Written by Deano from Bilsky.
  
  The 5th edition of the Ganges tour is only days away. India awaits. Let the race begin……
  
  Spin Doctors
  
  The post Cowell / Witham rebuild is complete and Spin Docs bring Valparasio YC winner Kovacs as their leader. The supporting team is strong and a top 9 should be possible.
  
  Prediction: Kovacs - 7th GC
  
  Bilsky
  
  We’ve pinned our hopes on Bekkevold for this one. The poor lad has been sleeping in an oxygen chamber for months and hasn’t been allowed to see his family. Will the sacrifice be worth it….
  
  Prediction: Bekkevold - 2nd GC
  
  CARO BIKE TEAM
  
  CARO bring big money signing Kalisa as leader. They’ll be hoping he’s not been spending his money on burgers and fries as the competition is tough in India.
  
  Prediction: Kalisa - 9th GC
  
  Velo Club Bored Man
  
  Khola leads VCBM and has switched his focus to the Ganges after a Volta podium last season. But he’s 37 and the doubters will say he’s finished at this level…. he might have other ideas.
  
  Prediction: Khola - 4th GC
  
  pollyjean
  
  Pollyjean have been here before having finished on the podium twice with Paboridis. The Greek climber is back but this time he will be riding in support of Polanco who is primed for a run at the white jersey.
  
  Prediction: Polanco - 3rd YC
  
  CCFC
  
  After a GC heavy opening to the start list, the first team targeting the SC is CCFC and their leader, Anton Zub. A former runner up on stage 2, Zub is focused on going one better with a stage win this season.
  
  Prediction: Zub - 1st SC
  
  Equilibrium
  
  The temperature doesn’t need raising anymore in India but Peter Suhrbier will be an angry man after just missing out on a podium in Perm. Peter is a dangerous rider who will be in contention for a top 9.
  
  Prediction: Suhrbier - 1 top 9 stage finish
  
  Cherno More
  
  Step forward, 4th place finisher from last season, Evgeni Mutafov. Evgeni will be hunting for points in his quest for the Bulgarian national jersey at the end of the season.
  
  Prediction: Mutafov - 1 top 9 stage finish
  
  Team Unibet
  
  Team Unibet found Saychon Phothilath in their search for the next Khola in Laos. He will be hoping to follow in his countryman’s footsteps and deliver continued

tour glory to the people of Laos.
  
  Prediction: Phothilath - 2nd YC
  
  Uphill Battle
  
  Despite the team name, Uphill Battle will once again be battling for the SC after success in Norway and Chile this season. Their sprint train will depart from Sahebganj as one of the favourites for the SC.
  
  Prediction: Genev / Pold - 3 top 9 stage finishes
  
  The Great outdoors
  
  This Kazakh based set up bring Poiner as leader. The team have prepared in line with their name - no indoor training allowed. Rumour has it that Poiner won’t be allowed inside for the rest of the season if he’s not on the podium.
  
  Prediction: Poiner - 3rd GC
  
  BGK Cycling Team
  
  After signing from Paceuts in July, Dylan McUlrich has been handed leadership by his new employers. A quick glance at his CV, titled ‘A born leader’, would suggest his bosses have believed the hype. Let’s hope he wasn’t lying…..
  
  Prediction: McUlrich - 1 top 9 finish
  
  Wizzyweb
  
  Wizzyweb are only the third team so far targeting the SC and with Timofei Andronikov at the helm, they should be in the hunt for the jersey. His side quest - collect enough points to get the Kazakh national jersey for the 6th time.
  
  Prediction: Andronikov - 3rd SC
  
  UK Postal Services
  
  After the recent post office scandal halved the team budget, UK Postal Services will be the SC underdogs in India. Mockler is team leader and already has two trophies in the cabinet this season.
  
  Prediction: Mockler - 2nd SC
  
  sivac
  
  sivac bring some Brazilian flair with Camilo Benzi as leader. His lack of top form will make it difficult to challenge for the win but that shouldn’t get in the way of his main goal, finish above his former team pollyjean.
  
  Prediction: Benzi - 8th GC
  
  The Ullrichs
  
  Evan Augustine and Jacques Achterberg will battle for leadership of The Ullrichs, who have brought one of the most experienced line ups to the race. Augustine should win the battle, but I’m not sure he’ll win the war…
  
  Prediction: Augustine / Achterberg - 2 top 9 stage finishes
  
  MerschFlyers
  
  Luxembourg’s fastest man, Désiré Cornu, is down as the leader of MerschFlyers. Having previously finished 2nd and 3rd in the SC here, the only way is up for Cornu.
  
  Prediction: Cornu - 3 top 9 stage

finishes
  
  Matrix Team
  
  Noud Van Aard arrives fresh off a win in the Valparasio and will share the leadership in India with Albion Thigpen. A glitch in the Matrix and both these guys will be in the top 9.
  
  Prediction: Thigpen - 5th GC
  
  Sigue Sigue Sputnik
  
  SSS bring current U23 world champ Salifou Coulibaly as leader. He’s one of the best pure sprinters in the field and will be hoping the curse of the rainbow stripes don’t strike in India.
  
  Prediction: Coulibaly - 3 top 9 stage finishes
  
  ciccioneverde
  
  Radomir Dechev is the main man for ciccioneverde and he joins his brother, Radoslav Dechev, on the start line. Unlike his brother, Radomir is a pure sprinter and the Dechev family will hope he brings home a green jersey.
  
  Prediction: Dechev - 2 top 9 stage finishes
  
  Leseturs
  
  And another….. Leseturs will also be targeting the SC and have Belgian sprinter Harold Goethuys as leader. Harold is entering his prime years and will look to use this race as a springboard for future success.
  
  Prediction: Harold - 2 top 9 stage finishes
  
  Stroopwafel
  
  Stroopwafel are here to win the prologue. Can Rousseau hold onto the Orange jersey all the way to Gangroti? Probably not, but he will be supported by 1980 Tour de France champion Joop Zoetemelk which might help in the mountains.
  
  Prediction: 4 top 9 stage finishes
  
  CyclingClubChomutov
  
  The reigning champion Adrián Gottwald is back and has two time winner Vratislav Sedlo in support. Gottwald is the hot favourite for the YC…. and the GC.
  
  Prediction: Gottwald - 1st GC
  
  depadvinders
  
  depadvinders have decided to leave the sprinters at home and put their faith in Lounglath Tongphet, a two time top 9 finisher in the Ganges. Can he make it 3?
  
  Prediction: Tongphet - 1 top 9 stage finish
  
  Final Predictions
  
  GC
  
  1st - Gottwald
  2nd - Bekkevold
  3rd - Poiner
  4th - Khola
  5th - Thigpen
  6th - Phothilath
  7th - Kovacs
  8th - Benzi
  9th - Kalisa
  
  YC
  
  1st - Gottwald
  2nd - Phothilath
  3rd - Polanco
  
  SC
  
  1st - Zub
  2nd - Mockler
  3rd - Andronikov