Welcome to my new BMC Career story. With the new 2016 db rolling out it is time to give this a new run.
I'm going to stick with my plan from the last time I tried to start a story, which means I'm placing rules upon myself and how I manage this career. I'm excited to get underway and have already completed some of the preliminary issues of scheduling, objectives and fitness planning so we can get started.
Here is a quick rundown of the rules I have to play and the reasons.
Spoiler
1. I'm playing as a single DS, and as such I cannot be in two places at one time. So I can only manage one race at a time.
2. I cannot instantly travel either, so I cannot manage races on consecutive days in different countries.
3. Races I'm not managing will still be run in 3d, but I must set all riders to the auto setting and they remain that way the whole race. I can set the plan for the race beforehand.
4. I do have full control of the roster and planning, but will try to be at least somewhat realistic.
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5. I am not allowed to use specific training camps to improve stats.
6. I can use one GT training location for each rider on in the race.
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While not a rule, I will try to use lesser riders as leaders at smaller races to better match reality. (Example, I may choose to have Bookwalter as my leader at the Tour of Utah instead of Van Garderen)
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Settings:
Difficulty - Hard
Fall frequency - 100% (for now)
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Note: I will use some of the tips and strategies listed in TiemenD's thread about using the auto feature. Specifically how to avoid it being overly detrimental due to bad AI.
That thread can be found here.
I hope to provide an entertaining story that revolves around the BMC team. Outside input is greatly appreciated and I would like if others would help by taking roles as outside reporters with questions and comments for the team
I will aim to provide streaming as I am racing which should be available in the most recent post. There will also be the more standard recaps available for each race.
Edited by Kentaurus on 08-03-2016 17:17
The first races for our season are important for only a couple of our riders, Rohan Dennis and Ritchie Porte. Both riders are very strong and should contend in both events with Dennis certainly a favorite for the time-trial and Porte one of the favorites for the Road Race.
Early season form is always a question, and we are hoping that our riders are in good shape and ready to go. Tactically there isn't much we can do about the time-trial as we just wish both riders the best and go over the course. The road race takes a bit more thought though as we look to have our two guys work together. Ideally we favor Porte and hope that Dennis can help launch him for a win. Getting by the strength of Orica could be a challenge, but we feel our riders are strong enough to make something happen.
Edited by Kentaurus on 03-03-2016 15:27
I'm looking forward to see how you perform with GVA in the cobbled classics and how he and BMC can overcome the menace of Kristoff and Degenkolb. Hope you use Oss to great effect as well in these races.
Tafiolmo wrote:
I'm looking forward to see how you perform with GVA in the cobbled classics and how he and BMC can overcome the menace of Kristoff and Degenkolb. Hope you use Oss to great effect as well in these races.
Oss is one of my favorite riders, quietly good at damn near everything. I expect him to be a leader in some of the build up races and certainly key for GVA at the bigger races.
Everything was ready for us to kick off our season, and so we went. With Porte and Dennis ready to race on their own in this national time-trial championship.
Ritchie would put in a great ride for us, finishing 8th overall just over a minute back of the winner. Rohan would do even better, finishing on the podium in 3rd place giving us a solid start to the season.
Rohan Dennis on his way to a 3rd place finish
The winner though would come from Dimension Data by Qhubeka and Cam Meyer. He rode fantastically completing the course in just over an hour and will be wearing the Australian colors in all time-trials the rest of the year.
Our first road race sees the same pair of riders as the time-trial. We are confident in Porte as our leader, and Rohan will do his best to help Richie end the day as champion.
As the race starts, there are very few attacks and none that stick to create a break of the day. So Rohan takes the initiative and tries to make his own move and force the others to give Richie a free ride.
Rohan Dennis and Lachlan Morton (JellyBelly) form to make the BotD.
It comes as little surprise but Orica takes control of the race with a handful of very solid riders at their disposal and two favorites in Gerrans and Matthews. There would be no help the rest of the race for them.
6 Orica riders lead the peloton though the start/finish line halfway though the race.
With overwhelming numbers still in favor of Orica, Richie would make the first move attacking on the penultimate lap and dragging with him only a very select few riders. This group would quickly catch the two leaders in the breakaway.
Porte attacks, followed by Clarke (Can), Meyer (DD) and Matthews (Orica)
Matthews leads, with Dennis, Clarke, Porte, Morton and Meyer in tow. Gerrans (Orica) trying to cross over to this group.
Richie would get all the help he could from Rohan before attacking again on the last lap up the steepest part of the climb. The Orica riders would respond but would be unable to keep Richie from opening a gap.
Porte attacks on the final lap. Matthews and Gerrans in pursuit, Dennis fading after launching the Porte attack.
There would be no one who could retake the wheel of Richie as he is able to solo his way across the line. Matthews would give it everything he could but doesn't have enough to catch up and Simon Clark would round out the podium.
Porte with a hand in the air to celebrate victory!
Velits, De Marchi, Moinard, Rosskopf, Senni, Zabel
Spoiler
Our teams first true race of the season and we are excited! DS Kentaurus won't be able to attend as he is with the riders in Australia for the Santos Tour Down Under, but we feel confident none the less. The race is a good mix of days for the sprinters, a day for the puncheurs and a couple of days for the climbers. Our overall tactic here will be looking for stage wins.
A time-trial starts off the race and gives us a chance with Velits to really put ourselves in a good position, and might determine if we focus on the trying for a good place in the GC or just stage hunting.
Stages 2, 5 and 7 are all for the sprinters and Rick Zabel will be our man there, we are just hoping for some solid results and experience for our young sprinter.
Stage 3 might be the most interesting as it should provide the best chance for an attacking win, the final category 2 climb before the finish should break apart the sprinters and allow for a strong man.
Lastly, stages 4 and 6 are for the climbers with stage 6 surely deciding the GC of this race up the biggest and steepest climb of the tour. Keeping Velits in a good position going into these will be key for any GC aspirations we have here.
We wish the best of luck to our riders and are ready to get our riders underway.
The Tour Down Under no longer needs much introduction, the opening race to the World Tour Calendar has well established itself. It isn't the same sprinters race it used to be either, though there are still plenty of opportunities for them.
Stages 1, 2, 4, and 6 all provide a chance for the sprinters to shine, and while that isn't really our focus here Drucker and Oss should provide us a little bit of firepower.
The key for us is stages 3 and 5, the places where the GC can be won. Stage three see just enough of a kicker before the finish to provide a launchpad and rid the sprinters, while Old Willunga Hill in stage 5 should be decisive in the GC.
I'll be excited to take control of a strong team at this race and ready to open our World Tour season with some great results. Hopefully another victory for Richie this year.
