For a long time I've been aiming at 60 days per year, but now I've been thinking about a message that told me that - for instance - Contador had too few racing days on my current season.
Is this a change from previous PCM's? Is it from the fact that I'm in the beginning of the Vuelta and I'd planned for him to race this tour and the game isn't taking that into account?
I'm used to the old system, too, and don't want anybody racing more than 70 days, but a lot more are possible nowadays, though not in a row. With the old system, when you go over 60 days the maximum fitness starts decreasing, but not anymore. Riders instead get tired, for example, if they ride both TdF and Vuelta they'll be tired at the end of the latter, even if they raced nothing else all season. But with a long break the tiredness goes away.
As for that message, I just ignore it. Yes, some riders will be unhappy if they don't get enough racing days (or maybe not enough big races) but I believe the general consensus is, happiness makes no difference.
Ripley wrote:
I'm used to the old system, too, and don't want anybody racing more than 70 days, but a lot more are possible nowadays, though not in a row. With the old system, when you go over 60 days the maximum fitness starts decreasing, but not anymore. Riders instead get tired, for example, if they ride both TdF and Vuelta they'll be tired at the end of the latter, even if they raced nothing else all season. But with a long break the tiredness goes away.
As for that message, I just ignore it. Yes, some riders will be unhappy if they don't get enough racing days (or maybe not enough big races) but I believe the general consensus is, happiness makes no difference.
Happiness does make a difference and is a possible game-changer, if you have them riding only the Tour and Vuelta in their last contract year you have a fair chance of losing them to other teams because they are reluctant to sign again as they are unhappy with their schedule before signing them is possible 21th of June.
The in-game help claims that, but I am sceptical. Since PCM 2009 I always plan my season the same way, with 9 riders who don't start racing before late May/early June and do the TdF/Vuelta double and they are always annoyed or unhappy. I haven't kept score but the chances of them not accepting a new contract seem to be the same as for all my happy riders. Maybe it is a factor, but outweighed by other factors, like which other teams make offers to the rider, contract length, etc.
