Hello,
I am new to this game, but I am having really great experience! Mainly I play Pro Cyclist and I had some issue in race. I made my effort 55 and everything went smoothly at the one point, when I have lost my place from 5th man in the pack to the last man in the pack and I even was left behind by the pack. What had happened? It occurred so fast, everyone started cycling so fast at about 80km till finish line. Was it some kind of bug or just my lack of experience in this game?
- you used the "stay in place" command (2nd button, selected in blue, with 2 arrows pointing at several dots) : it tells your rider to retain his position in the peloton. However, this command still takes your effort level into account.
If, say, the peloton ride ~ effort 70, your 55 effort won't be enough, and the number will flash red. You have to increase it.
It's very common for a peloton to increase tempo to catch a breakaway, or to prepare for the final sprint in the last kilometers. Or in a climb to make a selection ... Happens lots of time.
You're safer putting a higher effort, as the extra energy is not (or almost not) consumed. IE if the peloton rides at 55, but you're at 70, your heartrate will still be low (and your energy won't decrease much)
- you put the "free effort" command (3rd button, arrow to the right from a circled dot, the other major command used, called "dot", so your rider did what told : he rode to the effort level you gave, regardless of what the peloton did. Unfortunately, the peloton increased tempo and your rider, disregarding this, did not.
It requires a bit of micromanagement to keep your rider in the front (as in real life, where pushing and falls happen when too many riders want one of the top spots)
My advice (some may offer more precise/advanced tips but it works for me for basic stuff)
- let a 70 effort, use the "go to" command (right click on a rider, the big dot) to reach the front, it's not (or almost not ?) wasted energy. If somehow the pace increase (fighting against a breakaway forming, catching a breakaway, or last few km until final sprint), you may have to increase your effort to 80 or 85 just to follow and retain your spot
- in the climbs, use "the dot" and fiddle with the effort cursor to achieve what you want Either maintain your spot / reach the first rank / even lead the pack and make a selection if you're a good climber, or minimize energy loss while staying in the peloton / save what you can if you're a sprinter or such.
If you play a career, you may notice that, setting your whole team on the dot during a climb, the sprinters/poor climbers will struggle keeping their spot with a yellow heartrate and high effort, while you best climber will stay at low HR with low effort while being effortlessly second in the pack.
It's all about getting used to a bit of basic micromanagement, and knowing when the peloton pace will (probably) increase, and what your rider can achieve
, so your rider did what told : he rode to the effort level you gave, regardless of what the peloton did. Unfortunately, the peloton increased tempo and your rider, disregarding this, did not.
