Brilliant overall win by Madrazo. But it was really a team effort, they really dominated the Vuelta, it was kind of fascinating to see how good they were. Congratulations!
And speaking of Duret, what comes to my mind is his outstanding TdF, where he won the KoM after some great breakaways.
It seems like it's quite a good tactic to have one leader for mountains, one leader for hills, another one for cobbles and another for time trial as well. At least it definetely paid off this season for me. Anyway, I am not really sure if I will follow it for the next season..
The biggest surprise of my team is surely 119th place of Evert Verbist, way higher place than I hoped for at start of this season. On the other hand my 3 worst riders are my best sprinters except of Bewley - Forero, Vanderaerden and Hutarovich. There will be some changes in that part of my team for sure..
If I am right 3rd, 5th, 10th, 20th, 36th, 40th, 45th, 57th, 59th, 67th, 73rd, 88th and 96th are free agents. 13 of 100, then we can also consider the Domina Vacanze riders who will all be free agents, Unicredit (with some good riders), Proximus Trek (Cav and Valverde) etc and we see the potential for a great transfer season. Should be alot of possibilites for the promoting squads to strenghten
I don't think you can put any specific equation to the task in order to find the perfect setup.
A lot of teams with good GC riders have failed in the PT rankings in the past. A lot of teams with talents have failed, a lot of teams with cobblers, sprinters and so on.
I have had basically all my succes based on the diversity on the team, and based on captains capable of placing himself in top 10 in every single race. It means that I have a lot of subtop riders, but no standout stars. No top talents or anything like that either, but a solid ground of talents who can become valuable in trading, selling or atleast very strong helpers.
The important thing, I think, is to have a clear strategy, and know what you want. Instead of being horny when seeing a cheap, good, cobbler go of to another team. Do you need him? If the answer is no, why buy him? That is what I have always tried to do.
A team based around 2 top GC riders, and one subtop (unlikely top 10 rider, but strong domestique). A couple of mediocre climbers to help in that field. Two sprinters capable of winning a stage based on their numbers, and a couple of strong flat riders with a decent punch to place them in the spring. A cobble leader and 2-3 75ish cobblers to help him through the first 3/4 of the cobbled stages, and two strong hilly riders to supply eachother. This doesn't seem to be as important anymore, so probably one very good and a couple, perhaps 3, solid helpers.
Others build their team around a nationality, around a very strong captain, sprinters, TTT-team and such. So there are definately no "real" way to go. It is also about practicing a strategy that most others don't, in order to get succes I think - Or simply to have the best riders. But that means doing shitloads of work before the off season, in the off season, and in the planning aswell. I try to do that btw
Heine wrote:
If I am right 3rd, 5th, 10th, 20th, 36th, 40th, 45th, 57th, 59th, 67th, 73rd, 88th and 96th are free agents. 13 of 100, then we can also consider the Domina Vacanze riders who will all be free agents, Unicredit (with some good riders), Proximus Trek (Cav and Valverde) etc and we see the potential for a great transfer season. Should be alot of possibilites for the promoting squads to strenghten
Nice post SotD! If I should be really honest, I learned a lot of things about this game thankfully to your team and the way you manage your team, but not only from you for sure.. Even so thanks for that and a little bit more of a good luck for the next season than you had this season..
