I have another question on how to ride the mountains. Is it generally better to follow attacks from the other favourites - or to ride my riders own tempo (dot)? Or does that depend on rider (acceleratioen/fighter/resistance?)
And how do I use my helpers. Is it better to relay in front with the helper, while the captain sits behind - or should I use the helper to protect the leader while the leader is on the dot or something.
And how to use the dot properly? Previously there was this bar which should not fill up (and to do that we kept the pulse below 168 or something). Is it something similar in this version. For example that is is best to not burn out the middle bar (and which pulse does accomplish that?)
I'm by no means an expert at this, but here are my opinions...
Gonchar wrote:
Some more questions:
I have another question on how to ride the mountains. Is it generally better to follow attacks from the other favourites - or to ride my riders own tempo (dot)? Or does that depend on rider (acceleratioen/fighter/resistance?)
Before I enter a big climb, I try to get all of my cyclists toward the front of the peleton (still on "Stay w/Group". If the climb is so long/steep that it pushes heart rate beyond ~167, I put cyclist (who's heartrate has exceeded that threashold) onto dot, finding the right amount of energy to expend that keeps my cyclists with the group, but without decreasing yellow bar (which is about anthing over 167). Of course, some cyclists will not be able to keep up with group without losing yellow, so you have to decide whether to let them get dropped or try to keep them with group, but loose yellow.
Its up to your race strategy if you want to counter-attack if another rider attacks; however, I wouldn't counter-attack on any long/steep climb without a strong mountain rating; otherwise, he won't get very far before burning up his red then yellow bars. I typically don't attack with my best climber until the last climb (and usually then with 3 - 5km left); and its better to counter-attack, then attack (as you can go further without losing red/yellow if you are "countering". Of course, its success will depend on his ratings and form.
Gonchar wrote:
And how do I use my helpers. Is it better to relay in front with the helper, while the captain sits behind - or should I use the helper to protect the leader while the leader is on the dot or something.
Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If your captain is the race leader and you want to protect your #1 spot, you'll need to put your team at the front of the peleton (on relay) to pull back the break-away, if the rest of the peloton isn't doing it quickly enough. However, that's usually not the case - the peloton will track down 90% of the break-aways before the finish.
I personally, always have a team-mate "protecting" my leader and/or other cyclists that have a chance of winning the stage/race, so that they are a little fresher at the end of the race.
Gonchar wrote:
And how to use the dot properly? Previously there was this bar which should not fill up (and to do that we kept the pulse below 168 or something). Is it something similar in this version. For example that is is best to not burn out the middle bar (and which pulse does accomplish that?)
When using the "dot" if your cyclist heartbeat goes over 166, you'll start to loose yellow. If you burn up all yellow, then you are pretty much done for the day. There are some exceptions, especially if it happens early. As yellow will come back, once you ease up, but if its toward the end of the race, its tough to get much yellow back.
But do I use least energy with my captain if I let him ride his own tempo (@pulse ca 167) being protected by the helper. Or by setting the helper to pull and the captain to sit back. (For example in a situation in the last climb and the other favourites is up the road and we need to get the captain as fast as possible up the moutain)
Thanks for the other tips, and for the dot-explanation!
If you are on relative flat terrain, then let him sit back (Stay w/Group) and protect him with a helper. And if the peleton isn't gaining quickly enough on breakaway, then send rest of team to front on relay to pull in breakaway.
If your captain is climbing, then put him on dot (never hurts to have a helper protecting) and get him to top of climb; however, its likely your helper will be exhausted by the time he gets to the top, unless he's a very strong climber. If the helper can't keep up, he'll fall behind, then take him off of protection (and ideally move him to dot as well).
Some times I'll have the entire team on dot to get everyone to top without complete exhaustion, although some will inevitably get dropped by peleton, but they would have anyway if I kept them on "Stay w/Group", but at least I can save a little of their energy using Dot.
There is not 1 right way. You just have to experiment a little. A lot depends on the strength of your riders on the given terrain.
. If the climb is so long/steep that it pushes heart rate beyond ~167, I put cyclist (who's heartrate has exceeded that threashold) onto dot, finding the right amount of energy to expend that keeps my cyclists with the group, but without decreasing yellow bar (which is about anthing over 167). Of course, some cyclists will not be able to keep up with group without losing yellow, so you have to decide whether to let them get dropped or try to keep them with group, but loose yellow.
