I have got team columbia and have got Cavendish for sprints but I can't seem to manage to get him to the front to win the sprints. I know you have to make a sprint train but how and when should I make one. I can get in the top ten with Cavendish when he sprints from in the middle of the peleton but I want to be able to win with him so please help.

You don't nescessarily need an entire train. You can put one helper in front of cavendish and about 8km before the finishing line you can make his helper sprint-follow the head of the peloton (e.g. cyclists that ride at the front), then sprint-follow your helper with cavendish. Although, make sure you're already somewhere in the front of the peloton before you do this.

EDIT: At this point, you'll need to keep your eyes open, as the rider that Cav's helper sprint-follows might drop back in the peloton, you'll have to be quick and find a new target to sprint-follow.

To be in front at time without wasting to much energy you can move three men (including your sprinter) up front about 40-30 km before the line. Make sure the helper that will help Cavendish in the sprint is fresh, so not completely exhausted by the time the sprint starts.

Win sprints with Cavendish is pretty easy, make a train with Burghardt, Grabsh, Boasson Hagen/Eisel and put Cavendish behind them, all with 99 effort, if you do that you won't lose a stage.

Thanks I'll try that now

good video for making trains and win sprints

https://www.youtub...elALujN1rE

Many thanks to that one. If you happen to know any more...

Thanks. Great video and now have finally won five sprints with Cavendish.

another technique i've found works for me is as follows:

i'm playing astana, vaitkus isn't the world's best sprinter and i don't have many good lead out men so when forming trains ppl often got left behind or i didn't move up quickly enough.

i take my best flat rider (kloden - 75) and have him protected by my second best (murayev -73). I put kloden on 99 independent and have vaitkus sprint follow him with 11km to go. i usually hit the front with 3km to go, murayev burns out and i just use kloden to keep vaitkus there. i have vaitkus start sprinting early (1.5-1.7 km to go) just as the other trains are starting to catch up. other riders are catching him up towards the line but they've usually go too much to do. HTH

You are using a train consisting of 1 lead out and 1 Sprinter. I would call the protection cheating, as the AI cannot use the same technique.

you're probably right, but i'm very new to the game so i'm just feeling my way at the moment. but if it's not available to the AI then surely *any* protection is cheating?

Protection is part of the game.
I was talking about a protected train I though that would be obvious when talking about sprint trains.

when do you start kloden sprinting?

i'm struggling to get anyone near the front for a sprint. i just get to watch everyone else suddenly come forward and cruise past my riders...
i only get to be up front if i attack in the last 15-20kms, but that usually ends in a dud sprint...

Guess it depends much on the fitness of AI riders. If they're in good shape You an't really get into the front of peloton to be able to start finishing. If they're not (beggining and end of the season) it's much easier. I'm talikng about a difference of 60 to 80% effort just to be able to keep in the front of the pelooton... Not mentoning setting up a proper and succesful train...

kloden isn't much of a sprinter so i only start him sprinting if he's got a bit of energy left around the 2k mark. the point is he's good on the flat so can hold the train at the front of the peleton during the last couple of k's, allowing a decent sprinter to use him as a springboard. anyway a decent sprint team can form a proper train and win normally, my way is just to compensate for not having a top class sprinter. i recommend having a few practice stages with a columbia till you find a technique that works for you.

lachi - i understood your point, mine was simply that if, as you say, protection is part of the game, how can it be "cheating" in one situation and not in another? i'm not disagreeing particularly just curious as to your reasoning.

Wont work for me, got Ignatiev (80 Flat), in his wheel, Weylandt (78 Sprint)and then Swift (78 Sprint). Only a lil bit of their yellow bar is drained. And still Ignatiev loses alot of ground, he doesnt even gain a bit of ground :/. My conterders in this race have a max of 77 Sprint, most even lower. Even if i sprint follow with Swift he cant get passed someone with 74-76 Sprint :/