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Team Garmin-Barracuda
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| Stirner |
Posted on 24-05-2012 23:38
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Junior Rider
Posts: 39
Joined: 31-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Hello,
I recently purchased the game and installed the latest database released by this website for 2012. Obviously, I chose to start a career as the leader of team Garmin-Barracuda. In my story, I have created a fictional narrative to keep myself entertained. Jonathan Vaughters reaches out to cycling legend, Lance Armstrong, to assist him with his ultimate goal: creating a dominant, grand-contending American team much like the old Discovery Channel teams. Even though Radioshack-Nissan-Treck exists in my alternate timeline, Armstrong has soured on the sponsors whom he formerly rode for. He believes that their commitment to the Schlecks and other foreign riders for podium places at the three Grand Tours cheapens the accomplishments of the "American" team and makes it more of an "international" team. Thus, Armstrong was pleased to come on board and assist with the development of Andrew Talansky while keeping an eye on other upcoming American greats like Tejay van Gardener and Taylor Phinner (both guys who will have to be signed by my team at any cost--even if it means missing out on the next future great from France).
Now, my dilemma is that I am having a hard time coming up with a good team for the three grand tours. My goal, every year, is to win one of the major classifications at the Tour (this year, for instance, it's the white jersey with Talansky). I do not want my riders to be exhausted by the time July comes, nor do I want them to be participating in more than one GT. This means, for example, that Farrar can only race the Tour de France and not the Giro or Vuelta despite having a preference for all three. This forces me to create three teams; each must have an American GC contender.
My question to all of you, who do you recommend to be my team(s) at the Grand Tours? Keep in mind, riders can only be used once. Please make sure to mention what goals (if any) the rider should have in the race (please make this as realistic as possible (I don't want Farrar going for yellow)).
Also, if you know of any other American riders (excluding Phinney and van Gardener) that should be targeted for contract, please let me know! I prefer young guys (this is about the future of American Cycling, after all!) and not old farts like Leiphemer, Horner, and Hincapie.
Thanks. |
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| Pinktay3 |
Posted on 24-05-2012 23:52
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 959
Joined: 08-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Giro: Christian Vande Velde - GC
Tour: Andrew Talansky - KOM/Young Riders
Vuelta: Jacob Rathe - Points Classification.
I actually support Team Garmin, so i'd love to see you go all the way with this. Good luck
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 24-05-2012 23:59
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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Well, you have a bunch of capable riders. Danielson, Hesjedal, VandeVelde and Martin could all compete for a Top 5 place in the Giro or Vuelta in PCM.
Farrar could easily win the Vuelta points classification
Have someone like Martin go for KoM at the Giro maybe?
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| Stirner |
Posted on 25-05-2012 00:22
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Junior Rider
Posts: 39
Joined: 31-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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That's a good point about having a surplus of talented riders. Unfortunately, not all of them are going to be utilized in Grand Tours. It's the one major downside to playing a good team. All these riders that I like -- since I like every rider on Garmin-Barracuda -- are oozing with talent but cannot necessarily utilized in the role that would best serve them and their abilities well. For example, I like Martin an awful lot. Unfortunately, he's Irish and doesn't fit well into the overall narrative. As such, he'll be best utilized as a domestique for one of my American contenders (Danielson, Vande Velde, Talansky). I believe that he'd be able to set the pace on lesser mountain stages and protect his leader on the greater ones. Off the top of my head though (the game is currently closed), I do recall an American rider with nearly identical attributes to Martin. It'd probably make more sense (in my humble opinion, as it suits the narrative better) to have that rider go for the King of Mountains at one of the Giro or Vuelta.
Now, I've also put some thought into this myself (and I do like all of your suggestions). I was thinking the following to give you a rough glimpse of my teams:
Giro d'Italia
Leader - Vande Velde (Top 3)
Sprinter - Jacob Rathe (Points Overall)
Leadout - Koldo Fernandez
Tour de France
Co-Leader - Danielson (Top 5)
Co-Leader - Talansky (White Jersey)
Sprinter - None
Leadout - None
Obviously, my focus is purely a top five finish for Danielson and the white jersey for Taransky. No need for a sprinter here.
Vuelta
Leader - Thomas Peterson (KoM)
Sprinter - Farrar (Points Classification)
Leadout - Alex Rasmussen
I'm open to suggestions; if you think anybody is misplaced/over their head, let me know but make sure to suggest what you would do. The goal is to have the Americans on the team go for the overall classifications and jerseys. Unfortunately, this means that brilliant riders like Hesjedal end up in a support role... |
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| yoejo |
Posted on 25-05-2012 00:45
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 276
Joined: 21-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I would have had hesjedal for giro, no sprinter. For the tour I would have Your best MO-rider, vandevelde probably. And farrar as a sprinter.
in the vuelta you should have koldo fernandez.
It´s kinda hard since I don´t know the stats of the MO, TT, Hill and sprints of your riders . But I would do that anyway. |
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| Texas024 |
Posted on 25-05-2012 01:20
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Junior Rider
Posts: 31
Joined: 22-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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He wants to use American riders though. Hesjedal is from Canada.
The best thing you can do is get rid of a rider like Hesjedal and open up some money on your roster to spend on younger American talents. |
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| Pinktay3 |
Posted on 25-05-2012 01:40
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 959
Joined: 08-04-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Stirner wrote:
That's a good point about having a surplus of talented riders. Unfortunately, not all of them are going to be utilized in Grand Tours. It's the one major downside to playing a good team. All these riders that I like -- since I like every rider on Garmin-Barracuda -- are oozing with talent but cannot necessarily utilized in the role that would best serve them and their abilities well. For example, I like Martin an awful lot. Unfortunately, he's Irish and doesn't fit well into the overall narrative. As such, he'll be best utilized as a domestique for one of my American contenders (Danielson, Vande Velde, Talansky). I believe that he'd be able to set the pace on lesser mountain stages and protect his leader on the greater ones. Off the top of my head though (the game is currently closed), I do recall an American rider with nearly identical attributes to Martin. It'd probably make more sense (in my humble opinion, as it suits the narrative better) to have that rider go for the King of Mountains at one of the Giro or Vuelta.
Now, I've also put some thought into this myself (and I do like all of your suggestions). I was thinking the following to give you a rough glimpse of my teams:
Giro d'Italia
Leader - Vande Velde (Top 3)
Sprinter - Jacob Rathe (Points Overall)
Leadout - Koldo Fernandez
Tour de France
Co-Leader - Danielson (Top 5)
Co-Leader - Talansky (White Jersey)
Sprinter - None
Leadout - None
Obviously, my focus is purely a top five finish for Danielson and the white jersey for Taransky. No need for a sprinter here.
Vuelta
Leader - Thomas Peterson (KoM)
Sprinter - Farrar (Points Classification)
Leadout - Alex Rasmussen
I'm open to suggestions; if you think anybody is misplaced/over their head, let me know but make sure to suggest what you would do. The goal is to have the Americans on the team go for the overall classifications and jerseys. Unfortunately, this means that brilliant riders like Hesjedal end up in a support role...
I think the sprint competition is greater at the Giro, so i'd probably swith Farrar with Rathe. And switch the lead-outs too. Fernandez would much rather go to his home GT. And for the tour, why not take Haussler? He can climb as well as sprint, so could possibly go for a breakaway win as well as flat stages, and maybe even target polka dots? |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 23:05
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| Teddy The Creator |
Posted on 25-05-2012 02:22
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2253
Joined: 19-10-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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You guys are forgetting that he want an all US team. Haussler is Australian.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 25-05-2012 02:59
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
PCM$: 10438.70
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Who are Van Gardener and Taylor Phinner?
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Stirner |
Posted on 25-05-2012 03:23
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Junior Rider
Posts: 39
Joined: 31-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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baseballlover312 wrote:
Who are Van Gardener and Taylor Phinner?
My mistake. I mean Tejay van Garderen and Taylor Phinney. I knew van Gardener sounded wrong, but Phinner was a typo.
Also, attached is the attributes of my riders. The Americans on the team are Danielson, Howes, Farrar, Peterson, Rathe, Stetina, Talansky, Vande Velde, and Zabriskie.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 25-05-2012 03:30
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8290
Joined: 14-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Rathe going for points is very optimistic. Talansky leading at the Vuelta could be an interesting option though - he could likely get the young rider jersey and if you plan his season well then he could ride for a decent GC position.
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| Stirner |
Posted on 25-05-2012 05:55
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Junior Rider
Posts: 39
Joined: 31-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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All right, I took some of your suggestions and have the following team for the Giro d'Italia:
Leader - Vande Velde
Sprinter - Farrar
Leadout - Murilo Fischer
For support, well, I'll leave that up to you guys. I'm thinking Hesjedal would be better served assisting in the Tour de France.
Rathe going for points is very optimistic. Talansky leading at the Vuelta could be an interesting option though - he could likely get the young rider jersey and if you plan his season well then he could ride for a decent GC position.
Talansky's season just needs to have the final touches put on it. He'll start his season off at the Tour de Romandie where he will be going for a top thirty finish. Then, he'll progress to the Tour de Suisse and aim for best young rider. His season will then end with the Tour de France (probably) unless I choose to have him represent the glorious nation at the World Championship (which I likely will NOT do). |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 25-05-2012 06:51
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8290
Joined: 14-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Stirner wrote:
Talansky's season just needs to have the final touches put on it. He'll start his season off at the Tour de Romandie where he will be going for a top thirty finish. Then, he'll progress to the Tour de Suisse and aim for best young rider. His season will then end with the Tour de France (probably) unless I choose to have him represent the glorious nation at the World Championship (which I likely will NOT do).
That is a very short season for a team where he is supposed to be one of your biggest riders. You might want to consider putting him into Catalunya or something as well to bulk up his race days.
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| Stirner |
Posted on 25-05-2012 06:55
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Junior Rider
Posts: 39
Joined: 31-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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CountArach wrote:
Stirner wrote:
Talansky's season just needs to have the final touches put on it. He'll start his season off at the Tour de Romandie where he will be going for a top thirty finish. Then, he'll progress to the Tour de Suisse and aim for best young rider. His season will then end with the Tour de France (probably) unless I choose to have him represent the glorious nation at the World Championship (which I likely will NOT do).
That is a very short season for a team where he is supposed to be one of your biggest riders. You might want to consider putting him into Catalunya or something as well to bulk up his race days.
Yeah, whether or not I wanted to start him earlier was the only question that needed an answer. Maybe I could keep the same schedule and add the Tour of California into the mix? Romandie would be good prep for the American road race. |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 25-05-2012 06:56
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World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
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Stirner wrote:
CountArach wrote:
Stirner wrote:
Talansky's season just needs to have the final touches put on it. He'll start his season off at the Tour de Romandie where he will be going for a top thirty finish. Then, he'll progress to the Tour de Suisse and aim for best young rider. His season will then end with the Tour de France (probably) unless I choose to have him represent the glorious nation at the World Championship (which I likely will NOT do).
That is a very short season for a team where he is supposed to be one of your biggest riders. You might want to consider putting him into Catalunya or something as well to bulk up his race days.
Yeah, whether or not I wanted to start him earlier was the only question that needed an answer. Maybe I could keep the same schedule and add the Tour of California into the mix? Romandie would be good prep for the American road race.
Why not USA Pro Cycling challenge?
its after the tour so it wouldn't affect any peaks for the tour and any results would please the sponsors.
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| tmobile |
Posted on 25-05-2012 10:26
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Stagiare
Posts: 183
Joined: 25-09-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Well, first of all...great idea mate!
My proposal is the following:
-------------GIRO------------
Leader--> Vande Velde (top10)
Co-Leader--> Stetina (KoM clasification)
Sprinter--> Farrar
Leadout--> Haussler
Domestiques--> Dekker, , Rasmussen, Phinney (for TTT), Hesjedal, Wegmann.
------------TOUR-------------
Leader--> Danielson (top5)
Co-Leader--> Talansky (young clasification)
Domestiques--> Le mevel, Millar, DZ, Maaskant, Klier, Fischer, Rosseler.
------------VUELTA------------
Leader--> Van Garderen (top5)
Co-Leader--> Peterson (KoM clasification)
Sprinter--> Farrar
Leadout--> Koldo Fernandez
Domestiques--> Dan Martin, Vansummeren, Vanmarcke, Hunter, Howes.
These are the teams that I have chosen in my story (yes, I thought in signing Taylor and Van Garderen to team USA  )
If you look you have a USA leader for each GT, a USA co-leader for each GT and USA sprinter for 2 GT's
I think it would be a good example of what you are looking for this year. Next year could make some trades to bring more national cyclists.
I hope that as a guideline. Regards and good luck ... Go Garmin!
PS--> As participation in the Amgen Tour of California and the USA Pro Cycling Challenge...I think it would be required in both races leading Garmin 
I lead to California the team of La Vuelta and for USA PC the team of Giro, so it will not affect the peak form and you would be competitive in both races.
Edited by tmobile on 25-05-2012 10:36
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