Perhaps I'm not the only one who thinks that playing with WT team we miss out a lot of interesting lower rated races. Especially that if you want to follow closely the 60-70 day/rider rule and keep focus on GT's, you won't find much opprotunities to ride them. Unless of course you're doing it hard way with some small build-from-a-scratch CT team.
After few seasons in PCM09 and PCM10 I find the World Tour races a bit boring, or "overused" - excuse my English
My idea of this thread is to share our thoughts on some of the most interesting CT races, which deserve a closer look and participation if you've had enough of the WT.
To start with something, my 3 favourites are:
1. Tour of Austria - Grossglockner and Kuetzbuehler Horn are absolutely epic. One of the best climbs in the game and they are pure fun to ride, even if there is not much competition. That's actually one of the upsides - all the best climbers are on TdF or rest between Giro and Vuelta so with two quite good, but just not good enough climbers you are able to dominate this race and get some easy money. I tend to use ToA as an essential pocket filler during a financially difficult season.
2. GP di Lugano - crazy race with lots of climbs and downhills which force you to breakaway - which is easy - and to think well about the break's timing - which is not that simple. You don't get many chances to speed up time as something is always going on - that's what I like as well. Won it only once and it was one of my most satisfying victories.
3. For some reason I also like Route du Sud - short race with a very interesting mountain TT. I use it often to recognise which of my two TdF GC fauvorites is better prepared and focus on him in the Alps and Pyrenees.
I will be grateful for tipping some intriguing races I might have not raced yet. Thank you already for your contribution.
Edited by Smoku on 30-08-2011 21:06
