Pro cyclist has always bugged me but I finally found a way to play it more enjoyable.
I start by giving my rider potential 4 and make the stats all maxed out. The level ups I use to upgrade to a second axis. This will keep me in the continental competition.
When I want to play pro continental I create a rider with potential 5 and max those stats out. As with my continental rider I use the level ups to start a new secondary axis.
And if I want to play cya I start with a potential 6 and use level ups to create a second axis.
This way I avoid the annoying starting the season weak and ending the season way too strong. It feels more natural to me to have a rider suited for the division I'm in and makes the second axis more interesting to develop. I also avoid having a rider with 78 mountain but 60 flat and not able to keep up with the cya teams although they are the only ones signing me. Now I start with 78 mountain and 67 flat and developing my TT throughout the seasons creeping slowly towards winning tours and national championships.
My current rider is continental with 73 flat and 72 cob and I'm deciding on what second axis to develop. Maybe puncher to increase that 67 max hill or sprinter to increase that 67 max sprint.
My previous rider was pro continental with 76 mountain and I was able to develop TT from a 67 max to a healthy 72 max which landed me a contract with a cya team after a few seasons. Being potential 5 I was competitive but not a superstar.
Needless to say I always play on extreme both career and pro cyclist.
