Fortunately, 18 are, and they have flown out to South Africa for the MTN Cycling Classic.
A slightly hilly HC season opener around Port Elisabeth, the race having been relocated from Bloemfontein, where last year's race also acted as season opener. A late Roche move was foiled as Pozzato won from Monfort, Ponzi, Rast and Caruso.
Only Monfort of these riders returns, and lines up as a favourite for this race, alongside the likes of Ginanni, Bellis, Roux, Vanendert, Kolobnev, Flugel and Pozzato's replacement at California Giant, Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez.
The home nation will hope John-Lee Augustyn can repeat and even improve on last year's 10th placing, with South African champion Daryl Impey lines up for Jayco - Red Bull - the pair having recently swapped teams.
And if youre looking for a wildcard, how about Daniele Bennati? The top Italian sprinters turned a few heads when they realised he was racing here, but with the final few kilometres being flat and even downhill, who knows?
So...
Are you ready to go?
Spoiler
Vespa
1. F. Ginanni
2. N. Arndt
3. M. Bono
4. G. Bosisio
5. D. Garbelli
6. A. Pagoto
7. A. Passalacqua
8. M. Quinziato
Rapha Condor
11. J. Bellis
12. D. Appleby
13. A. Dowsett
14. C. Froome
15. T. Grmay
16. H. Kiprotich
17. Z. Ndbri
18. T. Teklit
Bianchi
21. M. Monfort
22. D. Claeys
23. W. Gustov
24. J. Hochmann
25. A. Matzbacher
26. F. Odebrecht
27. P. Rooijakkers
28. K. Vantornout
Aker Solutions
31. A. Roux
32. J. Castroviejo
33. H. Duenas Nevado
34. O. Hirschlein
35. J. Le Bon
36. A. Lund
37. L. Nordhaug
38. J. Rovira
Bpost
41. J. Vanendert
42. F. De Greef
43. C. Gautier
44. M. La Lavandier
45. M. La Lavandier
46. W. Maesen
47. G. Van Keirsbulck
48. J. Vansummeren
Tinkoff
51. A. Kolobnev
52. P. Brutt
53. D. Galimzyanov
54. P. Korzh
55. D. Kozontchuk
56. A. Markov
57. A. Timofeev
58. N. Trusov
Team VW
61. A. Flügel
62. W. Anacona
63. G. Brenes
64. W. Li
65. B. Noval
66. K. Predatsch
67. G. Preidler
68. R. Zabel
Cal Giant
71. S. Sánchez Gonzalez
72. W. Frischkorn
73. P. Ghyllebert
74. A. Howes
75. B. Jacques-Maynes
76. L. Pasamontes
77. K. Reijnen
78. T. Zirbel
WWE
81. J. Pineau
82. M. Astarloza
83. J. Keukeleire
84. B. Mollema
85. J. Polito
86. H. Roulston
87. R. Sutherland
88. T. Voeckler
Export
91. JL. Augustyn
92. C. Evans
93. D. Kairelis
94. H. Martino
95. M. Rutkiewicz
96. K. Seeldraeyers
97. I. Seledkov
98. T. Ziegler
Saab
101. M. Wyss
102. N. Aistrup
103. U. Galiev
104. P. Lavery
105. G. Likhaya
106. J. Lindgren
107. E. Salgueiro
108. J. Sørensen
Meanwhile Smowz wearing a fetching safari hat bellows out of a megaphone from his team directors car...
"Daryl get off the damn front row back in the pack!"
Back in the team car he turns to his assistent.
"Hey did you let down those tires of the 'Team Emu Export' car like I asked?"
Assistent points urgently to megaphone, which Smowz hastily turns off.
I just see my jersey waaay back behind
I told them to line up early, unprofessionals *headshaking*
Can't wait for the first race I think my team is very strong here with Monfort/Claeys Top 3 placing is a must here
Team Bianchi - 2012 Man-Game ProContinental Tour Champions
Oh noes..
Crashes mean that Bianchi will be in there
I like the way of this race, I hope that the "highlights" will be also on Youtube with highlights I mean after the finish at PCM09 they showed highlights so we can see how the race went and the finish
Team Bianchi - 2012 Man-Game ProContinental Tour Champions
(It`s him isn`t he)
