Yes, we kick off another fine year of cycling down in the land down under with the Tour Down Under 2011. This year, as usual, looks to feature the fast men on the flats mixed in with some final goodbyes and a whole lot of getting to know each other. Let's have a look at some of this year's featured teams.HTC Highroad
No, they may not be Columbia anymore but they are just as dangerous in the sprint. I honestly don't know how you can call anybody else the "top" team in an event like this. Cavendish is in the spotlight every time he lines up for a sprint and with solid helpers like Eisel and Grabsch as well as world-class leadout man Mark Renshaw he should be lining up for quite a few sprints. But if he can't be there HTC has quite a capable understudy with them as well.
After Cav just didn't have it in Sunday's Cancer Council Classic (essentially a 1 day crit to preview the TDU), it was Aussie Matt Goss who coupled up with Renshaw at the line and took the win. But he didn't just do it with pure speed, as he and Renshaw made a crafty move at the end to join a small group and gain just enough separation on the field to launch. Goss's breakout last year was in my opinion the main reason why Highroad let Greipel walk and he is only going to get better in his new role. Since Cav isn't exactly on top form just yet, I would actually say that Goss is HTC's serious GC threat at this year's TDU.Omega Pharma Lotto
It will be Team Greipel's job to protect their new prize and try to help him repeat down under. And apparently they mean business too, as solid Belgian domestiques Van De Walle and Roelandts made the trip to kangarooland as well. They came out with their eye's on the prize in the crit on Sunday doing most of the work (even Goss admitted it) but couldn't quite match the last move and let it slip by. Nonetheless, Greipel has to be a contender for both stages and the GC.
It will be Team Greipel's job to protect their new prize and try to help him repeat down under. And apparently they mean business too, as solid Belgian domestiques Van De Walle and Roelandts made the trip to kangarooland as well. They came out with their eye's on the prize in the crit on Sunday doing most of the work (even Goss admitted it) but couldn't quite match the last move and let it slip by. Nonetheless, Greipel has to be a contender for both stages and the GC.Radioshack
Radioshack and their new jerseys will be bringing most of the hype (or at least in the States and Australia) this year. Very late addition and Aussie hometown hero Robbie McEwen will be hungry for success on his home turf and the Shack brought him a pretty decent supporting cast. Guys like Rast and Cardoso are certainly useful but nobody carries the star power quite like Lance. In what has been said to be his final professional event outside the states, Lance will probably just cruise around in the peloton for a week and sign some autographs and essentially comprise of versus's entire viewership in the US. I would love to see him make a move as much as anyone but I just can't see it happening. As for Robbie, he would be a shoe-in if races were determined by willpower but since they are decided by speed I would classify him as a contender but not a serious threat.
Radioshack and their new jerseys will be bringing most of the hype (or at least in the States and Australia) this year. Very late addition and Aussie hometown hero Robbie McEwen will be hungry for success on his home turf and the Shack brought him a pretty decent supporting cast. Guys like Rast and Cardoso are certainly useful but nobody carries the star power quite like Lance. In what has been said to be his final professional event outside the states, Lance will probably just cruise around in the peloton for a week and sign some autographs and essentially comprise of versus's entire viewership in the US. I would love to see him make a move as much as anyone but I just can't see it happening. As for Robbie, he would be a shoe-in if races were determined by willpower but since they are decided by speed I would classify him as a contender but not a serious threat.Garmin-Cervelo
As you can see Tyler modeling the new 2011 jerseys (above), he and Garmin should be in for a dry run and a bench mark for the rest of the season. Garmin has about 55,000 sprinters (ok maybe not THAT many) that can represent the team yet they chose to send their top guy to Australia. The rest of his team will be made up of Australians, including some promising youngsters like TT expert Jack Bobridge and the Meyer brothers (Cameron and Travis). Proven sprinter Julian Dean will also be helping Tyler likely with the leadouts or filling in if Tyler can't keep up. This will be a good benchmark as to where Tyler's form is right now and how it compares to many of the other top sprinters he will be facing off against all year.
As you can see Tyler modeling the new 2011 jerseys (above), he and Garmin should be in for a dry run and a bench mark for the rest of the season. Garmin has about 55,000 sprinters (ok maybe not THAT many) that can represent the team yet they chose to send their top guy to Australia. The rest of his team will be made up of Australians, including some promising youngsters like TT expert Jack Bobridge and the Meyer brothers (Cameron and Travis). Proven sprinter Julian Dean will also be helping Tyler likely with the leadouts or filling in if Tyler can't keep up. This will be a good benchmark as to where Tyler's form is right now and how it compares to many of the other top sprinters he will be facing off against all year.Team Sky
They bring a great balanced attack to this year's TDU. Aussie Michael Rogers (who should be one of the team's leaders in the stage races this year) will be making his debut but this race is all about the speedsters. Top sprinter Boasson-Hagen won't be making the trip but Sky will still have Greg Henderson and Geraint Thomas to take care of business. I would expect New Zealander Henderson to take the role of top sprinter with Thomas in more of a supporting role (that's how it worked on Sunday). Joining Thomas will be a solid cast including Simon Gerrans and Ben Swift to help with the chases. I would also watch this team in the breakaways, and wouldn't be surprised to see ANYBODY on this team try the breaks.
They bring a great balanced attack to this year's TDU. Aussie Michael Rogers (who should be one of the team's leaders in the stage races this year) will be making his debut but this race is all about the speedsters. Top sprinter Boasson-Hagen won't be making the trip but Sky will still have Greg Henderson and Geraint Thomas to take care of business. I would expect New Zealander Henderson to take the role of top sprinter with Thomas in more of a supporting role (that's how it worked on Sunday). Joining Thomas will be a solid cast including Simon Gerrans and Ben Swift to help with the chases. I would also watch this team in the breakaways, and wouldn't be surprised to see ANYBODY on this team try the breaks.Leopard-Trek
Here's a pic of Stuart O'Grady. This team probably won't be a factor in this one but I figured I'd put up a pic of their jerseys and note the presence of this superpower-in-the-making. For those who don't know (I'm sure you all do), this is last year's hyped Luxembourg project. No Schlecks in Australia though. 
You probably don't recognize these guys either, but they are actually last year's Caisse d'Epargne. They will be bringing a squad full of Spaniards headlined by fast-man Jose Joaquin Rojas. 
Looks like a sprint to me. One early climb in the beginning but everyone should have plenty of time to regroup. Let's see what everyone's got.
Here's a pic of Stuart O'Grady. This team probably won't be a factor in this one but I figured I'd put up a pic of their jerseys and note the presence of this superpower-in-the-making. For those who don't know (I'm sure you all do), this is last year's hyped Luxembourg project. No Schlecks in Australia though.Movistar Team
You probably don't recognize these guys either, but they are actually last year's Caisse d'Epargne. They will be bringing a squad full of Spaniards headlined by fast-man Jose Joaquin Rojas.Other Teams
Saxo Bank-Sungard
JJ Haedo will be their best shot for a high finish in the sprint. We won't be seeing any of the Spaniards added by Riis at the end of the year including Contador, but Saxo will still be present with guys like Niki Sorenson and Richie Porte.
Astana
No supporting cast, but Australian sprinter Allan Davis can still be considered a contender for a stage or 2.
Vacansoleil DCM
This team is just desperate for recognition, and Romain Feillu gives them the opportunity for some spotlight if he can come up with a victory.
Quick Step
Gerald Ciolek had a rough year last year, but he can turn things around in 2011. Still a significant name in any bunch sprint situation. Weak team around him though.
Rabobank
Team Katusha
AG2R La Mondaile
Lampre-ISD
Liquigas-Cannondale
BMC Racing
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Uni SA Australia
STAGE 1
Looks like a sprint to me. One early climb in the beginning but everyone should have plenty of time to regroup. Let's see what everyone's got.*Please note that since this race is in Australia and I live in Pennsylvania that recaps will be quite difficult. Don't worry if they are a bit late.
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