forum...need your thoughts on something.
ive been playing this version of the game for over twenty seasons and i have difficulty with only one race consistently.
the msr i have only won twice in all that time.....and those two wins were from breakaways with a mediocre rider.
does anyone have a race strategy that works consistently...or even guidance on the type of riders i should take?
I've never win but only played it a few times. Guys like el ad Ballan always attack pre-Poggio and usually make it to the end so I'd say follow those attacks. Or solo effort with a climbe/Puncher on the Poggio and you'll get a gap on the downhill. I've never seen a sprinter win though..
staviros wrote:
forum...need your thoughts on something.
ive been playing this version of the game for over twenty seasons and i have difficulty with only one race consistently.
the msr i have only won twice in all that time.....and those two wins were from breakaways with a mediocre rider.
does anyone have a race strategy that works consistently...or even guidance on the type of riders i should take?
gotta say this is the one race i never struggle with
I like to take a mix of riders. I suggest your main sprinter and 1 lead out man, due to short run in off the Poggio. I always take 2 decent hill riders, 75+, and with the best decent i can find. Everyone else is a mix of FL and lower HL, basically workers.
Tactics; Ive played it 12times at least, and twice its gone to a sprint, so this changes things.
Basically pull back any break between the Manie and the Cipressa.
Then make sure your sprinters are right at the front, first 5-10 riders.
Make sure you punchers are in the first 5-10 as well.
Take your best hill team-mates and set them to relay hard, 80 as a minimum, preferably 85-95, for the Cipressa. This should keep the race together.
If attacks do get a gap, get your second puncher, the weaker one, across if possible.
Then on the Poggio
If no break; Set 2nd puncher on protect for the 1st Puncher. Set 1st Puncher to dot 80.
This bit takes practice and luck. Stop protecting when the 2nd Puncher is out of red. Keep the 1st puncher on dot. Then attack with about 0.5km to top, literally right before the crest of the climb. Up the effort to 85 on the descent. As soon as it flattens out up the pace to 90-95. With 1km to go up to 99. (if part of a group just follow the best sprinter then beat him)
If there is a break; Use the same system to get across the gap. Then just sit on the best sprinter with the guy with better sprint. The other guy should relay at 85-90 to keep the group clear.
Some of that may be unclear, just ask for clarrification.
My credentials, out of 12 3d races ive won 7 solo wins, and 2 sprints. I've been beaten only by Cancellara and Hushovd in break sprints (against Nibali and Voeckler)
for a classic demonstration check out my 5monuments, 1 season story in a few days as its my first race.
Edited by TheManxMissile on 31-07-2012 23:02
Guys thanks.....for the first time i am gonna cheat and reload a save game (that pissed off about it) and try TMM's strategy!
TMM - Basically take a team of at least 1x sprinter and 2x Hills guys and use the rest to controll the breaks until the Poggio?
do you protect the 3 priciple riders at all during the race, or just have them at the front of the bunch?
i really love the classics races...can nail the ronde and P-R most seasons....less consistent with the Amstel, Wallonie and LBL...so if you can be bothered it woul dbe nice to hear race tactics from everyone on those races.
on the cobbles races i have my 2x principle cobble riders and rest work to control the breaks and wittle down the field....then once the group is down to about 10-15 riders i stop controlling the race and sit back. In the final 30KM i have 2nd best cobbler protect my best cobbler and follow any attacks with the dot and basically tuck in behind any attacker....and sprint them to death on the final 1.2Km.
only other thing is for the ronde i have all my team on relay, with only one on permanent relay to avoid any of the team getting caught up in any narrow roads ans lowing riders blocking them off.....keeps them all at the front and out of trouble.
staviros wrote:
Guys thanks.....for the first time i am gonna cheat and reload a save game (that pissed off about it) and try TMM's strategy!
TMM - Basically take a team of at least 1x sprinter and 2x Hills guys and use the rest to controll the breaks until the Poggio?
do you protect the 3 priciple riders at all during the race, or just have them at the front of the bunch?
i really love the classics races...can nail the ronde and P-R most seasons....less consistent with the Amstel, Wallonie and LBL...so if you can be bothered it woul dbe nice to hear race tactics from everyone on those races.
on the cobbles races i have my 2x principle cobble riders and rest work to control the breaks and wittle down the field....then once the group is down to about 10-15 riders i stop controlling the race and sit back. In the final 30KM i have 2nd best cobbler protect my best cobbler and follow any attacks with the dot and basically tuck in behind any attacker....and sprint them to death on the final 1.2Km.
only other thing is for the ronde i have all my team on relay, with only one on permanent relay to avoid any of the team getting caught up in any narrow roads ans lowing riders blocking them off.....keeps them all at the front and out of trouble.
hope this is clear....if not ask!
Staviros!
Yes take 1 sprinter and 2 punchers.
Use rest to control break until Cipressa (first of the final 2 climbs). Then try and prevent a break.
Protect your main Puncher, you could get away with not protecting the others, depends how much you are willing to work to pull back the breaks.
It does slightly depend on the strength of the riders, but ive won with Cunego twice, Hincapie, Voigt, EBH and Marcato twice
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
