short relay. Only on flat after attacking on hills or on the downhill (if I lead) I use the dot

Ok. If you use the dot and mini attacks you win so easy But it's no fun then since then you can be in E1 from the start to the finish line if it is a mount in the start

I always play on hard, but I don't think there's much difference between the levels to be honest.

As a test, I played the L'Alpe Duez stage in the Tour on normal, hard, and extreme.

I finished 3rd on normal, 2nd on hard and 4th on extreme. The normal stage was probably most interesting as there were more attacks and a higher pace early on. Seemed the AI just can attack for longer the higher you go. Valverde had the best feeling on hard and the worst on extreme. I didn't use the mini-attack strategy, but it's impossible not to use the dot when the pace increases. If you don't use it, your heart-rate shoots up, you lose energy and then your rivals attack and you have nothing...

This was the Tour though and everyone was at top fitness. With the lesser races, it's easy to win on hard with a decent rider at 80 or so fitness...

And some of these stages you've been posting Alex seem a bit easy....

they look easy but are not on easy. Never played that level, I have no idea how it is, those 1-2-3 in sprints were on normal

I guess the difficulty increases with the managing of the form of the riders!

I guess you wont see to many diferences in playing the same stage with different difficulties but if if you play many careers with different difficulties you'll notice that it gets harder to get your rider at his top shape in the most relevant races!!

Don't really understand that.

Set your rider to peak for his goals and then race him just enough to be at top fitness when they come around.

Same whichever level you play on...

Anyway, I'd suggest a new topic for this.

Deutschland Tour Stage 3


The first breakaway group


On the last climb Tonti is still leading. And we a good advantage


Some attacks on the small hill with 10km to the line


And Kirchen makes that too


Soon they caught Tonti


An another attack from Kirchen and it looks like no one can go with him


He gets the win


But he could make such a big gap so a lot of riders were registered with the same time


Stage
1. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 4h43'07
2. Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team s.t.
3. Bauke Mollema Rabobank s.t.
4. Egoi Martínez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
5. Gerrit Glomser Team Volksbank s.t.
6. Peter Velits Team Milram s.t.
7. Andrea Tonti Quick·Step s.t.
8. Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole s.t.
9. Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
10. Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.

Overall
1. Bauke Mollema Rabobank 10h07'13
2. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia + 17
3. Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team s.t.
4. Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 27
5. Volodymyr Gustov Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
6. Iñigo Cuesta Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
7. Linus Gerdemann Team Columbia s.t.
8. Gerrit Glomser Team Volksbank + 1'03
9. Peter Velits Team Milram s.t.
10. Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott + 1'17

Points
1. Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi 25
2. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 25
3. Tom Leezer Rabobank 20

Mountain
1. Andrea Tonti Quick·Step 27
2. Richard Faltus Team Sparkasse 23
3. Rubens Bertogliati Saunier Duval - Scott 17

Vuelta a Espana Stage 4


The breakaway.


After all the escapes were caught and none of our sprinters could maintain in the pack, Lovkvist tries a knock-out


But he can't make a huge gap between him and the pack


So he is caught just before the final sprint. Visconti leads well for Steegmans


Talking about Steegmans, he looks like having no opponent today


And obviously he wins. And he is the new race leader!


Stage
1. Gert Steegmans Quick·Step 3h32'37
2. Karsten Kroon Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
3. Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto s.t.
4. Sergei Ivanov Astana Cycling Team s.t.
5. Manuele Mori Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
6. Eros Capecchi Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
7. Carlos Barredo Quick·Step s.t.
8. Sylvain Chavanel Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
9. Thomas Lövkvist Team Columbia s.t.
10. Wladimir Miholjevic Liquigas s.t.

Overall
1. Gert Steegmans Quick·Step 10h47'38
2. Sergei Ivanov Astana Cycling Team + 5
3. Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team s.t.
4. Tomas Vaitkus Astana Cycling Team s.t.
5. Janez Brajkovic Astana Cycling Team s.t.
6. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team s.t.
7. Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team s.t.
8. Chris Horner Astana Cycling Team s.t.
9. Dani Navarro Astana Cycling Team s.t.
10. Carlos Barredo Quick·Step + 20

Points
1. Gert Steegmans Quick·Step 41
2. Daniele Bennati Liquigas 40
3. Sébastien Chavanel Française des Jeux 28

Mountain
1. Thomas Voeckler Bouygues Télécom 10
2. Rafael Rodríguez Contentpolis - Murcia 9
3. Philippe Gilbert Française des Jeux 8

Young: Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team
Teams: Astana Cycling Team

A typical Steegmans-victory: a sprint where he doesn't get "bothered" by the real sprinters, just like on the Champs Elysées. Give Steegmans a clear path to the finish line and he can win, but he has to face other sprinters, oh then he's in trouble.

Deutschland Tour Stage 4


3 escapes today.


In the top of the last climb, after a few attacks, Andy Schlech, Kirchen and Joaquim Rodriguez have a little advantage over a second group madey by 15 riders. Gerdemann is in the second group


But they are caught on the downhill


Gerdemann is leading Kirchen in the sprint


And Kirchen gets his 2nd win. Still not enough to take the overall lead


Stage
1. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 4h30'32
2. Andrea Tonti Quick·Step s.t.
3. Leonardo Bertagnolli Liquigas s.t.
4. Linus Gerdemann Team Columbia s.t.
5. Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
6. Joaquím Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
7. Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
8. Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
9. Johann Tschopp Bouygues Télécom s.t.
10. Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.

Overall
1. Bauke Mollema Rabobank 14h37'45
2. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia + 7
3. Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team + 17
4. Linus Gerdemann Team Columbia + 27
5. Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
6. Peter Velits Team Milram + 1'03
7. Gerrit Glomser Team Volksbank s.t.
8. Iñigo Cuesta Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 1'09
9. Volodymyr Gustov Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
10. Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott + 1'17

Points
1. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 50
2. Andrea Tonti Quick·Step 29
3. Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi 25

Mountain
1. Andrea Tonti Quick·Step 27
2. Richard Faltus Team Sparkasse 23
3. Rubens Bertogliati Saunier Duval - Scott 17

and he wins again B)

Vuelta a Espana Stage 5


Grabsch was the leader for a long time


Untill Evans' result


Team Columbia riders catching each other on the road


Lovkvist finishes with the 2nd time


But Karpets is great today. He takes the lead


Menchov doesn't loose much time there


No one from the Astana favourites could get on the podium today


No chance for Steegmans to keep his jersey


Stage
1. Vladimir Karpets Caisse d'Epargne 53'00
2. Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto + 12
3. Thomas Lövkvist Team Columbia + 1'02
4. Bert Grabsch Team Columbia + 1'09
5. Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 1'10
6. Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 1'13
7. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 1'16
8. Markus Fothen Gerolsteiner + 1'18
9. Marzio Bruseghin Lampre + 1'23
10. Denis Menchov Rabobank + 1'25

Overall
1. Vladimir Karpets Caisse d'Epargne 11h41'10
2. Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto + 40
3. Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 43
4. Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 46
5. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 49
6. Thomas Lövkvist Team Columbia + 1'10
7. Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 1'18
8. Denis Menchov Rabobank + 1'22
9. Janez Brajkovic Astana Cycling Team + 1'26
10. Markus Fothen Gerolsteiner + 1'33

Good result for Lovkvist!

How come Vladimir Karpets always gets really good at the end of the season. In the Worlds he wins often

Go Lövet, I hope you can grab a top 10 with him!

Deutschland Tour Stage 5


The breakaway.


Luis Leon Sanchez and Gerdemann attacked early on the last climb


But Gerdemann cracks and is caught


So Kirchen attacks


Sanchez is alone in front


Kirchen is after him


Sanchez wins with a great advantage


Kirchen won the sprint for the 2nd place and some seconds


While Gerdemann lost a lot of time after that bad early attack


Stage
1. Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne 4h26'29
2. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia + 1'28
3. Josep Jufré Saunier Duval - Scott + 1'38
4. Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team s.t.
5. Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
6. Joaquím Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
7. Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
8. Gerrit Glomser Team Volksbank + 2'00
9. Bauke Mollema Rabobank s.t.
10. Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.

Overall
1. Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne 19h05'34
2. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia + 9
3. Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team + 35
4. Bauke Mollema Rabobank + 40
5. Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 45
6. Gerrit Glomser Team Volksbank + 1'43
7. Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott + 1'57
8. Josep Jufré Saunier Duval - Scott + 2'13
9. Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole + 3'24
10. Linus Gerdemann Team Columbia + 3'56

Points
1. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 70
2. Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team 37
3. Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne 31

Mountain
1. Andrea Tonti Quick·Step 27
2. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 24
3. Richard Faltus Team Sparkasse 23

Vuelta a Espana Stage 6


The escapes.


Our train is in front


But Eisel isn't after Reynes...


Hagen tries to place the new no.1 sprinter of the team in a good position


But Reynes doesn't have the power to fight with the best sprinters


And the winer is O'Grady


Stage
1. Stuart O'Grady Team CSC - Saxo Bank 3h41'59
2. Daniele Bennati Liquigas s.t.
3. Vicente Reynès Team Columbia s.t.
4. Tomas Vaitkus Astana Cycling Team s.t.
5. Robert Förster Gerolsteiner s.t.
6. Edvald Boasson Hagen Team Columbia s.t.
7. Carlos Torrent Extremadura - Ciclismo Soldario s.t.
8. Jean-Patrick Nazon AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
9. Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia s.t.
10. Bernhard Eisel Team Columbia s.t.

Overall
1. Vladimir Karpets Caisse d'Epargne 15h23'09
2. Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto + 40
3. Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team + 43
4. Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 46
5. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 49
6. Thomas Lövkvist Team Columbia + 1'10
7. Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 1'18
8. Denis Menchov Rabobank + 1'22
9. Janez Brajkovic Astana Cycling Team + 1'26
10. Markus Fothen Gerolsteiner + 1'33

Points
1. Daniele Bennati Liquigas 60
2. Stuart O'Grady Team CSC - Saxo Bank 51
3. Gert Steegmans Quick·Step 46

Mountain
1. Thomas Voeckler Bouygues Télécom 10
2. Rafael Rodríguez Contentpolis - Murcia 9
3. Philippe Gilbert Française des Jeux 8

Young: Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team
Teams: Astana Cycling Team

Deutschland Tour Stage 6


A lot of riders in the breakaway.


Our train is the best


But we don't have the best sprinters and Pollacks looks better than us


Can Hammond or Sieberg beat Pollack today?


The answer is no. Pollack wins


Stage
1. Olaf Pollack Team Volksbank 4h15'27
2. Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia s.t.
3. Roger Hammond Team Columbia s.t.
4. René Obst Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
5. Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank s.t.
6. Darren Lapthorne Team Sparkasse s.t.
7. Thor Hushovd Crédit Agricole s.t.
8. Tom Leezer Rabobank s.t.
9. Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
10. Mark Renshaw Crédit Agricole s.t.

Overall
1. Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne 23h21'01
2. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia + 9
3. Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team + 35
4. Bauke Mollema Rabobank + 40
5. Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 45
6. Gerrit Glomser Team Volksbank + 1'43
7. Juanjo Cobo Saunier Duval - Scott + 1'57
8. Josep Jufré Saunier Duval - Scott + 2'13
9. Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole + 3'24
10. Linus Gerdemann Team Columbia + 3'56

Points
1. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 70
2. Olaf Pollack Team Volksbank 41
3. Chechu Rubiera Astana Cycling Team 37

Mountain
1. Andrea Tonti Quick·Step 27
2. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 24
3. Richard Faltus Team Sparkasse 23

Nice result with them bad sprinters

Hammond!