I was racing in Österreich Rundtfahrt (spelling?) and I had a comfortable lead when we started on the last stage. Of course a breakaway got a good lead, but I didn't mind and felt confident that I would be able to get them back.
The group consisted of some riders who were in 40th-60th place, except for a few. They were 3rd and 4th and about 2 minutes behind in the GC I think. When we were nearing an end I tried to get them back, but the team that had the 2nd place didn't bother at all! In the end I didn't manage to get them back in time, so I ended in 3rd place and the other rider in 4th.
I know that the AI isn't to keen on catching riders who are of no threat, but it seems that they would rather go from 2nd to 4th then seeing me win... Am I being paranoid?
No, you aren't being paranoid. The AI isn't smart enough to protect their podium places. The AI teams tend to do an Euskaltel-Xacobeo-Vuelta-a-Asturias-move (i.e. they prefer to lose podium places at a stage race rather than help a colombian keep his yellow jersey).
You should never let the gap increases too much if you are leading the GC, but, on the other hand, that is easy enough. Just put a rider at 55-65 in front. He would last ages there and the gap doesn't increase dangerously (perhaps it even decreases). And be more careful in hilly stages, because it isn't easy to recover much time in downhills, so most time must be recovered uphill, with a luxury team mate pulling hard. When there are less than 50 km remaining, it could be neccesary to put another rider in front with a higher effort. If the gap is high, it could be difficult; that is the reason you should not allow it to be huge in the first place. Hint: it is better to put a rider alone in front at 55-65 just until he is tired and then replace him for another one than having 2 relaying. It makes no sense, but the energy lost is a lot less, even if in real life there are several riders relaying any given time. A breakaway winning is easier in PCM11 than in previous versions, but sometimes it is crazy, like Cancellara alone for 80 km in a flat stage and winning even while my whole team (even my leader) pulled the peloton in effort 87 for more than 60 km. He just lost 2 minutes to the peloton in those 60 km!
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.
