Stat increases work the same way as they have done in the past. There are 5 levels of riders: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 and Maxed (Lvl 4 and 100 XP). Each time a rider gets to 100 xp they gain a level, and receive a stats increase of the manager's choice.
This choice comes from one of 12 categories. This file details the exact amount of gain that will be received, depending on Category, Level and Potential. https://pcmdaily....tgains.xls
The XP for these increases is gained by racing. Each race day earns a particular amount of XP, depending on the category of race and level of the rider. If a riders fails to finish a race, they still receive the xp for the full race. It might look a bit more complicated this year as due to the calendar reduction the xp system is not within full or half points but it`s still easy to calculate by using excel obviously.
XP
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
GT
0,0
0,0
1,1
2,1
M
0,0
0,0
1,1
2,1
PT (PTHC fpr PCT)
0,0
1,1
2,1
1,1
HC (PTHC fpr PT)
1,1
2,7
1,6
0,5
C1
2,1
2,1
1,1
0,5
C2
3,2
1,9
1,1
0,0
fix 20xp for CT teams
Additionally, the Tour de l'Avenir offers 20 xp to all riders who take part. Eligible riders this year are born in 2001 or later. This 20 xp is the first XP to be added to a rider during the XP calculation process. XP gained from normal races is then applied to a rider in an optimum fashion.
Riders may only gain 1 level per season, with the exception of Level 1 riders who are able to reach level 3. Though for riders born in 2003 onwards a development from level 1 to level 3 is not possible! Same counts for loaned out level 1 riders that did not include the 1->3 development clause/fee.
Any stat increases gained during the 2024 season will be applied after the season ends, ready for the 2025 DB.
The other form of stat increases is training. Prices might stay like last season but will be further explained later. Most rules from 2015 are still up to date with some small exceptions explaining later, e.g. additional trainings from the usual 5 per season depending on some limitations then, which are explained later on.
Eligibility for Training:
- Only riders born in 1994 or later are able to be trained
- Only riders who are 'maxed out' - i.e. their xp is 4.100 - are able to be trained
- If a rider only maxed out during the 2023 season, then he is not eligible to be trained - as his stats have already improved inbetween the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Similarly, newly added riders to the DB, or riders whose stats have been improved, cannot be trained. There is a coloumn in the transfers DB showing who is and who isn`t eligible. If this coloumn proves to have a mistake, this will be adjusted as the rules above are easy to check.
Stat Decreases
Also in the statgains file are the decreases that older riders will receive at the end of the season. Riders born in 1992 will receive their first decrease this time around.
Team Sizes
PT and PCT teams have a minimum team size of 20 riders and a maximum size of 30 riders.
CT teams have a minimum team size of 15 rider and a maximum size of 20 riders.
These counts include Loaned in riders, but do not include Loaned out riders. Stagiares count as half a rider in PCT/CT but do no longer count for the minimum for PT teams. You can have a maximum of 4 stagiares.
The team size for all teams in all races is 8 riders. There is a minimum of 6 riders for each race. If you cannot field at least 6 riders, you will not be allowed to take part in the race.
The only exceptions are the pure time trial events, which have a rider limit of 3 riders per team.
Salary Caps
PT: 3,500,000
PCT: 2,500,000
CT: 1,200,000
Each team has a loan cap of 200,000. The loan cap will be explained within the Transfer rules.
Wildcards (PCT>PT)
There will be 2 wildcard slots for PCT teams in all PT races - not just Grand Tours and Monuments. There is a package cost for applying to a particular race category - you can apply to as many races as you like within a category, once you have bought the package. (Although there is an overall limit of races to apply for)
Prices are the same as last year:
Classics
€30,000
Monuments
€50,000
Classics and Monuments
€70,000
Stage Races
€70,000
Grand Tours
€100,000
Grand Tours and Stage Races
€150,000
All PT Races
€200,000
Points scored by PCT teams in PT races does not count towards the PCT standings, and the races do not cost any race days. Race clash rules do apply though.
Priority for Grand Tour wildcards goes to teams who have not previously ridden a GT.
CT Teams in HC Races
If a CT team decides to ask for a HC race, this can be done in the C1C2 Race Selection file depending on open spots and priority lists as will be explained in the Race Selection Thread later.
Points scored will count towards the CT standings, race days are needed for team and riders though, just as with any other C1, C2 events.
There are some races though, that are mainly sprinter focussed, hence getting a bit of a different system to reward consistent sprinters inside the top10 but without top results.
Some, mainly hill dominated races or single mountain races where a lot of s.t. happened due to big fields in first group, were then decided by luck/randomness/positioning on the flat stages mixing the GC from stage to stage. Therefore those will get a test run in 2024 with some Formula style time bonusses as well but reduced in comparison to the already existing style as seen above.
In the past couple years GC riders dominated the point classification. Therefore parts of the RL TdF points are rewarded in the finish of specific stages.
This goes for all 3 GTs in the PT division as also for the Tour of America.
The definition of the stage is not necessarily the symbol. For mountains this usually is, for stages that end slightly uphill, it either can be the flat or hilly rating depending on the way towards the finish.
We will going to check to see if this is really as you would expect it to be.
PCT in C2 Races
PCT teams will be required to sign up to at least 6 C2 race days. The restrictions on riders they can enter into C2 races will be adjusted. It will now be a maximum OVL of 74.49, with stat restrictions on Cobbles and TT/PRL having a max of 76 in any of those categories in races that feature this terrain.
Stat Gains
At the end of the 2024 season the newly gained xp will once again lead to stat increases of talents. You can find the full list of stat gain trainings in the file below:
Every stage, every GC, every jersey will deliver some points to the team/rider depending on position and race category. The exact point scale can be found here:
In the race list under Time Bonus, should the USA Pro Cycling Challenge still be using the 2nd system given the course has been changed away from a sprinter focussed race?
On this topic, I'd also like to refer to the discussion in the suggestions thread, starting with this post. Ulrich proposed to extend the F1 bonus seconds system to more races - or even all (except GTs) - in order to get less "random" GC results. With the recent game versions, in particular hilly races often end up in big groups, and giving bonus seconds to the Top 10 (or Top 5 as an alternative) would make GC results rely less on "countback" for s.t. riders. And whether the countback is correctly implemented by PCM or not is actually a different question, I simply don't know.
So it would be good to have a decision on that topic first, before picking individual races which get the F1 bonus seconds. USA PCC indeed doesn't look suited for this anymore with the route change.
Likely there is a decision tomorrow on this. Maybe not the full Formula 1 system for all races, but some in between as MG Base, such as 20-12-8-5-4-3-2-1 or something for the full top8 to get small time bonuses.
That's one of the races Ulrich explicitly mentioned in his suggestion post
But yeah, basically it's up to the admins to decide whether we'll stay with flat-only races, or add hilly races, or races with just one decisive mountain stage, or simply to all races. If it's not all of them, I think races like Arab, Amissa Bongo or Deutschland (which are basically Qatar with a longer TT) could be added as well. Certainly not as relevant as in races with prologues, but it wouldn't do any harm, either.
It was intentional that the new USAPCC be on the list, in my testing I think that yielded "fairer" results as there are still some good size groups at the finish. It only has hilly stages so the concern of riders on flat stages getting an advantage doesn't really exist they way it does in Euskal.
But if a revised approach is used then that might change the answer.
Edited by Ulrich Ulriksen on 22-08-2024 14:12
Likely there is a decision tomorrow on this. Maybe not the full Formula 1 system for all races, but some in between as MG Base, such as 20-12-8-5-4-3-2-1 or something for the full top8 to get small time bonuses.
20-12-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 could work for top 10.
Personally I believe F1 system for all races would not damaga anything at all. Top 10 results would be more meaningful.
See the updated new time bonus for another 8 races. This is a test run in those to see if we might increase the number of races in 2025.
For now the focus is on those races, that are dominated by big fields and lots of s.t. results. Instead of top3, the top8 are getting time bonusses now.
PTHC and HC were not changed as it could have impacted the choice.
PTHC and HC were not changed as it could have impacted the choice.
So EJ is the one big exception?
If PTHC can still be included, maybe Lithuania would be an option (takes some weight off the TTT result). And likely Franceville, although the 2nd stage was very selective last year. Otherwise, I don't see any greater need in PTHC (in particular given that the Deutschland TT is now longer).
In HC, maybe mainly Benelux, which has just a short prologue and otherwise mostly (reduced) bunch sprints. Pologne could also be an option. All others have either a long TT or multiple decisive stages iirc.
Thanks for implementing this in all other races already - and to be honest, I don't think many managers would've picked different bands just because of that...
Quick question to PCT in PT races. It says: "Points scored by PCT teams in PT races does not count towards the PCT standings, and the races do not cost any race days."
What is the benefit of a PCT team to buy a wildcard for a PT race if you don't get any points but block your riders for other events? More budget?
Quick question to PCT in PT races. It says: "Points scored by PCT teams in PT races does not count towards the PCT standings, and the races do not cost any race days."
What is the benefit of a PCT team to buy a wildcard for a PT race if you don't get any points but block your riders for other events? More budget?
I believe the XP counts. So good for developing and maxing riders
XP counts so you can max riders you otherwise couldn't by yourself (though the new system makes it easier with the 0.5 for PCT races), and some people have fun and enjoy attending those races But yes obviously if you pick the wrong ones then they do still clash with your PCT races.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Yep, exactly that. For example, doing a GT is worth 21RD x 2.1XP, so 44.1XP in total. If you don't want to rely on loans (e.g. if you have a huge wage monster already, Pidcock or Vansevenant last year), PT wildcards come in very handy. I have to know it, it's thanks to those that I was able to max Schmid in-house last year
You need to be aware though that clashes still apply, i.e. a rider can't participate in two races on the same calendar day, even if the PT ones don't cost any RDs.
Do lvl 1 riders progress throughout the season and reach level 2 during the season? Or are all their racedays counted as a lvl 1 rider because they start into the season at lvl 1?
Because if they level up during the season, it would make sense to give them more HC races later in the season, as they give a lot of XP for a lvl 2 rider, but less for a lvl 1 rider.
Riders only level up at the end of a season.
However, the race days per category are taken into account such that they should give you the best possible XP gain. Avenir points always come first (i.e. you can basically start calculating at level 1.20 for Avenir-eligible riders - if you don't miss out on nominations later on). Then your C2 RDs are definitely used for progressing as fast as possible through level 1.
Once a rider "theoretically" reaches level 2, the lvl2 gains are applied. But the calendar does absolutely not matter, i.e. even a C2 race in October would be used for lvl1 progression. As said before, XP gains are applied in the most efficient way possible, so that your rider gets as high up as he can. Basically all that matters is the RD distribution across the race categories, but it doesn't matter when the races are scheduled.
So, giving a rider HC races definitely is a good idea - but it can be January or October, it doesn't matter at all.
But yes obviously if you pick the wrong ones then they do still clash with your PCT races.
