Written by pete from peddelen
  
  Today the best sprinters of the world gathered in Groningen for Nederlandse Tour and were presented to the public on the Grote Markt. The organizers of Nederlandse tour claimed that they had the best field in their 9 seasons history and we think they might just did that.
  
  New names who made big names for themselves mixed with old stars and successful tour riders will make this Nederlandse one of the most interesting in history.
  
  ABK
  First up is what the team with the man who is considered the best sprinter at the moment. Mollerup will be making his debut in Nederlandse and with that all is said because his ABK lead outs still look too weak to help him. Mollerup will end up in the top 9 in all the 6 stages and take a top 9 in GC for sure.
  
  blast
  Hiller Thomsen is captain for blast in this race and Bernard is hoping he will surprise just as Volta winner Leitão. Winning Nederlandse seems a hard nut to crack for Thomsen but making the podium in stage 4 might be possible.
  
  Bywater CT
  Jacek announced that his Bywater team would do something hardly seen on Nederlandse Tour, riding with 2 captains. Edinho en Eagles are both appointed to aim for a high GC spot. Besides the 2 captains Jacek brings 4 time trailers who aim for the victory in the prologue Edinho is also a good contender for the YC.
  
  Dingetjes
  What would Nederlandse tour be without Dingetjes? The Dutch team enters for the 4th time in a row and is looking for revenge after last seasons GC disappointment. Luxembourger Yvard is leading the teamand takes part for the last time in YC.
  
  Drapeau Noir
  Lizarraga was a former lead out of Torreira but Drapeau Noir gives him a chance to be captain in this tour. Manager Delion however fears that the field might be too strong for him also due to the lack of a good team to back him up. Main chance for top 9 for Lizarraga is in the prologue.
  
  Equipe Hollandia
  Despite the fact that Apetri was on the podium of almost all the races he entered he is not captain. Due to many racing this season the Equipe might be a bit tired and therefore Delavignette will be leading the team and is our second favorite to win this tour.
  
  Greenride
  The Portuguese team greenride has made a record deal involving Vincent Newlon and 580k to attain Avery Nijholt who is believed to become the best hiller in history. He will enter his first tour and will have a great team to back him up which includes Pires last seasons number 3. We expect Nijholt to come out as GC winner in after a close fight.
  
  johny2
  Doing both Germany and Nederlandse sounds like too much but when you are in the best form of your life you must take advantage

of it. If recovered well from Germany Skinner is a man that might surprise and win in GC. Time trailer Bemmel is a contender to take the prologue.
  
  Kremer
  Wojciu was the first manager to arrive in Groningen said to be making preparations for the arrival of his team. Bernardski normally takes a couple of top 9 spots but with so many good riders this might be hard for him.
  
  lastplace1414
  Brian Place sends a team with 5 Americans and a cobbler from Uzbekistan. Their goal? To have fun! Brian claims that he has the worst team of the race. We say that Davin Wann might surprise him when he scores a top 9 in stage 2.
  
  Megaman
  Lencko must have thought why change a successful concept. Alemao will try to win the prologue and then hang on in the peleton to secure a top 9 spot in GC.
  
  Onie
  This Dutch team makes his debut in Nederlandse and has a Dutch captain making it a local darling.
  The teams main focus is normally cobbles but Arnolds is good sprinter and has some back up to get some top 9 finishes.
  
  peddelen
  Pete has said it many times for him there is only one goal win Nederlandse with a Dutch rider and Dussel the man who has to do it. However he also knows that this year might not be the year due to the heavy competition. Dussel will have a hard time to defend his 4th place in GC of last year even a top 9 looks hard.
  
  Red Star
  Revenge that is what Kondrotas and Petter are looking for. The defeat of last year on the last stage still makes Petter steam out of his ears. Kondrotas has shown to be successful in Germany tour and like Skinner will do “the double”. Top 3 will be hard for Kondrotas this year but he real will be close. Winning YC will less harder.
  
  Rode Stier
  Climbers in a sprinters paradise? Interesting tactic, will it work? It sound like a tactic made to win stage 4. We think it will not work to get the win but Rogaars may surprise us and revolutionize the tactics in Nederlandse.
  
  Shinboners
  He’s back! The only man to win this race twice Sturmann re-enters this race with one goal win it. Support by the best lead out train in the race the Sturminator will rule the flat stages. However in the prologue and stage 4 he probably will lose time on the others. Top 5 for GC look certain for recordholder.
  
  Siporex
  When you say Nadal you say tennis but not in El Salvador. Siporex has a very fast sprinter who knows no fear. However the small roads in the Netherlands require some technique and that is what Nadal lacks. We say Nadal must be hoping for a top 9 to keep the home front thinking about cycling when they hear the name Nadal
  
  Team Jayco
  Most people already forgot

Bankston won two stages in Nederlandse and now the old Australian comes back in an Australian team. Manager Lachlan hopes he can repeat that but the years have been hard on Bankston a couple of top 9 positions will be a good result for the old captain.
  
  Team Tirilla
  After last season victory Fraga we claimed he was built for Nederlandse tour but the change of team did do him much good many podia but only one victory and Tirilla sends to little support to give Fraga a good chance to defend his title. A podium in stage 4 and top 9 in GC will be slightly disappointing.
  
  Torreira
  Manager itisix brings the young Rios to debut at Nederlandse. This youngster looks promising but itisix is restructuring his team and cannot give him full support for this race this time. No problem time is with the 23 year old as time is with him. A podium spot on stage 3 and YC for Rios would makes his debut at Nederlandse successful.
  
  OUR PREDICTIONS:
  
  Stage 1: Groningen Prologue:
  *** Edinho (Bywater CT)
  ** Delavignette (Equipe Hollandia), Nijholt (Greenride)
  * Bemmel (johny2), Alemao(Megaman), Skinner(johny2)
  
  
  Stage 2: Groningen – Hengelo
  *** Delavignette (Equipe Hollandia)
  ** Nijholt (Greenride), Sturmann(Shinboners),
  * Rios(Torreira), Kondrotas(Red Star), Skinner(johny2)
  
  
  Stage 3: Hengelo - Eindhoven
  *** Nijholt (Greenride)
  ** Delavignette (Equipe Hollandia), Rios (Torreira)
  * Dussel (peddelen), Sturmann(Shinboners), Kondrotas(Red Star)
  
  
  Stage 4: Eindhoven – Maastricht
  *** Nijholt (Greenride)
  ** Delavignette (Equipe Hollandia), Skinner (johny2)
  * Mollerup(ABK), Fraga(Team Tirilla), Thomsen(blast)
  
  Stage 5: Utrecht – Rotterdam
  *** Nijholt (Greenride)
  ** Delavignette (Equipe Hollandia), Skinner (johny2)
  * Bankston (Team Jayco), Kondrotas (Red Star), Sturmann (Shinboners)
  
  Stage 6: Den Haag- Amsterdam
  *** Delavignette (Equipe Hollandia),
  ** Nijholt (Greenride), Sturmann (Shinboners)
  * Kondrotas (Red Star), Mollerup (ABK), Skinner (johny2)
  
  General Classification:
  *** Nijholt (Greenride)
  ** Delavignette (Equipe Hollandia), Skinner(johny2)
  * Edinho (Bywater CT), Sturmann (Shinboners), Kondrotas (Red Star)
  
  Youth Classification:
  *** Edinho (Bywater CT)
  ** Kondrotas (Red Star), Rios (Torreira)
  * Elofsson (Bywater CT), Thomson (blast), Yvard (Dingetjes)