I haven't played many career mode saves over the years due to the effort that's required to prepare for a season. There's so much that needs to be done with the schedule and planning riders seasons that i am put off before i even get a chance to race. Anyone have any tips on how to do this as quickly and easily as possible whilst still having the team prepared for their season goals?
I never prepare an entire season in advance. I plan January - March first and the other months as I play. Do keep an eye on the deadline for race applications though.
This way of playing allows some flexibility, for example when a rider has suffered a long term injury or when a young rider has progressed a lot and is ready for bigger races than he would've raced initially.
The easiest teams to play are, imo, PCT teams from a traditional cycling country (Italy, Spain, France) with between 16 and 20 riders. Examples are Bardiani, Caja Rural, Fortuneo... Or a similar PCT team from a different country that has a good shot at a GT like Wanty (Giro) and Bora (Tour).
These teams will have plenty of races that they'll get into and you'll have plenty of goals to work towards like classics, smaller tours and a GT. They can compete for a top 10 or stage win which is very satisfying to achieve.
I would add that with PCM16, organizing the training is easier than before.
Define the goals of your leaders, assign the riders to the leaders and that's all.
The training schedule of the riders will be automatically created.
About coaches, you assign them depending on training style (Modern, traditional...) to match the rider preferences. If a rider has no preferences yet, you pick one coach and, during the season, you will receive a message when the rider preference is defined and if it doesn't match your choice. You can then quickly change the rider's coach.
I see it as pretty simple.
On the topic of coaches, usually the training style is linked to the rider's age.
Estimated ages:
Ground breaking: 18-24
Modern: 24-30
Traditional: 30-36
Personally, I find organizing a season the best part of the game. Setting up desired startlist in order to reach objectives, planning fitness peaks and such. It's this level of management if find most fulfilling in this game.
Of course, when season starts and injuries pile, it's all about troubleshooting initial plans and adapting, but that's exactly how it's supposed to be.
One part I am aggravated by, with regards to off season preparation, is rider contract negotiations. Every rider whose contract expires at the end of the season just re-signs or signs with another team within 1-2 weeks of the official date they are allowed to (which is halfway through the season). Most of the time, no WT riders become free at the end of the season. Basically, all teams have their rosters set for the next season, halfway through the current season.
