I would like to start a game in which I'll rely on you guys for my decisions
I will have the final cut on the decision but I hope I could choose between the suggestions done here and I will follow the majority as often as possible. Hopefully getting enough answers to establish a majority
I will report in this thread the progress and ask you whenever a key decision has to be made.
I will play with pcm 2011 pack daily pcm found here : https://pcmdaily.com/infusions/pro_dow...hp?did=865 (btw thanks so much, it is awsome
I will play hard for both management and simulation.
The plan is to start a career mode with a very weak team (1 star or equivalent, 2 max) and get it over the top after some years (won't mind to sign Contador in a Malaysian team to achieve it )
So here we start : which team do you like me to play ?
So here I am, 47 years old and managing director in Wall Street for a fucking bank. Shitty work I am fed up with.
Time to change my life and dedicate myself to my hobby, no my love: cycling!
I want to be the best but cannot invest to much myself so I took advice from Cycleman123 and LL Sanchez they give me names of some pro team looking for a new manager and a fresh start. I couldn’t contact Geox and Endura was not interested given my lack of experience and their descent level, so I had to choose between Jelly Belly and Orbea. I took a look at Jelly Belly and saw that the sponsor were going to leave next year: that is so good as I don’t plan to renew such a low budget! Plus I love the shirt…
So Jelly Belly, here I am. I started full of motivation with a big speech about how ambitious we should be at targeting the Tour de France in the next 5 years or so, the team responded well and ask me what should be our main goal for this season, applying my management lessons (that you have to be a nice boss and make some jokes) I told them it should be to win Tour of Qatar best climber. Given the serious discussions between the staff and the riders, I gave up telling them the sad truth: there is no climbing contest in Qatar.
My second disappointment was when I looked at the team Finance:
So I took the hard decisions that I had to and fired my Scout, my Doctor and my best but most expensive Trainer.
Then I schedule appointment with the riders, make them pass tests, and was again very disappointed:
It will be hard to win a race with my best Sprinter at 68, Time Trial rider at 65, Hills climber at 62 and all Mountain skills below 60… Potential? well no future star in the team: only noticeable potential being Nic Hamilton who should target Time Trial of 72/76 and Cobblestones of 68+ and Alestair Loutit with Hills skill that should reach 74/78.
So even if we already are beginning of January, I need to recruit! Given the Finance I can afford something like 10k EUR a month or 13k EUR a month if I fire my last trainer, and I probably should given the potential of my current riders and the quality of the trainer…
I have several contacts with free riders and here is the short list I established: Didac Ortega Orts, 29 years old,, Mountain 67, Hills 65, Time Trial 63, looking for 2250 a month for a 1 year contract, Andres Ignacio, 24, , M67, H63, TT65, 3550/month for 3 years, Donato Cannone, 29, , M 67, H 66, TT 66, 4750/month for 1 year, Luca Zanasca, 28, , M68, H64, TT68, 5500/month for 2 years, Artem Ovechkin, 25, , M71, H62, TT75, 8500/month for 2 years.
So who should I hire among them? What about Trainer, fire him (and possibly recruit one good later if Finance look fine)?
Edited by duxili on 07-10-2013 16:00
I would go with Ovechkin but his wage is quite high. Then ignacio would be my second choice. Btw. There are other riders who have a low wage and good stats that are under the age of 23 so you should have another look.
Given the unanimous vote from my advisors, I hired Ovechkin not for 2 but for 3 years for the amount he wishes (8500E). Still a good deal, even if he will never win a “Grand Tour”:
Then I looked at my Finance and fearing bankruptcy in case of poor result, I fired my last staff, releasing a 4700E/month. Sticking to Abelbaba’s advice, I looked for a young rider with low wage to reinforce my team; I wanted a salary at 2000E and hills competences as high as possible hopefully at 65 or more. Well, time to start to make compromise and learn Italian: Yeap that is the first good news of the season! Abelbaba has been magic, if not for him I would have hired the 29 years old Spanish…
Finance is still in the red and we will need to get 14kEUR/month of race price to breakeven. Hopefully, we will get more so I can hire a trainee and possibly a descent coach during the season.
So now it is time to plan the season 15 riders and 2 leaders: Ovechkin for big races (categories HC and 1) and Alberio for regional race (cat 2), I will split the team in 2, each group will ride 3 parts of the seasons (Early Classics, Classics, Giro, TdF, Vuelta, Late Classics):
Group 1: Overchkin (leader), Van Ulen (best mountain rider in the team with 59), Dickeson (2nd mountain skills, and 71 in flat so he can chase if needed), Hernandez, (3rd best muntain skills...) Powers (68 in flat, can help for chasing), Hamilton (59 in hills so he can be a good protector), Miller (hopefully strong enough to carry water in big race?), Hangman (64 in TT might be of some use?) Cogburn (to get a 8th fellow when the race required it)
Group 2: Alberio (leader), Louit (best hills rider with 62), Hanson (with 68 in SP, he might perform in cat 2 race), Huff (70 in flat would be needed for chasing or preparing sprint), Mazich (go enough to carry water), Oronte (because we need a 6th man to participate…)
I am tempted to dedicate Group 1 to Early season (to ease Financial pressure), Classics (as they could peak of form here) and Late Classics (to benefit from the peleton’s fatigue).
That would make Group 2 operating during “Grand Tours” season participating to smaller races.
Is it ok to split 8/6 between Group 1 and 2? Would you change anything in the split between the Groups?
What about the split of the season between the Groups?
Am I too ambitious wanting to participe to the whole season? Should I skip one period? Should I overlap at the begining (obvioulsy I can register to 1 race at a time given this strategy)
I am really open to advices as past ones have been so helpful!
Edited by duxili on 25-09-2013 09:21
In French we say: who is saying no word does agree (not sure if same idiom does exist in English?)
Well, I hope it is true in this case as I moved on according my previous plan in 2 groups. Here is the training schedule for each group:
By the way it is fiting correctly my Sponsor's objectives:
I don't plan to take part in any WT race so no Dauphine nor Tour de Suisse but I could manage all the other goals with my A team
I really need you help on some important matters:
1. What training for Ovechkin? Fighter or Time Trial? (you got his potential in previous post)
2.Does it matter if I fullfil my sponsor's goal given he will not be renewed for next year? (Any impact on the negotiation with another sponsor?) By the way what is the best strategy when you are looking for a new sponsor?
3. Finally what schedule for January: I am already registered for San Luis, so I can either run San Luis + Amissa Bongo or Calabria (what would be best?) or apply for Langkawi Tour which is HC and I think I can win (and cancel my registration for San Luis).
1. I would go for the Fighter training, this wil train everything exept mountains.
2. First of al, looking for a sponsor costs money , and iirc goals were indeed important when you contract ends (not sure though, I would use the forum search here)
3. Well winning brings in the most money, but in San Louis is a ITT, wich would be good for Ovechkin to gain some time, so here it depends on the opposition what is best...
I was still undecided about San Luis or Malaysia. I asked Ovechkin what he would prefer and he told me Mountain please!
Unfortunately I learnt about Malaysian anti-Americanism the hard way: They just refused my request for an invitation without even a word, just publishing the list of participants. There I couldn't find Jelly Belly's name.
So planning for this month was quite simple:
Oh, yes, I sent Dickenson to Australian championships on his own and he achieved a descent 16th place in the ITT, opening our sponsor’s reward page.
Then it was time for the first race of the team:
The objective was simple: Win!
Of course Ovechkin would have to beat Garzelli and Di Luca among other, but what was he hired for?
STAGE 1
Stage 1 is almost flat. I really enjoyed my first morning meeting. The guys looked focused. I always try to make it short so here is what I have said:
“Guys, there is no more time for welcome. Today, the competition begins. There are strong teams out there looking for victories, so let’s get out and shows them who we are! Artem, you stay in the pack. Any one else who is feeling good should go for the breakaway. There is almost no chance to success but there is a KOM jersey to bring home.”
And so Hamilton did, being in the first attack.
Unfortunately he missed the KOM so when the bunch was closing the gap, I asked him to go for the intermediate sprint, so he wouldn’t have done it for nothing.
Final sprint was on and Ovechkin was perfectly placed by his team mates. Unfortunately he missed power and couldn’t keep the sprinters’ wheels. Worse than that, a gap opened and all the team lost precious seconds.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
Rank Name Time
1 Danilo Napolitano 4h00'50
2 Alejandro Alberto Borrajo s.t.
3 Krzysztof Jezowski s.t.
4 Michele Merlo s.t.
5 Angelo Furlan s.t.
6 José Alberto Benitez Roman s.t.
7 Gorik Gardeyn s.t.
8 Matthias Friedemann s.t.
9 Martin Pedersen s.t.
10 Juan Pablo Forero Carreno s.t.
11 Cole House s.t.
12 Stefano Garzelli + 38
36 Artem Ovechkin s.t.
Edited by duxili on 28-09-2013 14:34
“I know you did your best to do what I told. So this is good. But what a disaster yesterday’s stage was! Not only did we miss our goal but also our leader lost some time! You might be used to get excuses; you might be used to accept your mediocrity. That is the past. From now on, please note that the result is everything. You can neglect my advice, as long as you meet your goal and following my advice will be no excuse for failing! Today is crucial with the hill arrival; I want no more time lost. So now get on your bikes and do your fucking job!”
None of the rider went in the breakaway that was pointless anyway as the bunch was grouped at the bottom of the final hill. The team was well placed and Ovechkin tried to respond when Duarte Arevalo attacked 5 kilometres from the goal, but he was out of gaz for a counter attack, so he put himself at the front of the bunch pushing as hard as he could. Once again that wasn’t enough: most of the favourites was still there and he was loosing power, so he stopped leading and try to stay with the other stars, letting Duarte Arevalo flying to what could be a decisive win.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
Rank Name Time
1 Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo 4h11'22
2 Danilo Di Luca + 1'22
3 Francesco Di Paolo s.t.
4 Francesco Ginanni s.t.
5 Isaac Bolivar Hernandez + 1'36
6 Artem Ovechkin s.t.
7 Oscar Pujol Munoz s.t.
8 Danilo Napolitano s.t.
9 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez s.t.
10 Walter Fernando Pedraza Morales s.t.
GC
Rank Name Time
1 Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo 8h12'40
2 Danilo Napolitano + 58
3 José Alberto Benitez Roman + 1'08
4 Gorik Gardeyn s.t.
5 Martin Pedersen s.t.
6 Matthias Friedemann s.t.
7 Danilo Di Luca + 1'26
8 Francesco Di Paolo + 1'28
9 Francesco Ginanni + 1'32
10 Luis Alberto Romero Amaran + 1'42
11 Nic Hamilton + 1'43
14 Stefano Garzelli + 1'46
16 Artem Ovechkin s.t.
STAGE 3
“Tomorrow we have the key time trail, so take it easy today”.
Uninteresting stage indeed, with Napolitano taking his second win.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1 Danilo Napolitano 4h02’48
2 Angelo Furlan st
3 Krysztof Jezowski st
4 Gorik Gardeyn st
5 Alejandro Alberto Borrajo st
6 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez st
7 Jose Alberto Benitez Roman st
8 Martin Pedersen st
9 Michele Merlo st
10 Juan Pablo Forero Carreno st
26 Artem Ocechkin st
No change in GC but 10'' bonus for Napolitano
STAGE 4
“Artem, you are the second favourite of the stage after Garzelli. I expect nothing but a win today!”
Ovechkin starts fast with the eye of the tiger: there will be time for resting during the downhill later on.
Intermediate time is another disappointment: sure he gets the best provisional time but tight and with Garzelli yet to pass.
Of course Ovechkin keeps pushing, and he gives it all on the line
but he fails on the line for 1 sec,
until the winner lowers the best time further.
Not even a podium place.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
Rank Name Time
1 Stefano Garzelli 23'16
2 Jeremy Vennell + 4
3 Ben Jacques-Maynes + 5
4 Artem Ovechkin + 6
5 Francisco Mancebo Perez + 11
6 Magno Prado Nazaret + 13
7 Chistopher Baldwin + 19
8 Juan Javier Estrada Ruiz + 20
9 Radoslaw Romanik s.t.
10 Javier Moreno Bazan + 21
GC
Rank Name Time
1 Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo 12h39'40
2 Danilo Napolitano + 29
3 Gorik Gardeyn + 38
4 Martin Pedersen + 41
5 Stefano Garzelli + 50
6 Ben Jacques-Maynes + 55
7 Artem Ovechkin + 56
8 José Alberto Benitez Roman s.t.
9 Francisco Mancebo Perez + 1'01
10 Chistopher Baldwin + 1'09
21 Nic Hamilton + 1'59
62 William Dickeson + 3'38
64 Bernard Van Ulden + 3'42
@Cycleman & The Rider: thanks for the support, you are right of course, but we might end up loosing a place or 2 in the final GC plus we were in the right part of the split, before he couldn't keep the rythm...
Edited by duxili on 28-09-2013 14:35
“Today is the day. You have all been very disappointing so far. We have another hill arrival. OK I acknowledge targeting a win this early and with so many hills has been a little bit too optimistic but we should keep our top 10 and why not place a second rider if the pack let a breakaway win the race. So Nic, Bernard and William try to get in the break, the rest of you protect and position Artem for the last climb.”
It was clear early in the stage that the breakaway will be caught. Ovechkin was well placed at the start of the climb but he wasn’t again in a good day. He did his best but finished far from the winner Garzelli who seems to have taken the GC in his bag with only 2 stages to go.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
Rank Name Time
1 Stefano Garzelli 4h01'16
2 Guy East + 2'45
3 Gianluca Maggiore s.t.
4 Fredy Excelino Gonzalez Martinez + 3'01
5 Lukasz Bodnar s.t.
6 Elliot Craddock + 3'21
7 Eric Schildge s.t.
8 Muhamad Adiq Othman Husainie s.t.
9 Yamith Gualtero Gomez s.t.
10 Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo + 3'40
11 Danilo Di Luca + 4'00
32 Artem Ovechkin + 4'55
GC
Rank Name Time
1 Stefano Garzelli 16h41'36
2 Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo + 3'00
3 Martin Pedersen + 4'17
4 Ben Jacques-Maynes + 4'31
5 José Alberto Benitez Roman + 4'32
6 Danilo Napolitano + 4'44
7 Danilo Di Luca + 4'49
8 Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez + 4'52
9 Gorik Gardeyn + 4'53
10 Artem Ovechkin + 5'11
51 Nic Hamilton + 8'32
59 Bernard Van Ulden + 9'29
83 William Dickeson + 10'11
STAGE 6
“Let’s try again what we have failed at yesterday. Nic, Bernard, William you should be allowed in the breakaway. Artem, it is your last challenge today, as tomorrow is flat, so give it all!”
Van Ulden attacked and attacked again, but Garzelli’s team did not let any breakaway go. During the 1st big climb of the day, they even pushed very hard. So hard, that in the beginning of the downhill, a gap opened between a small front group in which Ovechkin was helped by Van Ulden. I screamed in the earphone:
“This is our chance! Bernard go for it, push as hard as you can!”
And we manage to create a 2’ gap with the followers who were spread apart in small groups. Van Ulden kept pushing on the flat but unfortunately got no help from Acqua & Sapone: Garzelli sure was in the front but Di Luca was lagging behind.
After a while, Van Ulden had to soften the pace and Duarte Arevalo came back. As Van Ulden was running out of force and the gap was closing with the bunch, Acqua & Sapone decided to take over!
In the last climb, when Garzelli attacked, we let Duarte Arevalo countered and stayed with Jacques-Maynes and Benitez Roman, respectively 4th and 5th in the GC (number 3 was well behind our front group).
We managed to stay with them and when the road flatten again, it was time for Ovechkin to give it all with 3 kilometres to go.
He resisted the come back of his rivals for the first podium of the team!
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1 Stefano Garzelli 5h36'01
2 Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo +5'45''
3 Artem Ovechkin +6'26''
4 Francesco Ginanni +6'46''
5 Jose Alberto Benitez Roman 6'53''
6 Ben Jacques-Maynes 6'53''
7 Bryon Patricio Guama De La Cruz +9'06''
9 Francisco Mancebo Perez +9'22''
10 Enrico Franzoi +9'22''
GC
1 Stefano Garzelli
2 Fabbio Andreas Duarte Arevalo +8'59''
3 Ben Jacques-Maynes +11'44''
4 Jose Alberto Benitez Roman +11'45''
5 Artem Ovechkin +11'53''
6 Francesco Ginanni +14'29''
7 Francisco Mancebo Perez +14'58''
8 Martin Pedersen +15'07''
9 Fransesco Di Paolo +17'20''
10 Bryon Patricio Guama De La Cruz +17'20''
STAGE 7
“Congratulations for yesterday. That is a great achievement! Yes we can get good results if we stay focus and cease opportunities. Sure we have secured a podium on the stage and a top 5 overall, but Artem is just 9’’ down from the podium. The stage is flat? Well isn’t Atem better than his rivals on the flat? So let’s try something in the final today. Don’t hesitate to lead the bunch if needed to close the gap on the breakaway.”
With 6 kilometres to go Van Ulden attacked with Ovechkin in his wheel. However he couldn’t break away.
So he when he reached the front of the bunch, Ovechkin took his chance.
And yes he managed to create some gap. Could he make it to the end?
Spoiler
It was close, but sure he could
and with the bonus, he got to the 3rd place overall. What a last 2 stages! 1 win and 2 podium, to turn a poor race so far into a great result!
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1 Artem Ovechkin 4h24'13''
2 Gorik Gardeyn st
3 Stefano Garzelli st
4 Alejandro Alberto Borrajo st
5 Krzysztof Jezowski st
6 Martin Pedersen st
7 Jose Enrique Gutierrez Cataluna st
8 Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle st
9 Walter Fernando Pedraza Morales st
10 Ben Jacques-Maynes st
GC
1 Stefano Garzelli 26h41'30
2 Fabbio Andreas Duarte Arevalo +8'59''
3 Artem Ovechkin +11'43''
4 Ben Jacques-Maynes +11'44''
5 Jose Alberto Benitez Roman +11'45''
6 Francesco Ginanni +14'29''
7 Francisco Mancebo Perez +14'58''
8 Martin Pedersen +15'07''
9 Fransesco Di Paolo +17'20''
10 Bryon Patricio Guama De La Cruz +17'20''
FEBRUARY PLANNING
Here is a reminder of my sponsor's goal (though I don't really care as I will look for a new one and according the post I found the impact is limited for new budget) and what I have so far:
I can register just 1 race at the time, I will use my A team with an Ovechkin at his full speed.
What race should I request an invitation to?
@LL Sanchez & Abelbaba Thanks!
Edited by duxili on 29-09-2013 08:07
A nice planning.
I would also try to race the Etoile de Bessèges, and maby some smaller races after oman (Profit from fitness), I would also look for stage races witj Itt's in them (Don't know if the Giro di Sardegna has one)
@Abelbaba I tried but I have been rejected, same for Sardena...
I am feeling worried about my Finance with 12k and few race in feb... I really need to do an awesome Oman Tour.
@The Rider In fact I use the 2012 beta version. I have corrected the link in my initial post, sorry for the mistake.
)
, Mountain 67, Hills 65, Time Trial 63, looking for 2250 a month for a 1 year contract,
, M67, H63, TT65, 3550/month for 3 years,
, M 67, H 66, TT 66, 4750/month for 1 year,
, M71, H62, TT75, 8500/month for 2 years.
, and iirc goals were indeed important when you contract ends (not sure though, I would use the forum search here)
