Is there still a stat lock if we choose Option A?

No. That is the trade off benefit for not training this month.

A

ok, in that case, Option A

Option A

Option A

I got the news I feared and still wanted at the same time. After a busy month of racing (recaps below), Alycia called me to inform me that her pilot show had been picked up for a full season. She is playing the lead role. I can't say any more.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for her. But this just means more months apart. This long distance thing is difficult. Not sure if it's working for either of us, then again we never defined the relationship anyways. Yet, I don't want to lose her.

Whether this is a young dumb infatuation or something way more, I don't know.

What I do know is my athletic talents pay the bills. Let's ride.

Stage 1:

Stage 2:

Stage 3:

Stage 4:

Option B

+3 Hill

Option B

+3 Sprint

A
+3 RES

Option A

+3 Stamina

Option B

+3 Cobble

Option B

+3 Acceleration

After laying low and waiting for teams to approach him, Marcus Diamond has been presented with five possible contract options to sign for next season. The 21-year-old is now faced with the daunting task of deciding what is best for his future.

Overview

Teammate and friend Alex Vogel helped pull some strings together to get us both an offer with PCT team SEG Racing Academy. The team is currently without a cobbles leader and strong lead-out cyclists, so Alex and I would be a perfect fit.

As for the football side of things, Helmond Sport is Alex's hometown team. Last season they finished 18th out of 20 teams in the Netherlands second tier Jupiler League. They believe I could help them get away from the relegation zone.

I would be given the option to join Helmond Sport at the start of its season in August or finish out my season with Limerick FC first before joining them.

Overview

Another option in the Netherlands, however, this one would put a fracture in my relationship with Alex. I've been told Pro Tour Team Sunweb are unwilling to give Alex a contract. "Doesn't fit our team needs," also known as she is a female.

While Mike Teunissen will lead the cobbles unit, I'd get to learn from the best and train in a state of the art facility (so better training ride upgrades). Plus, I'd get the flexibility to test my luck with attacks on the PT circuit.

The offer to bolster Helmond Sport remains on the table.

Overview

This is the closest offer I received to Vancouver to possible stay in touch with Alycia. It's still a three and an half hour flight away, but I think that's doable.

Minnesota United is a relatively new club, founded in 2017, that is still looking for its identity. They have yet to reach the playoffs and are looking to overhaul an aging midfield. I'd joined after my contract with Limerick runs out.

Rally Cycling races in the CT circuit and would love to add a young team leader to provide some well-needed publicity. The team, however, might struggle to find enough cobbled races to utilize my strengths.

Alex is also hesitate to make such as move, but I think I could convince her and my younger sister Alison to move into an apartment with me. Alison has expressed some interest in attending an American University.

Overview

Former team JLT Condor has a soft spot for reunions and would love to see me return. They are still struggling along in the CT circuit with really no hope of gaining promotion any time soon. I'd be the clear-cut star on the team and Alex would get a spot on the roster as well.

More significantly, I'd get a starting role with Vanarama National League side Leyton Orient. They are eager to become a League Two football team again and already have a handful of talented youngsters coming up through the ranks.

Overview

Maybe this ongoing journey isn't finished yet. Despite all my complications with my teammates and coaches, both of my current teams don't want to see me leave. They have put some extra money of the table to convince me to stay.

But, does money buy happiness? Or the chance to progress my career?

A really tough one. Leyton Orient is a big move to get into the English high tiers, but I think we also want to be PCT at least in cycling. That means to me the Dutch offers look the best but they fracture the relationship with Alycia. I’d dearly love to take the Minnesota offer and keep the relationships with Marcus’ girls all strong but I’m not sure Rally or the MLS fit our needs sporting wise - interested to hear everyone else’s thoughts first. Provisionally:
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I prefer the options having the same contract duration for cycling and football. And after all, 2 years at Sunweb really sounds nice. It would be his chance to prove he CAN be a team-player, at least in his first year. He might get some more chances to shine in the second year. Plus, better training ride upgrades would really be great. And let's be honest, the cycling career looks much more promising than the football one right now, so I'd love to see where he can get if he joins a PT team already now.
Of course, the relationships with Alycia and Alex would suffer from this option, but I don't see any difficulties for Mre to introduce some more female characters

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3 (let's hold everything together with Alex and Alycia.)
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A starting role with a club looking for promotion to League 2 would be great for you and that pay would be really nice. Also whilst being a leader in CT might be a step below where he should, I figure that would be the best option for helping Alex develop as she should get her own chances at that level and if she develops too then the pair of you should be enough to give them a chance of promotion.

Chasing promotion in both might be a little bit of a conflict of interests for you in terms of clashes but I like the idea of prioritising the Football career right ow as you can still make a jump up divisions as a cyclist later than you can as a footballer, so if you want to continue focussing on both then you need to make a Football jump sooner than you do with cycling.

Next is the Dutch options, like you said Option 1 would be a perfect fit for both of your ambitions, and would give Alex a really nice role, Sunweb might be a step up too much and would strain your relationship with Alex so isn't as good a fit. Also the SEG option keeping the things good with Alex, whilst playing for her home town club could see her coming to some of the games to support you when she isn't racing herself.

Staying seems like it would be a bad move, it feels like relationships with both teams are strained so I think you really need to get out.

I think America is the worst move, for a MLS club to use and International slot on you feels like it doesn't help the club enough, and it takes you away from the focus of the European leagues. You'd also still be CT, but with less Cobbled races which are your strength and it feels like you'd be voluntarily stagnating both careers just to chase Alycia.

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It had been a week, I had to make my decision before offers started falling off the table. Trust your gut, they say. There is no wrong choice, they say. Do what is best for you, they say. All of that stuff is cliché. In the moment, it's terrifying.

Five options... One choice that will alter my career and life forever.

I had waited long enough. I picked up my phone to make a call, and noticed I had missed a snapchat from Alycia. Her puppy dog eyes flashed on the screen with the caption, "When are u coming to visit?"

If I knew the answer I would have responded. We were drifting apart and now I was slowly pushing her away. Distancing myself. She deserved better and I needed to focus on my career. We had our fun, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

I closed snapchat, went into my contacts list and scrolled down... S T U V...

"Hey, what's up?" Alex Vogel said after picking up the phone.

"I've made up my mind. I'm ready to see what the Netherlands has to offer."

"Awesome. You're going to love it! I'll let them know you have accepted and I'll have them send over the paperwork to sign. Looks like you are stuck with me for another season," Alex said with a chuckle.

"Can't wait."

A couple hours later, I got the paperwork and made it official. My future for next year was signed and sealed. Time will tell if I made the right decision.

Also, a note to my future self, negotiate a signing bonus next time.