I'm just about to start on my third year with Sparebanken Vest - Ridley and I've just got promoted to the Pro Tour. I feel that planning the season was a lot easier when I was in the CT. I think it might have something to do with me not having to rely on Wild Cards.
Riders
I've made some new signings every year, but I've kept the entire original team. My most prominent riders are:
- Created Rider (Kirchen-type) (Leader)
- Thomas Dekker (Leader)
- Tony Martin
- Fabio Sabatini
- Kevin Seeldrayers
- Peter Sagan
- Tom Veelers
- Mikael Ignatiev
- Matthew Goss
I have 12 other riders too, who are mostly helpers with either good climbing stats or good flat stats, also some young talents. Some of them are Rob Ruigh (spelling?), Patrick Gretsch, Bauke Mollema, etc.
Races:
I have some races which are listed as "Auto". These are:
Spoiler
January:
- Santos Tour Down under (19.0-24.01)
March:
- Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (22.03-28.03
- Gent-Wevelgem (28.03)
April:
- Ronde van Vlaanderen (04.04)
- Vuelta ciclista al Pais Vasco (05.04-10.04)
- Amstel Gold Race (18.04
- Tour de Romandie (27.04-02.05)
June:
- Dauphine Libere (06.06-13.06
July:
- Clasica San Sebastian (31.07)
August:
- Tour de Pologne (02.08-08.08)
- Vattenfall Cyclassics (15.08)
- Eneco Tour (18.08-25.08)
- GP Quest France (25.08)
I don't really have any strong feelings towards any of the races, but I prefer stage races as opposed to one-days races. Last year I won the Vuelta with my created rider, but this year it seems either the Giro or the Tour has the "easiest" route out of the Grand Tours.
I am not asking you to give me an entire season plan, that's way to much to ask for, but if you could give me some hints as to what I should aim for and with who, it would be greatly appreciated.
Edited by cactus-jack on 27-04-2011 17:54
I suggest you go for one week stage races with a time trial if possible( Paris-Nice, Pais Vasco, Romandie, Dauphine or Suisse) and some hilly classics with Sagan as leader. You could also count on some nice results with Goss at the flat stages of these stage races.
It really depends on the stats of your riders, but i would go for:
Dekker:
Lanngkawi, Tirreno, MSR, Catalunya, Pais Vasco, Ardennes, Giro, Dauphine, NCs
(68 racedays, training level 5 from week 10 to 26)
Created Rider:
Luxembourg, Suisse, TdF, San Sebastian, Limousin, Plouay, Vuelta, WC, Lombardia
Sagan/Seeldrayers:
Algarve, Sardegna, ParisNice, MSR, Pais Vasco, Ardennes, Wallonie, San Sebastian, Pologne, Vattenfall, Eneco, Canadians, WC, Lombardia
EDIT:
you should sign some more riders as 21 are not enough for a complete ProTour season
EDIT2:
Dekker's program may seem insane but it works great. With Taramae (on hard) i manged 1st in Lanngkawi, Tirreno, Catalunya, Giro, Dauphine and 2nd in Pais Vasco
Edited by titleist82 on 28-04-2011 08:29
Dekkers stats are the same as when you start a save because his suspension was lifted in July '11. I October his form was -21, but now it's where it should be.
Thanks for the advice, but I would love to get some more input on this.
