yesterday but didn't have time to get it edited until tonight.
  
  My brain is dead now, so please let me know any stupid mistakes - I'm sure there's one somewhere!


Team Kernow at 00:33 23/9-2010
  Great Stuff guys, although not involved myself, I love reading the team by team previews :)
  


Shinboners at 00:35 23/9-2010
  Great preview Yuri. Hope it is accurate :)


Royals at 07:56 23/9-2010
  good stuff, reading about different teams for a chance


Team WonderDee at 08:53 23/9-2010
  Great preview! :)


Yuri SuperTeam at 12:42 23/9-2010
  thank you guys! I bet Tim had had a lot of work correcting what i've wrote... Thank Tim :)


Royals at 23:36 25/9-2010
  The thing is; when tours are reviewed we know the team better. I like to see some new teams
  :)
  


Yuri SuperTeam at 12:31 27/9-2010
  Team WonderDee - Tour Prediction was right
  
  Kremer - Tour Prediction was right
  
  Shinboners -Tour Prediction was right
  
  Temora Tornadoes - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  threshold1985 - Tour Prediction was right
  
  Poker21 - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  Rode Stier - Tour Prediction was right
  
  Team Hurricanes - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  cway - Tour Prediction was right
  
  Legia - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  KK Perutnina Ptuj - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  El Svilandos - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  Luveaucek - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  North Shropshire Wheelers - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  radu - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  Bagger - Tour Prediction was right
  
  Toma Pro CST - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  Pomada - Tour Prediction was right
  
  Yuri SuperTeam - Tour Prediction was right
  
  JJL24SS - Tour Prediction wasn't right
  
  To sum up the prediction was right in 9 cases but wasn't in 11 cases... Only 45% was right. Not bad at all :)


Luveaucek at 02:27 28/9-2010
  Yuri,
  
  Your prediction for my team, which looked correct before the prologue, would've made you 50%. Cruse had great DP/RS too, 93/89, couldn't go wrong I thought, damn variables...
  
  Good pics!
  
  Nederlandse rules!!!