Vien wrote:
Well, every career I simulate, he gets around 11th. The epicness of this tour is that, after the cobble stage, the game doesn't recognize every rider as a GT rider anymore because they'll be too far behind.
@Ulrich Ulriksen: Don't worry. If I really wanted him, I simply should've gone for him earlier.
And that is why Cunego has NO chances in Le Tour....
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game
@Ulrich Ulriksen: Don't worry. If I really wanted him, I simply should've gone for him earlier.
Well yes. I am sure Gilbert would have been around for another round or two.
No, but riders like Johnnie Walker would have, I just picked him earlier because there were so many Australian teams, so I thought it was more likely that someone else would pick him.
@Ulrich Ulriksen: Don't worry. If I really wanted him, I simply should've gone for him earlier.
Well yes. I am sure Gilbert would have been around for another round or two.
No, but riders like Johnnie Walker would have, I just picked him earlier because there were so many Australian teams, so I thought it was more likely that someone else would pick him.
I think UU's comment was a perfect example that 's are necessary. Edited by Teddy The Creator on 31-05-2012 13:11
January 15: Surprises and disappointments at pre-season tests
Freddy Cruz 26th and last recruit
Spoiler
Just before the transfer market closed, VI has struck again with the signing of young American Freddy Cruz, a decent time trial alent. "We hope he will do well in the TTTs, apart from that we don't expect too much from him this season". The manager also stated that the team is now full, which means there is no place for "perfect tutor" Jaan Kirsipuu and the talented Stefan van Winden. "It's a shame, but we can't stretch our budget any further".
Meanwhile, the climbers, puncheurs and stage racers, joined by young Jasha Sütterlin and Freddy Cruz, had a VO2 max test at a local hospital. Most results confirmed the expectattions of the riders. Tejay van Garderen amazed with much higher figures than we expected, proving he may even become a great climber in the future. Though Urán's time trial talents are still relatively low, the test has proven that he may become one of the world's best climbers within one or two years. Juelien el Fares and Egor Silin also proved to be much more of a climber than we thought, and the team has changed their training plans accordingly. Surprises of the day were Jasha Sütterlin, who may do better on smaller hills in the future than we expected, but whose TT potential has appearantly gone down the drain, and Freddy Cruz. The worst climber of the team proved to have the potential to be the best one. "They are still checking if they made any errors", Cruz said. "If the results are true, it means I've had the wrong training program the past years, and now I make to start making up for it..."
Note: The "results" of the tests were based on Kentaurus' *cough* great *cough* new way to classify riders.
At the start of each month, I will try to make a monthly preview of the team. During the Tour, I will start doing special updates again, as it's the team's main goal. Good luck to all teams this season!
Edited by Vien on 31-05-2012 20:48
Michael Matthews
Luke Durbridge, Caleb Ewan, Johnnie Walker
Expectations
Should the pack stay together, Michael Matthews may be the favourite to win the bunch sprint. However, that is very unlikely. If there will be no bunch sprint, a top 10 for him would be nice, but if we want to win, we need to be in a lucky breakaway.
Sponsor demands
This race could only be important for the sponsors if we got the NC jersey, but they agree that this chance is very low.
Australian ITT Championships
Spoiler
Luke Durbridge
Johnnie Walker, Caleb Ewan, Michael Matthews
Expectations
This race should go between Cadel Evans and Michael Rogers, but behind them a lot of riders have a chance to get the bronze medal, like Matt Goss, Michael Hepburn and "our" Luke Durbridge. Perhaps Michael Matthews, third in 2011, can surprise as well?
Sponsor demands
Sponsors don't care too much about third places in races that don't get broadcasted, especially if they aren't in their continent. Only a win could make the sponsors interested in this race.
Santos Tour Down Under
Spoiler
Peter Sagan, Michael Matthews
Luke Durbridge, Caleb Ewan, Dirk Müller, Egor Silin, Johnnie Walker
Expectations
Since we weren't invited to the Tour of San Luis, Peter Sagan will have to start his season in Australia, which means he will have the share the leadership with Michael Matthews. We don't have anyone who's really able to win this race, though a top 10 and the young riders' jersey should be a reachable goal. Perhaps Silin and Müller can surprise in the breakaways?
Sponsor demands
A race that usually doesn't get more than half a page on the Dutch teletext pages, so this is not an interesting race for the sponsors. The only thing the sponsors don't want us to do is to fail completely, after all it's a WT race.
Giro Della Calabria
Spoiler
Peter Sagan
Michael Matthews, Luke Durbridge, Caleb Ewan, Dirk Müller, Johnnie Walker
Expectations
The Giro Della Calabria is a fairly unknown race of three hilly stages, one of them with a flat sprint. After the Tour Down Under, Peter Sagan and Michael Matthews should get here in an excellent shape, and since we don't expect too much competition, we hope to get some really good results here.
Sponsor demands
I don't think the sponsors would've set this as a goal for this season, but they realise that coming into the big classics without any wins could cause some bad publicity as well.
Just a first attempt to make an interesting preview, any tips?
Kentaurus made a mistake which gave me Benelux races instead of "Other" races. I tried to implement the Tour of San Luis/Qatar/Oman/USAPCC/Portugal, but my riders have at least 59 race days already so I only decided to only join one of those.
Apart from the monthly reviews, I will attempt to publish races in 3D from time to time. My goal is to reproduce the results that are simulated in the man-game. Remember that I don't have the jerseys, so you'll have to use your imagination a little bit. Here's my first attempt at the Australian Championships. Any tips?
F. Cantwell is furious at the Skoda car for blocking him. He placed the first attack of the way, which turned into a group of 8 that quickly got a 3-minute lead. No VI-SigaarSnor riders, which means the team will be focusing on rider Michael Matthews, who will either have to do it in a late attack or the final sprint.
An attack it is! At 58 kilometers from the finish line, Michael Matthews takes his chance to make the leap to the leaders. It was quite hard to get away, but now he's slowly gaining time.
Disaster strikes as Matthews gets a flat tyre! Surely he won't have enough energy in the tank to get time again?
Just as we thought, Matthews drops back into the peloton and doesn't even try to hang on. Durbridge will attempt to sprint for us. We know he's alright in a time trial, but is he able to beat McEwen and the fresh Evans?
Evans takes advenatge of his downhill skills, builds up a gap and wins! Luke Durbridge failed to impress in the sprint and got 16th. However, the fact that he stayed in he pack gives us good hope for a top 5 in the time trial.
The Team here at Swalec Unicef heard mentions of the possible future availability of Rigoberto Uran Uran, and were wondering as to the validity of these rumours?
Unfortunately we are not allowed to discuss transfer matters until July. All we want to state is that VI has the funds to either extend Urán's contract, or sign a new rider at the end of the season. Whether we will negotiate with Urán will depend on his results during the season and the available options at the end of the season. As of now we have full confidence in Rigoberto to prove he's worth to wear our jersey this year.
Peter Sagan
Freddy Cruz, Ben King, Luke Durbridge, Caleb Ewan, Michael Matthews, Dirk Müller, Johnnie Walker
Expectations
All eyes on be on Peter Sagan after his brilliant victory in Australia. The first two stages will be for our breakaway guys Luke Durbridge and Dirk Müller, but the three final stages will be an excellent opportunity for Peter and Michael to participate in the sprints, and for Peter, another chance for a GC win. However, "Mallorca" is a great season opener for many, will a Peter in form be able to beat even the best riders in the world?
Sponsor demands
After the win in Aussie country the sponsor won't be too demanding in the first half of the month. This race will be one of the first races to grab the attention of local cycling magazines, so good results are always welcome.
Volta ao Algarve
Spoiler
Peter Sagan
Freddy Cruz, Andreas Hofer, Luke Durbridge, Caleb Ewan, Michael Matthews, Dirk Müller, Johnnie Walker
Expectations
The low travel distance made it easier to send the same team from Spain to Portugal. The only difference is that young Austrian Andreas Hofer will ride instead of Ben King. They both focus on the Tirreno and the Vuelta, so they shouldn't get too many race days yet. An ideal terrain for Peter Sagan once again, though the final time trial may prove to be slighty too long for him. However, a stage win would be up for grabs, and why not the points and young rider jersey? And who knows, Durbridge for the time trial maybe?
Sponsor demands
No expectations from the sponsors here either, the only way to get some publicity is if we would destroy the field. Since the Vuelta is a goal for this season, new fans in Iberia would be nice, though. The more cheering, the better for our riders.
Giro di Sardegna
Spoiler
Peter Sagan
Luke Durbridge, Caleb Ewan, Michael Matthews, Dirk Müller, Johnnie Walker
Expectations
A race we requested solely to make sure Peter and Michael stay in form and increase their chemistry in the sprints together. Dirk Müller should be their tutor, and Durbridge, Ewan and Walker are the unlucky fillups we had to select The third stage, a mountain stage, will hopefully increase Sagan's toughness a bit. No pressure on the riders whatshoever, which will hopefully even increase their performance.
Sponsor demands
"A Giro in Italy? I thought that was in May?"
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Spoiler
Lars Boom
Mickaël Delage, Andreas Hofer, Ben King, Salvatore Puccio, Tosh van der Sande
Expectations
THE place for cobblers to start their season on the cobbles, so we can always expect a great field there. Lars hasn't had any race days up to now and probably won't prove to be experienced enough to keep up with the best. More important will be seeing how Salvatore Puccio and Tosh van der Sande will do in their first professional races!
Sponsor demands
The first race to be broadcasted live in the Netherlands. Well, on the Belgian Sporza, but most Dutchies even prefer to watch the Tour on that channel. The sponsor knows we can't win, but they do want to see our jersey on TV. So we'll have to get into an early attack and attack in the final as well. Let's see if we'll be able to achieve that.
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne
Spoiler
Lars Boom
Mickaël Delage, Andreas Hofer, Ben King, Salvatore Puccio, Peter Sagan, Tosh van der Sande, Johnnie Walker
Expectations
In real-life this would be an ideal race for Peter Sagan, but since this is PCM, our hope will be on Lars Boom once again. Should Lars have failed yesterday, he most likely took it easy, and this will be a great race to prove what he's worth. Still, we think that he could get a top 10, at best. Or will Peter, who will most likely be in great shape, surprise after all?
Sponsor demands /
The sponsors' demands will totally be based on how well we did yesterday. One of these races should be a good one. If not, at least we should've attacked a lot. This will probably increase the pressure on the team, let's hope they won't crack!
