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....s%20v2.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
plus 20xp for CT teams
Additionally, the Tour de l'Avenir offers 20 xp to all riders who take part. The exception to this rule is for Junior Riders, who will receive 40 xp.Eligible riders this year are born in 2003 or later. This 20/40 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 2005 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 2026 season will be applied after the season ends, ready for the 2026 DB.
The other form of stat increases is training. Prices might stay like last season but will be further explained later. Most rules from 2025 are still up to date with some small exceptions explained later.
Eligibility for Training:
- Only riders born in 2000 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 2025 season, then he is not eligible to be trained - as his stats have already improved in between the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Similarly, newly added riders to the DB, or riders whose stats have been improved, cannot be trained. There is a column in the transfers DB showing who is and who isn`t eligible. If this column 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 1994 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. Junior Riders will count as half a rider in CT (not allowed in PCT and PT). You can have a maximum of 4 Junior Riders.
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. Respective XP will also be awarded to un-maxed riders riding in wildcard races for their teams.
Priority for Grand Tour wildcards goes to teams have gone the longest without riding a GT. Ties are broken in reverse order of finish except for relegated and promoted teams who are in order of finish. Priority for next year is listed in the spoiler (tried to get the GT years right, let us know if there is an error).
Spoiler
Selection Priority
GT
Finish Rank
1
Bianchi Enel
0
1
2
Ethiopian Airlines
0
2
3
Peugeot
0
4
4
Sauber Petronas Racing
0
6
5
Duvel-Tsingtao
0
7
6
Riders of Rohan
2018
3
7
Bacharu Mamachari Faito!
2019
5
8
Zwift - Newton Foundation
2022
8
9
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
2022
10
10
Everesting
2022
13
11
Minions
2023
11
12
McCormick Pro Cycling
2023
16
13
Tryg - Eni
2024
12
14
Lotto-Caloi
2024
17
15
SparkNZ - Liquigas Pro Cycling
2025
9
16
Bralirwa - Cegeka
2025
14
17
Trans Looney Tunes
2025
15
18
Philips - Hero
2025
18
19
UBS - EDP
2025
19
20
Grieg-Maersk
2025
20
21
Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
2025
21
22
Jura GIANTS
2025
22
[NEW] Wildcards (CT>PCT)
There will be a maximum of 2 wildcard slots for CT teams in all PTHC races. There is a package cost for applying to a block of RDs - you can apply to as many RDs as you like within a block, once you have bought the package. (Although there is an overall limit of races to apply for).
Prices are the same as last year:
4-6 RDs
€20,000
7-9 RDs
€35,000
11-13 RDs
€50,000
No more than 4 races will be allocated to a particular team, depending on available slots. The range of RDs are provided to allow for different types of races (classic/stage races) to be selected. Points scored by CT teams in PTHC races does not count towards the CT standings, and the races do not cost any race days. Race clash rules do apply though. Respective XP will also be awarded to un-maxed riders riding in wildcard races for their teams.
Priority for PTHC wildcards goes to teams who have gone the longest without riding PTHC races. Reverse order of finishing positions will be used to resolve ties.
CT Teams in PCT GTM/HC Races
If a CT team decides to ask for a PCT GTM/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.
Time Bonus
Most races will use the following system, which was introduced in 2024.
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.
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 And Tour of the Continents.
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 CT GTM/C2 Races
PCT teams will be required to sign up to at least 12 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 75 for Cob and 76 for TT/PRL, respectively, in any of those categories in races that feature this terrain.
Stat Gains
At the end of the 2026 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:
Please note that there are a couple of minor updates for Stage Races in Pot 7, ane Cobbles and Classics paths for Pot 5 only, since the last version posted.
Point Scales
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:
There will be 2 wildcard slots for CT teams in all PTHC races. There is a package cost for applying to a block of RDs - you can apply to as many RDs as you like within a block, once you have bought the package. (Although there is an overall limit of races to apply for).
Prices are the same as last year:
4-6 RDs
€20,000
7-9 RDs
€35,000
11-13 RDs
€50,000
No more than 4 races will be allocated to a particular team, depending on available slots. The range of RDs are provided to allow for different types of races (classic/stage races) to be selected. Points scored by CT teams in PTHC races does not count towards the CT standings, and the races do not cost any race days. Race clash rules do apply though. Respective XP will also be awarded to un-maxed riders riding in wildcard races for their teams.
Priority for PTHC wildcards goes to teams who have gone the longest without riding PTHC races. Reverse order of finishing positions will be used to resolve ties.
"PTHC" should be replaced by "PCT GTM" everywhere, as CT teams still won't race in PTHC (and there are many races with 0 free slots anyway).
Also, the "Prices are the same as last year" doesn't really make sense, but you can say it's already there for next year
Ras Tailteann can be removed, as it's gone. And USA PCC doesn't make sense anymore with the new route tbh, as it's no longer "mainly sprinter focussed".
But maybe Benelux would be another candidate? Iirc there were rarely big time gaps (and TDU is also in there with some hilly stages)... And maybe Amissa Bongo, which only has flat stages and prologues. But in the end it's up to you anyway, mainly wanted to point out that Ras is no longer needed.
It is supposed to be PTHC wildcards for CT teama. Updated the wording to 'maximum of 2 slots'. It will be given as available.
Removed Ras. Benelux and TDU will be taken care of by the first system, which is anyway a change from the previous defaults. Will confirm about Amissa Bongo and USAPCC.
OK, thanks for clarification then. I thought it was PCT GTM because there are always the 2 free slots that were mentioned. PTHC should add some fun for CT teams though - only possibility for them to face PT teams
And I suppose their riders will also gain PT-level XP, i.e. the same line "PT (PTHC for PCT)" in the table as for PCT teams?
And can CT teams participate in PCT GTM races the same as HC races, i.e. just by selecting them in the C1/C2 race selection? Maybe that could be clarified then; for PCT teams, it says "PCT in CT GTM/C2 Races", then we could also write "CT Teams in PCT GTM/HC Races" instead of just HC. Sorry for being picky again, but I know it's exactly the kind of question I'd ask if I was a CT manager
Ah, and just re-read part of the first post - I think the year numbers should be modified in some places:
Any stat increases gained during the 2025 season will be applied after the season ends, ready for the 2026 DB.
Should be:
Any stat increases gained during the 2026 season will be applied after the season ends, ready for the 2027 DB.
- If a rider only maxed out during the 2025 season, then he is not eligible to be trained - as his stats have already improved in between the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Should be
- If a rider only maxed out during the 2025 season, then he is not eligible to be trained - as his stats have already improved in between the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
At the end of the 2025 season the newly gained xp will once again lead to stat increases of talents.
Should be
At the end of the 2026 season the newly gained xp will once again lead to stat increases of talents.
Left US PCC on the sprint system because TDU is and that is a punchy race, I guess the difference being the sprint stages in TDU. So could argue that either way. Inclined to leave it this way for this year. Maybe change next year.
Agree Benelux might be a candidate. Amissa Bongo would rather not give out the big bonus seconds to keep the short TTs more impactful.
So I think we leave it as is for this year at this point.
Just doing a development path check for my talents.
Did I miss something for changes to the 2026 Stat Gains with the nerfing of "Climber v1" so that it now provides almost no gain in the Hill stat vs 2025? Was that an intentional change or a mistake in the file? Happy for someone to reply to me on this via discord. Thanks!
Just doing a development path check for my talents.
Did I miss something for changes to the 2026 Stat Gains with the nerfing of "Climber v1" so that it now provides almost no gain in the Hill stat vs 2025? Was that an intentional change or a mistake in the file? Happy for someone to reply to me on this via discord. Thanks!
