I struggle to plan an entire season from top to bottom, so I was wondering about different approaches you guys might have.
My team for the coming season (and hopefully on WT level) will be something like this:
1 strong climbing captain (Dombrowski)
3 half decent climbers (74/75 CL)
some other riders 70 to 73 mostly youngsters.
3 or 4 half decent cobble sprinters. None of them have particularly good HL. CL and SP around 72 to 75. Nothing special here. Stuyven looks nice but still needs work.
Wilco Kelderman - A half decent CL/HL/TT rider that may take some small climb stage races.
A couple of decent young sprinters that still need some training (around 71 to 74 SP).
1 nice TTer (Hepburn; I'm trying to give him HL and CB)
1 half decent TTer (Bobridge)
And as you've already guessed, my squad is pretty big, but mostly kids that need work.
I was thinking about dividing the team in 4 main groups.
- Dombrowsky and climbers
- Cobblers
- Sprinters
- Kelderman (I still struggle to find his comfort zone) but hill races maybe???
With the climbers and hill racers, I'd mix some of the support and also some of my puncheurs depending on the route.
The TTers would go from group to group, but I still need to choose a training profile for them.
As always, I need to wait for the sponsor goals before deciding.
Anyone want to share their strategies/tricks?
Thanks
You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
I always make groups, especially in small (Non-WT) teams. I let 3 or 4 guys stick together the whole time, so that my sprinter always have some decent leadouts and my climber domestiques.
So yes, what you are doing as well.
Also, HOW DARE YOU CALL KELDERMAN HALF-DECENT?! He's awesome!
Nah, depends of the stats he got given in your DB ofc.
His comfort zone is climbing races with a TT, normally.
Edited by Jesleyh on 12-09-2013 16:15
Jesleyh wrote:
Also, HOW DARE YOU CALL KELDERMAN HALF-DECENT?! He's awesome!
Nah, depends of the stats he got given in your DB ofc.
His comfort zone is climbing races with a TT, normally.
I say half decent because he maxes at 75 CL and that is a bit short. For hill races, he also has too little SP/AC, but I'm still working with him.
And, so far (a couple of races left, including Beijing Tour) he is #2 in the conti ranks. I can't complain too much.
I have the PCMDaily DB for 2013.
You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
Jesleyh wrote:
He maxes for 75MO? Dammit, that's really bad, never saw that.
I have, in my blanco game... Nowhere else though, typical. (80tt though)
I form groups for a few races, but I wouldn't plan the whole season with groups because for example, with my punchers, I'll send one to STDU, one to Vasco, one to Andalucia and other feb races.
However you'll need to bring your best together for monuments and GTs so i give them separate warm ups until enough race days before to build form where they all do the same thing unless they have too many days so I cut it short.
Ultimately it's up to you though, but use Kelderman well, he's my favourite too!
I wouldn't group sprinters and less outs as you may need lead out men to sprint in small competitions.
I tend to rotate my stage racers anticlockwise, tdf giro vuelta tdf giro...
I use classics men in late Feb and March-April then rest them till the vuelta because punchers are good on the short climbs and can often hang on against week opposition. Classic men endurance make great workhorses and breakaway artists, decent sprint and hill.
Just my opinion, have fun!
Edited by The Hobbit on 12-09-2013 18:52
I guess it all really depends on budget. Ideally, I'll go with a Super GT guy for two GTs a year, one guy who is stage/climber with high hills for other GT + hill/climb classics, then a Cobbled sprinter.
I used to spend a day or more doing a season plan but with the new system is somewhat easier you don't need to worry about race days.
My best method is writing down the sponsor goals above all. Then, I look at my team and see who can help reach what goals best. And plan the riders or the sponsor races. My team is always strong climbing and hills (and manage to do well it TTTs). I am sure to give my stronger riders some breaks. You may want to study a race to see if a rider could rest that period or if they are needed for sponsor goals. Once set, I will change a rider from doing a race if his fittness takes a big dip. So my plan may have a 75MT rider sit out of a race he could win and replace him with a 70MT rider if needed. May not get the result I could of...but atleast I know my best climber will be better for a race that I do have to have him. I do this for every race with every type stat. Only alter if a bigger race is coming and your top riders arent doing well fittness wise.
Next, I try to add races to my schedule that I know my riders want. Tour of California is always big for US riders as an example. But dont over do races unless you know the top guys are going to be fit for the biggest goal races.
Dont have someone ride the Giro, Tour of Cali and then TDF for example. The will fade in the TDF badly. Better to have them skip the ToC to rest. Be sure you do watch fittness. If needed, I have found a 1-2 day preseason (most are almost all year) will boost a rider decently to start a race like the TDF decent...and get stronger as the races goes.
Youtube has some good examples of how to set up a schedule. Or you can always play it by ear. Set up the races and schedule without putting anyone in a set race. Then pick and choose who will ride what based on fittness. Risky method but can get some great results in some races...but longterm it isnt smart stratagey.
