@Luigi
Let's avoid promotion, shall we? We can bring in more quality custom riders then

so Voeckler as leader to Paris - Roubaix it is

although I'm still not sure, that would double his current racedays

Absolutely

@ Europcar, I'll think about that, wouldn't be fair you lose 4 riders.

It'd be nice if pro continental teams can keep their riders as long as possible if they promote to WT but if they lose their riders they can't resign new custom riders (as a replacement). This way they can naturally develop instead of losing (probably) important parts of their squad in their first WT season.

Equally wouldn't be fair for them to have 4 more custom riders than 17 other WT teams...

Probably a transit period, 4 riders in their first WT year, drop to 2 in the second or something.

But if enough custom riders join, I could get the number up to 3 for all

It would not be fair for promoted teams to have 6 and wt have 2 or 3. Even though im one of the teams getting an advantage I do not believe that it would be very fair for managers of the World Tour teams.

Still 2 more than 17 other WT teams for no legit reason. If 17 WT teams are limited, because they are WT teams, then 2 new teams should abide by the same limits.

I would be ok with limiting to 4, for one season, provided two are 18 years old only. Allows custom riders but removes the obvious ability advantage

Wasn't Ollfardh's point that every custom rider has a 1 year contract? Whether you're WT or PCT. I thought he just meant you would have to offer them a new contract if you want to keep them. Which we all do. Them's the rules.

6 -> 4 -> 2 option sounds fair.
Promoted PCT teams will have a smaller & weaker squad than the WT teams anyway

Why? World Tour teams have a superior squad. Pro Continental Teams still ride the same old rubbish car, only difference is that custom riders delivered a new motor. They ain't much worth anymore once you strip them off their new heart (custom riders).

Ollfardh's suggestion sounds good enough though.

How to defuse this situation.. Oh yeah!

Who ever said there would still be 19 World Tour teams next season?

Goodnight people!

how does this change anything

but let's wait until the promotion discussion until's it's actually time for that, for all we now this might die before you even get to it

Part of this comes back to the vagueness surrounding the off-season period...

It makes no difference about the relative strength of WT teams and custom riders. Sky are vastly superior to Vacansoleil and Euskaltel, yet they both have to abide by the same rules.
Standard Europcar is pretty similar in level to VCD and Euskaltel, so giving them 4 more custom riders is a huge advantage and puts the hard working lower strength team managers in a certain relegation battle before a pedal is even turned.

Overall the duty is to be fair to as many parties as possible in a dispute. In this instance 17 people are put at a disadvantage, compared to 2 on the other side. It hardly takes a genius to see the greater number.

Maybe only teams with two or less custom riders will be allowed into the WT?

Can PCT teams reject their promotion? That'd be another option.

And yes, TMM, off-season transfers... no idea how that will work. Hope Ollfardh has something good planned for that.

I am guessing you can renew contracts with custom riders?

Rejecting promotion actually doesn't seem a very bad option as dominating PCT team, if you are allowed to keep 4 more custom riders and entering WT races shouldn't be a problem then
Not that I'm actually thinking about it right now, but just sayin'

Can i reject relegation then as well?

I know that the more custom riders rule was meant to create a more level playing field, but in my opinion that should be changed. All teams have 3 custom riders, WT or PCT. Irl do you see NetApp getting consistent Top 10's in WT races? No. So we shouldn't have it in the game. Just my opinion.