Written by tommy from TD rockets.
  
  GC Favourites:
  
  ***** Heinar Martin - One of the best Volta talents of his generation is back with a great support squad. Last year’s failure will fuel the hunger for GC glory!
  
  **** Jang-heon Bin (YC) - He’s only been inside the top 100 of one race since last years triumph - time to get warmed up
  
  **** Lamont Fleitz - Former champ signed by the team for this race. No pressure then …
  
  *** Espen Hammer - Not heard this name for a while … the five star climber is back looking to climb his way back onto the podium
  
  *** Florentino Mattez - Broke out at the Valparaiso last season - a Volta breakout could signal the start of a dynasty
  
  ** Sven-Olof Aspelin - The most stylish rider here finally gets a shot at a big time tour. Fun fact: he’s the first rider on this list that has a top 10 this season - he’s ready!
  
  ** Damyan Mechedzhiev (YC) - A young prodigy arrives ready to make his mark. Looks destined to be the main challenge to the YC crown
  
  ** Daniel Bell - Consistency, consistency, consistency (now watch him fail in the TT and miss out on the top 9)
  
  ** Conan

Rondau - Back after last seasons resurgence. The team tried to sell him last season so the belief will be running through him …
  
  *Camilo Benzi - Everyone expected Volta glories in the past. Now he’s a one star favourite. Time to prove the haters wrong
  
  * Peter Suhrbier - Tour superstar looking to get back into the top 9. He’ll be there in the mountains he always is
  
  *Thomas Nerland - Will be supported by Thomas
  
  *Fons Huisman - The traveling Dutch fans will go bananas for this man. Will the oranje find their next star here?
  
  *Habimama Bandawe - An unknown quantity in the big tours. Excited to see if his climbing talent can catapult a GC challenge!
  
  *Roy Bløcher - Not too sure why he’s on this list. Maybe he’s bored and will fight for it himself
  
  
  
  SC Favourites:
  
  No idea what I’m on about with the sprints. There will definitely be a new winner though I know that for certain
  
  ***** Kristian Grønkjær - The clear favorite - good luck to the rest of the field
  
  **** Ochieng Kishi - Its been labeled his farewell tour. Time to watch this legend one final time

  
  **** Salifou Coulibaly - Part of the final team to sign up. He’s arriving on the back of a stellar start to the season … can he spoil the party?
  
  **** Jostein Åsheim - He got 23 results last season. My jaw dropped when I saw that. This guy is a born racer
  
  *** Lukas Van Hove - Hopefully the team have found the best doctors as Lukas will need them to take down Grønkjær
  
  ***Jasper Torrance - A young powerhouse looking to mix it with the big boys. The dark horse of the SC
  
  *** Xaviery Malinowski - A pure sprinter who also has a kick on the small hills. Expect him to come alive on stage 8
  
  **Dani Maldarasanu - He’ll be hoping for a good prologue otherwise he’ll be in the lead out train
  
  * Duman Cumali - He’ll be hoping Maldarasanu has a bad prologue otherwise he’ll be in the lead out train
  
  *Sandy Moneypenny - The Volta wouldn’t make sense without some TT specialists. Expect Sandy to bring home the Money on stages 1,5 and 9
  
  *Bebé Matamba - A rider who is here to prove himself as a leader. He will become a legend if he can deliver a stage win. Expect fireworks in the mountains, in the hills and on the flat!