Champion System
“
On Your Marx...”
All of Champion System's riders this year are of equal ability and shall be paid the same amount. Well, according to their far-left manager. Look, nobody wants a lesson on communism, do they? No. Because I couldn't give a flying fuck. Anyway, now I'm just Stalin with this preview.
Like Androni, this is a team based around their EPIC riders, Kim Po-Ding and Rajesh Kakhi. The two Asian super talents have the ability to really push the Communist Machine onwards. Promotion is unlikely with their lack of depth but the signing of Acevedo gives them some more quality in the mountains. Other CT teams should fear their appearance at any TTTs as, with the likes of Kim, Grawunder and Pinotti, they could fly.
Not literally. Flying is for capitalist pigs.
Main Signing: Kim Po-Ding
Leaders: Kim, Kakhi, Acevedo, Nocentini, Schnaidt
Pros: Unlimited coverage in North Korea. Great TT men
Cons: Erm, revolution is great in the short-term but you're going to get problems further down the line
Predicted CT Final Position: 6th
Cofidis
“
Le Poulet avec la nouvelle tête?”
Ah, Cofidis. After last season's tame surrender, they had become the ultimate joke, mainly due to some idiot writing a blog about the bad management. Anyway, they have a new manager now and no cheese is being eaten. Under the helm of their new boss, Cofidis have started some small revival. But they are nowhere near the level of former years and a season in the shadow of their French rivals looks likely.
Martinez and Alaphilippe are great, underrated signings. Young, French sprinters with lots of ability. Sadly, it will take them a while to be regular winners, so Cofidis have to rely almost solely on Navarro for major points as the rest of the team just don't have it. Pellizotti is solid but old and this should be his last season as a leader. Another team that has made some great signings (and a couple of baffling ones), I'm sure many neutrals will want to see them bounce back.
Main Signing: Franco Pellizotti
Leaders: Navarro, Pellizotti, Martinez, Petit
Pros: A good group of twenty-something French riders to build their squad around
Cons: If Navarro has a bad season, they're in trouble. Too one-dimensional at the top.
Predicted CT Final Position: 9th
Colombia
“
Oh. Dear. Oh dear, oh dear”
When writing a preview, you have to try to be as impartial as possible because that's the fair thing to do. However, when you have a squad as ridiculous as this, it's hard. Here's how this team works: The Colombian Cycling Federation (or whatever it's called over there) get money from sponsors and from government funding for Elite Athletes. They then use that money to pay for young Colombian athletes to reach the elite level and compete professionally. All while raising the profile of Colombia and getting exposure internationally.
Now, how their manager hasn't been executed for treason, I don't know.
He's basically using the Colombian public's money to pay a bunch of ragtag foreign mercenaries who can't even speak their language to ride in a bunch of races halfway around the world. And
that, Champion System, is why we don't like capitalism.
Anyway, Muriel and Chaves may get some good results in the mountains and I don't care about the rest. Sorry. Not a team for the neutrals this one.
Main Signing: Alex Dowsett
Leaders: Guido, Bernard, Dowsett, Muriel
Pros: They actually have TT'ers now. And sprinters!
Cons: They should rename the team
Predicted CT Final Position: 13th
Drapac Cycling
“
A new wave of convicts”
Ah, Australia. You can't not love the place. Sun, sandy beaches, their obsession with shit beer. Oh, and of course the raving lunatics that populate the place. But these lunatics love sport, any sport. So much so, that millions of people suddenly became Daniel Ricciardo fans overnight last March despite not being able to spell his name. “It ain't Bruce, it ain't Australian”. Anyway, I fear I may have gone off track here. Unlike Ricciardo.
It's always nice to get new teams and new managers involved in the sport and this one really did start at the bottom with nothing but an old Dutch bloke called Floris. With that in mind, they've done very well to construct a squad that actually has a chance of wins but they're a long, long way off the majority of teams. Their battle will be mainly with the unmanaged teams for now but as long as their manager stays active and star sprinter Matt Leigh avoids any speed bumps, they may just close the gap to CCC and the rest.
Main Signing: Matt Leigh
Leaders: Leigh, Cantwell, Morton
Pros: A well constructed squad with 90% Aussie focus and a solid leadout
Cons: They're extremely weak beyond their top 3 or 4 riders and their sprinters can't climb
at all
Predicted CT Final Position: 15th (of the managed teams)
FDJ.fr
“
French Supremacy. Possibly even fascism”
As mentioned earlier (see, told you you'd see later), most teams go into transfers with a plan. And relegated FDJ's plan was clear and sensible. Get rid of the debris and concentrate on a small core of riders from France. Now, their manager has gone full fascist here and just thrown out everyone that doesn't wear the flag on their chest. Whether they will even set foot outside of France remains to be seen but it won't be long before some sort of invasion.
Démare and Bouhanni could own the CT and between them, should they be at the right races, they will carry FDJ to the brink of promotion. A solid classics team led by Ladagnous will score them more points and De La Lumiere, Roy, Vichot, Elissonde and Gallopin will (PCM AI permitting) easily clinch their return to the WT. Unless the supreme overlord of the UCI changes the rules again. This might be a small team but they pack a serious punch. Or should that be un coup de poing. Je suis desolé.
Main Signing: Plusvite De La Lumiere
Leaders: Démare, Bouhanni, Ladagnous, Elissonde
Pros: 110% French. Should be able to compete at every CT race and even some WT ones
Cons: Small squad, possible French Hitler in the making
Predicted CT Final Position: 2nd
Pro Team Astana 
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BMC Racing Team 
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
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