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How do you plan your season?
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| Consiglieri |
Posted on 18-10-2013 21:10
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 11-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I've played pcm the last few years, but I never really got started in season mode.
Just because I feel that planning seems unmanageable.
How do you plan your season and what is your take on the easiest way to do it? I know that there is a seasonal planning program, but feel that it is for advanced people only |
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 18-10-2013 21:38
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3912
Joined: 29-01-2013
PCM$: 300.00
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I only have PCM 12, so it mightve changed a bit in 13, but mainly i group my riders for the three GTs, thr cobbles, the ardennes and as back-ups for injured riders ussing lachis season planner. Then i add them to the races all the riders in a group should ride. After that i add a rider that say leads in the Tour and helps in the Ardennes to the important ardennes races. Then i make fitness plans for riders that just ride the group races and change it a little for ones that ride more. So thats pretty much what i do at the start of the season, excluding choosing races and that sort of stuff.
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 18-10-2013 21:53
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 3306
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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Season planning if my favorite thing. Love trying to work out the best combinations.
It can be daunting. My advice is to start with a conti or pro conti team, it is a lot easier when you only have 16 riders and nearly all the races take 8 riders so groups are easy to create and maintain. Do one season like that get a feel for it then try a pro-tour team with 25+ riders. |
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 18-10-2013 21:58
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Team Leader
Posts: 5534
Joined: 12-06-2013
PCM$: 500.00
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I think its a decision which I based on trial and error. For the 3 GTs I have two leaders who ride the Vuelta. Then one will ride Tour and the other Giro. Team mates and co leaders, you can mix up a bit but dont put many riders in toir and giro cause they cant cope.
If you play witha Continental Team then participate in one or two of the Gts if you can. This means you can focus on smaller tours and get wildcards for races like Paris-Nice, etc.
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| Masterblaster01 |
Posted on 18-10-2013 22:53
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 362
Joined: 07-03-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Ulrich Ulriksen gives some good advise. Start doing it with a (pro) conti team.
I've just finished planning my season for Astana with the PCMdailyExpansion and i was planning on using the Lachis season planner, but in the end i didn't use it 
There is a guide in the Tips and Tricks section, but here is mine how i did it with Astana.
"How to plan a season" guide for dummies
First of all, look at your sponsor objectives (it's not neccessary to do this, but it will help you get started).
Look at which GT is the most important one according to your sponsor.
Make 3 groups: Giro, Vuelta, Tour.
Now choose the riders you want to take with you. Start with picking your absolute leader.
Now pick 3 helpers for the mountains. This should be decent or more than decent climbers.
If you have a good sprinter and you want to take him with you, pick your sprinter and a good leadout man.
Last but not least, take 3 time trialers with you. They should help you get trough the TTT and they can for a sprinttrain and/or take wins in a breakaway 
Next: The other GT's. Pick your riders in the same way. Take into consideration that one rider cannot go for the GC in 2 (or 3) GT's. However, it is possible to make your GC rider for the Giro for example help your leader in the tour. But don't expect him to go for the GC. Just let him take it easy when not needed, maybe let him loose some time and take a stage win.
So. Pick your riders the same way you did with the most important GT. Time trials can ride 2 GT's, helpers can as well. Giro-Vuelta is the most common combination i think.
Note: In my Astana carreer i have 19 riders for all 3 GT's
Now all the GT's are sorted out, you can start giving your riders some goals. This will automatically make the right (basic) fitness schedule for your riders. The riders can be sorted in 3 basic groups.
1. The GT riders. Add the GT they will ride to their goals. Maybe remove some other goals to avoid a lot of red in the end of the season. You can add the "build-up races" as well as secondary goals. Will get to it later on.
2. The strong non-GT riders. Most of the time these are the classic riders. Good HILL stats and/or good COBBLE stats. Add the classics to their goals if they are not already added. If they are already added, don't touch it Maybe you can also add the WC if it are good hill riders (depends on the WC cirquit but most of the times it's hilly i guess)
3. The weak non-GT riders. Just leave them be
Now, slightly adjust their fitness schedule.
1. GT leader: Make them peak in the last TWO weeks.
2. GT sprinters/Time triallers: Make them peak in the first week.
3. Classics riders: Make them peak in March-April and arround the WC/Il Lombardia. If you add the riders goals their schedule will be correct most of the times.
Now you're done with planning your riders season! That leaves one part: Add them to the races in the Calendar » Riders tab.
1. Plan the GT's. Quite easy as you have put them in groups.
2. Plan the "build-up races". These are the races that are most important building up some rythm.
For the Giro: Tour de Romandie (or the Presidential Tour of Turkey for the sprinters)
For the TdF: Critérium du Dauphiné OR Tour de Suisse
For the Vuelta: Tour de Pologne (but there are still quite some days between the TdP and the Vuelta, so you can also choose the Eneco Tour, but it's as flat as a pancake.)
3. Add all the riders to their goal races (marked with a star). You don't have to fill the races up yet.
4. Plan your sponsor goals (write them down somewhere. You can also add your goal (like top 3 or stage wins). When you notice with planning that you have a good squad going to the race, you can add your objectives giving you extra money.)
5. Plan the rest of the WT races.
6. Fill up the races that already have some riders planned (goals). You can check this on the left side. Just try to fill up the races that show 1/8 as good as possible.
7. Your choise: Fill up the rest (0/8 races) or remove them from your calendar. My advise is to remove them from the calendar, because you already have a lot of races, and the GTs are still a long way to go when just starting
Note: When planning, just take your fittest riders. The most 'green' ones. Just make sure they don't exceed 60 race days by TOO much. Try to make them all around 60 race days. So plan the riders with the least racing days first, unless it's a GT, build-up or sponsor objective.
And the last note:
Be aware it takes some HOURS to plan a whole season. 3-4 hours is no exception
Hope this helps you 
Edited by Masterblaster01 on 18-10-2013 22:54
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 18-10-2013 23:04
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7651
Joined: 28-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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I used to plan it out using lachi's planner, but on this year's pcm, I have used the built in planner. I don't set ever race. Just the main / target races for each rider.
Some people do it differently, like my house mate who uses a scrap of paper or excel spreadsheet. He plans his season's around the aims and goals and selects each squad depending on fitness etc at the races in game
Edited by the_hoyle on 18-10-2013 23:04
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| Consiglieri |
Posted on 19-10-2013 13:06
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Junior Rider
Posts: 29
Joined: 11-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Thanks for all the great reply, it's really something I can use. |
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 19-10-2013 13:45
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2730
Joined: 18-08-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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You should make that a tip Master, great detail! |
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| Cossack |
Posted on 29-10-2013 10:36
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Domestique
Posts: 582
Joined: 16-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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How fast does it take to recuperate after a Grand Tour? When I plan to ride Giro and Tour with Talansky (Giro leader, Tour luxury domestique), should I send him to Dauphine/Suisse or better avoid it to improve his freshness?
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| pmyraje |
Posted on 12-01-2014 11:35
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Amateur
Posts: 15
Joined: 03-04-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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This is something that always slows me down when playing PCM. In the past I have always used Lachi's editor which made it so much better. In PCM13 I am trying to use the in-built stuff, but the information available on different screens is really frustrating. I planned my races and then which riders go to what first, but then to do season objectives I am constantly having to switch between screens, move to the right month, scroll, filter, etc, etc which is tedious. It is a shame races on a rider's objectives page cannot be filtered if you have already assigned his races for the season.
I'm still in the middle of planning my first major season now - I keep taking doing a small bit at a time because it is so tedious!! |
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| misar82 |
Posted on 06-02-2014 16:24
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Stagiare
Posts: 170
Joined: 26-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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How do you guys set the riders' objectives in PCM13? I mean, I used to create some templates in previous editions and then apply them to the different groups. Now I can´t do that and need to set every individual plan separately. It's killing me! Not just the fact that I need to create 27 plans but on top of that I cannot have a break since the game cant be saved lol
And why do my equipiers complain when I set them grand tour objectives? Tha's what I pay them for, to help the leader in those races lol
"Between me and Eddie Merkcx we have won all the classics. I won the Paris-Tours, he won all the rest"
Nöel Vantyghem
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-12-2024 12:52
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| Selwink |
Posted on 06-02-2014 16:28
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8856
Joined: 17-05-2012
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What I advise is just ignore happiness. It has no influence. For domestiques, I advise to just set them in a flat schedule, with a decent shape throughout the year. Only peak them for the GTs they ride. You should mainly spend some time on your leaders. Also, you can save your planning by advancing a day, so it's best to start planning on january 1st
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| ShortsNL |
Posted on 06-02-2014 16:30
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 898
Joined: 17-11-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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For me, my work on rider Objectives and the fitness schedules is saved by going back to the main menu.
If I then load my last save it comes up with my edited work.
Also, you can always save the fitness curves using Lachi's season planner.
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| misar82 |
Posted on 06-02-2014 16:30
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Stagiare
Posts: 170
Joined: 26-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Yeah, those are good tips, I just wish we could create templates like in previous editions, to apply to different groups and re-use in different seasons, it makes things much. much easier...
"Between me and Eddie Merkcx we have won all the classics. I won the Paris-Tours, he won all the rest"
Nöel Vantyghem
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| Aleakez |
Posted on 09-02-2014 18:59
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Under 23
Posts: 53
Joined: 23-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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i just started the Giro with Valverde, when i planned my season i set him up for Paris - Nice, Liège Bastogne Liège and Tour de Romandie but i also went for Vuelta Mallorca, Amstel and La Flèche Wallonne i decided to drop riding in the Romandie with Valverde, now im in the first week in the Giro but his form is starting to decline allot, what have i done wrong?
i do my planning ingame btw..
Edited by Aleakez on 09-02-2014 19:02
" Trust me, you can dance - Vodka "
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| ShortsNL |
Posted on 10-02-2014 09:36
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 898
Joined: 17-11-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Too much racing in the early season I'd say.
If I want my rider to peak at the Giro, he rider Romandie, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and a few more races in April. Nothing before that.
If you let your rider peak early March (Paris-Nice) already, and you maintain this peak until the Giro, his form will be bad by the time the Giro is over.
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 10-02-2014 10:06
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4478
Joined: 30-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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I don't plan. I put riders in races when load them up and I pick riders I think will do well in them.
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| Cossack |
Posted on 18-03-2014 21:50
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Domestique
Posts: 582
Joined: 16-07-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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I will join this thread, as my question is a bit similar.
I'm currently planning a season with Movistar. My best cobbler is Amador (71 COB) followed by Izagirre and Ventoso (70 COB). Does it make any sense to make them peak for RvV or is it almost impossible to get any decent result (early to mid-race breakaway) there with such riders?
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 18-03-2014 22:01
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16454
Joined: 27-07-2011
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Yeah I would just forge the cobbles and not waste a peak for them.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| misar82 |
Posted on 18-03-2014 22:45
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Stagiare
Posts: 170
Joined: 26-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I always divide my team in the following 5 groups at the start of the season, it works very well:
Group Spring-Tour (very good form from Paris-Nice to Lieja, then also for July)
Group Spring-Vuelta (same in spring, then the vuelta weeks and Lombardie, world champs)
Group Giro-Tour (Romandie-Giro.Dauphiné or Switzerland -Tour)
Group Giro-Vuelta (Romandie-Giro- vuelta and Lombardie)
Group Spring-Autumn classics (Down under, spring classics,cobble, then back to form in august for Eneco tour, and september classics)
My key riders are distributed in the groups according to their strengths) For example if playing SaxoBank thats one way to allocate them:
Spring- Tour: Kreuziger
Spring-Vuelta: Roche
Giro-Tour: Contador
Giro-Vuelta: Majka
Spring-Autumn classics: Breschel
"Between me and Eddie Merkcx we have won all the classics. I won the Paris-Tours, he won all the rest"
Nöel Vantyghem
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