Sooner or later, this has got to be considered one of the best stories in this section. Nearly 100 pages, 2 seasons completed with great results, although it doesn't get many comments sometimes, it's one of those I always stop for a read. Now, I just wish you good luck for 2013 with more success.
Always love it when stories/careers make it several seasons! Good luck with your new season, I usually put in a lot of work with the editor as well between seasons.
Riders in: Marco Pinotti (BMC), Kevin De Weert (Radio Shack), Bernardo Riccio (D'Angelo)
Riders out: Luca Scolari (Lampre), José Serpa (Astana)
Star riders: José Rujano, Kevin De Weert, Francesco Ginanni
Androni - Giocatolli maintained themselves surprisingly in the World Tour last year. This year, the team hasn't become stronger. José Serpa left, and he got replaced by Kevin De Weert. The team will aim for the Giro with Rujano, and the Italian hilly classics wit riders as Grandene, Ginanni, Lorenzetto and Ferrari.
Monster ranking:
BMC Racing Team
Riders in: Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto), Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre), Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini)
Riders out: Michele Scarponi (Nespresso), Thor Hushovd (Lotto), Karsten Kroon (M&M's)
Star riders: Jurgen Van den Broeck, Giovanni Visconti, Alessandro Ballan
BMC has changed it's course a bit. With the departure of last year's Ronde van Vlaanderen-winner Thor Hushovd, the team has become a bit weaker for the cobbled classics. But the mountain, hilly and stage races apirations have become much bigger with the arrival of Jurgen Van den Broeck, Giovanni Visconti and Bauke Mollema.
Monster ranking:
Euskaltel - Euskadi
Riders in: Benat Intxausti (Movistar), Juan Manuel Garaté (Livestrong), Haimar Zubeldia (Radio Shack)
Riders out: Samuel Sánchez (Lampre), Jonathan Castroviejo (Saur), Amets Txurruka (Andalucia)
Star riders: Igor Antón, Benat Intxausti, Koldo Fernández
After numerous years for the Basque team, Samuel Sánchez decided to leave the team and will spend the last few years of his career with Lampre. He got replaced by Benat Intxausti, a good and talented stage racer, but not as good as Sammy. Igor Antón will get a shot at 2 GT's this year. It's not sure yet if he will defend his Giro-title.
Monster ranking:
La Française des Jeux
Riders in: Fabian Wegmann (Garmin), Guillaume Blot (Bretagne), Nicolas Édet (Cofidis), Daniel Teklehaimanot (Qantas)
Riders out: Borut Bozic (Liquigas), Yauheni Hutarovich (Astana), Nacer Bouhanni (TDC)
Star riders: Fabian Wegmann, Gianni Meersman, William Bonnet
With the departure of 3 sprinters, FDJ hasn't become stronger for 2013. It wil be very hard for them to stay in the World Tour. It's sure that we see many riders in breakaways, and hope that some will last untill the finish. When the race turns out in a sprint, William Bonnet is the man to finish it.
Riders in: Sébastien Joly (Cofidis), Stéphane Poulhies (Bretagne).
Riders out: David Zabriskie (Garmin), Óscar Freire (Movistar), Murilo Fischer (Sony Ericsson), Christian Vandevelde (Radio Shack), Fabian Wegmann (FDJ).
Start riders: Johan Vansummeren, Ryder Hesjedal, José Joaquín Rojas.
Garmin has become weaker last winter, with the departure of many "secondary" riders, but the arrival of only a few "secondary" ones. Nevertheless, the cobbled squad is still strong with Vansummeren and Chavanel. Also Ryder Hesjedal and Dutch talent Michel Kreder will aim for the hilly classics. Hesjedal will aim for a top 5 in a GC.
Katusha, the Russian global cycling project relies on the same star riders as last year: Filippo Pozzato for the cobbled classics, Joaquím Rodríguez for the hilly classics, and Cadel Evans with another shot at his first Tour de France-win. But with the departure of Silin and Karpets, as well as the aging of Evans and Rodríguez, the team hasn't become any stronger.
Monster ranking:
Lampre
Riders in: Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel), Giacomo Nizzolo (Radio Shack), Luca Solari (Androni).
Riders out: Damiano Cunego (Radio Shack), Alessandro Petacchi (BMC), Francesco Gavazzi (Rabobank), Diego Ulissi (Liquigas).
Star riders: Samuel Sánchez, Simon Spilak. Adriano Malori.
After many, many years, Damiano Cunego is no longer a member of the Lampre-team. The little prince left for Radio Shack, and is replaced by Samuel Sánchez. The 2008 Olympic champion will aim for some hilly races, as well as the Tour de France. Simon Spilak will be the team leader in the Giro and has a chance for a top 5. Giacomo Nizzolo replaces Ale Jet as the new leading sprinter. Also look out for Adriano Malori wit his great time trial.
Riders in: Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sony Ericsson), Thor Hushovd (BMC), Matthew Goss (Qantas), Maxime Monfort (Radio Shack).
Riders out: Jurgen Van den Broeck (BMC), Bart De Clerq (Accent.Jobs), Jurgen Roelandts (Sony Ericsson), Kenny Dehaes (Landbouwkrediet).
Star riders: Philippe Gilbert, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Matthew Goss.
With the winners of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the Ardennes-triple, Il Lombardia and the World Championship, as well as 14 sprint wins, 2013 must be a success for Lotto - Belisol. With riders as Gilbert, Hushovd, Boasson Hagen and Goss, the tea will be a contender for the hilly classics, the cobbled classics, mass sprints, time trials and short stage races. The only thing lacking is a GT-contender, Maxime Monfort isn't strong enough to finish in the top 10.
Riders in: Alberto Contador (-), Óscar Freire (Garmin), Carlos Barredo (Rabobank), Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel).
Riders out: Benat Intxausti (Euskaltel), Mauricio Soler (Colombia), Marzio Bruseghin (D'Angelo)
Star riders: Alberto Contador, Ángel Madrazo, Francisco Ventoso.
A surprise, or expected? Alberto Contador returns from his clenbuterol-suspension and is looking for revenge. Being sacked by Saxo, he was free to join Team Movistar. But what is Movistar without Contador? A team with a few decent hilly riders, climbers and sprinters, nothing more. But Contador points will probably keep them in the World Tour.
Monster ranking:
Omega Pharma - Quick Step
Riders in: Fränk Schleck (Radio Shack), Julien El Fares (Cofidis), Kris Boeckmans (Topsport Vlaanderen).
Riders out: Tony Martin (Red Bull), Tom Boonen (Sony Ericsson), Gerald Ciolek (Red Bull), Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack).
Start riders: Fränk Schleck, Tyler Farrar, Peter Velits.
One year after the fusion between Omega Pharma and Quick Step, the team is without a real contender for the cobbled races, after the departure of Tom Boonen. A lot of quality riders have left the team, and only Fränk Schleck can bring the team some good results in the hilly races and the GT's.
Monster ranking:
Pro Team Astana
Riders in: Fabio Duarte (Nespresso), Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ), Chris Sutton (Sky), José Serpa (Androni).
Riders out: Fredrik Kessiakoff (Nespresso), Kevin Seeldraeyers (Sonhy Ericsson).
Star riders: Roman Kreuziger, Vasil Kiryienka, Yauheni Hutarovich.
Astana has spent some money to bring some strong sprinters in the team. And with Hutarovych and Sutton, the team can score some wins. The hilly and GT-squad (Kreuziger, Kiryienka) has been reinforced with Fabio Duarte and José Serpa. Rumour goes, this will be the last year of Alexandre Vinokourov!
Monster ranking:
Qantas Airways
Riders in: Steven Kruiswijk (Rabobank), David Zabriskie (Garmin), Geraint Thomas (Sky), Mathew Hayman (Sky).
Riders out: Matthew Goss (Lotto), Michal Albasini (Red Bull), Daryl Impey (Team Type 1).
Star riders: Sebastian Langeveld, Simon Gerrans, Steven Kruijswijk.
The departure of Matthew Goss is a big blow for the expected sprint wins. But the team has potential winners for cobbled races (Langeveld and Thomas), hilly races (Gerrans) and GC's (Kruijswijk).
Monster ranking:
Radio Shack - Nissan
Riders in: Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Egor Silin (Katusha), Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma), Bradley Wiggins (Sky), Leonardo Duque (Sony Ericsson).
Riders out: Kevin De Weert (Andronni), Giacomo Nizzolo (Lampre), Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel), Maxime Monfort (Lotto), Fränk Schleck (Omega Pharma), Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank).
Star riders: Damiano Cunego, Brradley Wiggins, Vincenzo Nibali.
With the departure of Paris - Roubaix-winner Fabian Cancellara, the focus from Radio Shack - Nissan is mainly at the GT's. Nibali, Cunego, Klöden, Wiggins, Leipheimer, Brajkovic and Fuglsang can all enter the top 10 (or 5) of a GT. Tour de France winner Nibali is aiming for another win in Le Tour. With this squad, expects some good hilly results, but don't count at the team for mass sprints.
Riders in: Wout Poels (Monster Energy), Jens Keukeleire (Monster Energy), Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre), Marko Kump (Nespresso).
Riders out: Bauke Mollema (BMC), Matti Breschel (Monster Energy), Steven Kruijswijk (Qantas), Carlos Barredo (Movistar), Tom Leezer (M&M's).
Star riders: Luis León Sánchez, Heinrich Haussler, Lars Boom.
Rabobank lost the 2 remaining Dutch stage race talents. In 2011, Robert Gesink Left, this winter Mollema and Kruijswijk left. Also their star for the cobbles-races, Matti Breschel, left. It's up to Lars Boom (cobbled race and time trials), Mark Renshaw (sprints) and Luis León Sánchez (stage races) to bring the team some wins. For sure, the team has become more weaker!
Monster ranking:
Saxo Bank
Riders in: Fabian Cancellara (Radio Shack), Vladimir Karpets (Katusha).
Riders out: Alberto Contador (Movistar), Chris Anker Sorensen (BMC).
Star riders: Fabian Cancellara, Nick Nuyens, Juan José Haedo.
One of the most surprising transfers last winter was the return from Paris - Roubaix-winner Fabian Cancellara to Bjarne Riis and his Saxo Bank team. Together with Nick Nuyens, he forms an extremely strong team for the cobbled races. Richie Porte and Vladimir Karpets are the ones for the stage races, but a top 10 for them will be tough.
Monster rating:
Sky Procycling
Riders in: Ivan Basso (Garmin), Candido Barbosa (LA).
Riders out: Bradley Wiggins (Radio Shack), Geraint Thomas (Qantas), Matthew Hayman (Qantas), Chris Sutton (Astana).
Star riders: Mark Cavendish, Rigoberto Urán, Juan Antonio Flecha.
Team Sky lost a few very important riders. Bradley Wiggins left for Radio Shack and Geraint Thomas for Qantas. Still, the team remains very strong. Mark Cavendish is the man for the sprints, Juan Antonio Flecha for the cobbled races, Rigoberto Urán for the hilly classics, and Kanstantsin Siutsou, Chris Froome and Iván Basso for the stage races.
Monster rating:
Sony Ericsson
Riders in: Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma), Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto), Kevin Seeldraeyers (Astana), Bjorn Leukemans (BMC), Stefan Schumacher (Pisanellastoria), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC).
Riders out: Edvald Boasson Hagen (Lotto), André Greipel (Red Bull), Leonardo Duque (Garmin).
Star riders: Tom Boonen, Rein Taaramaë, Greg Van Avermaet.
After their first season, and with promotion to the World Tour, Sony Ericsson lost many important riders, with the departure of Boasson Hagen and Greipel. The team reacted perfectly and has become one of the sptrongest cobbled teams, with Boonen, Van Avermaet, Roelandts and Leukemans. van Avermaet is the leader in the hilly races, and Taaramaë will aim for a top 5 in a GT.
Now, I just wish you good luck for 2013 with more success. 
