I'm just starting a career on pcm13 and I'm planning my rider schedules. I noticed the whole fitness thing is different from pcm12, and was wondering if days of racing still had the same effect, i.e. in pcm12 60 days was the max you could do at peak fitness. Is it similar in pcm13, or can you get away with a few more???
Alex Dorman wrote:
I'm just starting a career on pcm13 and I'm planning my rider schedules. I noticed the whole fitness thing is different from pcm12, and was wondering if days of racing still had the same effect, i.e. in pcm12 60 days was the max you could do at peak fitness. Is it similar in pcm13, or can you get away with a few more???
To a degree yes. When you set the riders seasons, watch how the graph moves. You will see that peak condition is the highest green. The basic idea is to plan your season so you get some saddle time with your top riders before they start reaching races you feel they can do well in. PCM 13 however goes past that general graph.
Next up is before, during (stage races) and after your condition will change. Peak is the bright green 1, each number lower than 1, is lower fittness. 5 or 6 being the worst condition you can have. Camps can alter this some, but be careful not to over do it...or you may peak due to camps (I dont use them) and end up showing up at your primary race with bad condition.
Then it goes further, and both are important, more so in a stage race then a 1 day race. They are freshness, after a big day in a stage race...it may say "good" when till that point it may of always said excelent. So if you plan to attack in a stage race you dont want it to say "bad". Click the yellow arrow after each rider and it shows a very good graph of how the rider is doing overall in the race.
Last you have rythem, ability to pedal effectively. Again, you dont want that area low if you plan to win and/or try a hard ride or attack...it wont work well.
So yes read threads, watch youtube videos and practice. I didnt start a season at all yet. I have been playing stage races and using different teams to see what and how stats really work. And they do indeed make a difference.
Example: Played the Giro with Sky. Had Wiggins the leader, and with 30km to go attacked with Froome protecting Wiggins. Only issue...Wiggins recovery was bad and his rythum was off. Froome was perfect, Froome lost Wiggins and Wiggins finished 3+ min back and was also passed by some lesser riders.
Matrix wrote:
Example: Played the Giro with Sky. Had Wiggins the leader, and with 30km to go attacked with Froome protecting Wiggins. Only issue...Wiggins recovery was bad and his rythum was off. Froome was perfect, Froome lost Wiggins and Wiggins finished 3+ min back and was also passed by some lesser riders.
Do the AI also get tired during a GT? Contador and Betancur are attacking always at the end of a stage in week one of the Giro. (Because Cyanide programmed it that way). But will there attacks in week 3 be easier to get back?
R_Funk wrote:
Do the AI also get tired during a GT? Contador and Betancur are attacking always at the end of a stage in week one of the Giro. (Because Cyanide programmed it that way). But will there attacks in week 3 be easier to get back?
Every day...the stats can change. Stage 1 you might be in good condition, and win that stage. But the AI of the game will see the effort you used and the start of stage 2...you maybe in worse condition. Most top riders seem to do ok staying near form that can get you a top 10 finish in a stage race. Now, if you set your goals for say Contador as the Giro, TDF and Valtua all as primary...chances are high he won't be in great from for 1 of the races, and in another it might start of good, but drop faster.
PCM 13 made it to where you have to watch your riders stats. And not just your main riders. Contador cant win if his team starts dropping out of races or being unable to stay near him till he attacks as protection. If your REALLY good, you could win, because you can use other teams to help you. But it is so much easier, and it works much better, if you have your team in shape.
So, when you set your season, 1st you may want to try it on easy. The computer is easier on your condition playing easy mode. Helping you get use to the system. You may do a full season, half or only 1-2 races to catch on. Then go for what you think you can handle. You also should give a short stage race (tour of Cali) a try on single race mode just to watch how the stats change to get use to it.
Firewolf wrote:
Matrix wrote:
Example: Played the Giro with Sky. Had Wiggins the leader, and with 30km to go attacked with Froome protecting Wiggins. Only issue...Wiggins recovery was bad and his rythum was off. Froome was perfect, Froome lost Wiggins and Wiggins finished 3+ min back and was also passed by some lesser riders.
Almost like the real tour last year :-)
I think Froome had he not waited for Wiggins, or slowed down would of won it last year also. Caused Wiggins so much of a headache if you look around. After Froome was 100% the leader this season for the TDF, he couldn't handle the Giro and claimed he was ill...I don't think he was. Then, he wanted to do the TDF...the team said ok, but Froome leads and he suddenly was not in shape, sick or injured...pick 1 all 3 where in the news. And my fav, the week before the TDF, he hinted in interviews he may never ride a TDF again. Is he that worried his own teammate will make him look bad? Or is he that much of a_______? (Fill it in with whatever word you like to describe Winggins)
(Fill it in with whatever word you like to describe Winggins)
