Tour du Haut Var

The weekend event of the Tour du Haut Var in the South of France kicks off today, of UK interest is the participation of Sky & Endura in this event. Sky are winning big races, with a multi-million budget and their ultimate back up team. Endura are hitting only their 2nd big event after perhaps expecting a different event in Med, it turned into a bottle freezing 33mph carnival, not the best introduction to Pro racing, but they nearly all got through it (the timing system didn't agree, but we all know what happened) apart for Jimmy Mac who went sight seeing over a cliff, no serious injuries.

This event sees UK riders Froome, Kennaugh & Swift lining up for Sky, with Davy Lines, Gary Hand, Rob Partridge, Scott Thwaites, Ian Wilkinson & Evan Oliphant lining up for Endura. Sky will be expecting a result, but I'm more interested in the Endura team's continued exposure to euro pro racing, it's gladatorial stuff, racing in that kind of environment at a time when they're not normally racing.

The guys with the best form in the Endura team are expected to be Frenchman Alexandre Blain and New Zealand Champion Jack Bauer. Blain was unlucky in the Med, on one stage sitting on 4th wheel at the finish only to get sent the wrong way, so expectations firmly placed on him. Bauer is fresh from a Kiwi summers racing and is capable of taking on Pro-Tour riders and beating them, as he showed in the Kiwi champs, outwitting Garmin & Columbia riders.
Oliphant is proving his class too, so expecting him in a team role supporting Blain & Bauer.

Predictions, I think a top 5 result on a stage is a real possibility in this event for the Endura guys, expect the UK guys to bury themselves for Blain & Bauer.
Good luck again!

Riders list.
http://www.tourduhautvar.com/fra/2010/12;coureurs_partants.html