I can't seem to find a thread for everyone to post general tactics and advice...so I figure it would be good to have.
Just fill in whichever ones you like with how you approach these events, and we could both have a nice tactics discussion and give noobs to the game some guidance.
I have my own tactics for each, but will take some time to put them into words first. Personally I feel I am master of the mountains, but horrible at the rest.
Mountain Stages
Mass Sprints
Winning Breakaways in Hill Stages
Cobblestone Races ala P-R
Any other relevant tactics you would like to share are always welcome!
There is actually already a forum about tactics, with links to useful information. You can find it here: https://www.pcmdai...ost_192186 It's about PCM08, but the tactics are pretty much the same.
On the other hand, I don't find it too respectful if you address new people as "noobs".
Disclaimer: The above post reflects just the personal opinion of the author and not a fact. But if you read it, you must accept it as the ultimate truth.
Relax, noob is not a derogatory term in general. I think it would be worth the discussion at least, since in a few threads here I've noticed some disagreement on tactics for various situations...or at least people on different wavelengths for how to approach some situations.
I spend a lot of my gameplay time setting up various situations just to try them out, seeing what works and what doesn't...its just what I find most interesting.
I only make a move, for obvious reasons, on mountaintop finishes or occasionally mountains with descent finishes if I am desperate (or opponents look ready to crack).
Each move I have has a corny name.
Ace in the Hole
This works on stages with a difficult mountain finish.
Here I send my second best climbing domestique out on the day's breakaway (he needs to not be a GC threat so they let him go). He can go and collect KoM points if applicable as a side bonus, but in general he needs to save his strength as much as possible.
In the main bunch, my best climbing domestique protects the leader, and I just watch and make sure no rivals get away. I'll usually have a watch out on Contador, Valverde, or another climber who tends to attack, to give me a signal of any moves.
I will burn off my other climbing domestiques on the second to last climb to try and thin out the contender pack, and time the breakaway catch for the foot of the final climb (I had this down to a science in the PCM06/07 system, still working on getting it right in 09, but it usually works).
Once the breakaway with your rider you sent ahead at the beginning of the day is very close to being caught, send your best domestique on the attack at a high effort to bridge to him, with your leader "countering". Its ok if the best domestique then needs to fall back, as long as the leader makes it to the man downrange.
Now I play a dual game. I have my leader dot up the mountain at whatever gets me 166-167 BPM heart rate, protected by the guy I sent ahead at the beginning (usually this is enough to put the 1-2 contenders who may have bridged the gap into serious difficulty). Any domestiques who didn't bridge look to counter attack anyone that tries to come across the gap, to provide the extra support that would then be needed.
This move is a little risky as you can potentially burn out your two top domestiques, but if the stage profile and execution are right, its potentially a stage race winner as 4+ minute gaps are not uncommon over most of the contender field, giving you only a couple remaining threats to isolate.
Cyclist Sandwich
This is a little harder to set up, but its sweet when it works, taking advantage of the fact that the CPU feels damn near obligated to chase breaks if it can.
If you have 2 riders, your leader and a strong attacker, and 2 rivals or less in your pack (total pack size 4 or less), you can try this if both your riders have loaded yellow/red bars.
Send off your helper on a hard attack, with your leader ready to counter attack. Wait just a second, then do so.
If any rivals come along with you, end the attack somewhat early, once you gap anyone who didn't come along. Then, send your leader on the attack, with the support rider countering instead. Switch off back and forth until the rival riders can't follow. If they aren't stronger, this will get them eventually, usually on that second attack by the leader, which often ends in a solo finish.
If you're lucky and the first attack leaves you all alone, dot up the mountain at 166-167 BPM or maybe even higher if you're near the end, with the support rider protecting.
This tactic is riskier, requires two strong attacking climbers, and can fall prey to a stronger rider taking off after you burn energy attacking. But if you need to make up time, this can work.
Does anyone that plays on expert have any advice on keeping your leaders in the pack on flat stages. I had Gerdemann being protected by Traksel who had a 76 flat and both riders still fell off the back of the peloton. Weirder still is that Theo Bos who has a 69 flat survived in the peloton until the end.
The stage was nearly pancake flat.
Edited by valverde321 on 05-05-2010 00:05
valverde321 wrote:
Does anyone that plays on expert have any advice on keeping your leaders in the pack on flat stages. I had Gerdemann being protected by Traksel woh had a 76 flat and both riders still fell off the bacl of the peloton. Weirder still is that Theo Bos who has a 69 flat survived in the peloton until the end.
The stage was nearly pancake flat.
I believe that when you're up front, you eat more wind and expend more energy. In addition, when you raise the effort bar, even to hold position, often you end up mystically using all that energy.
You can either:
-Hang farther back, which expends less energy, but risks getting caught out in a split or crash.
-Use the effort dot and micromanage.
