I'm sure this is not the first time the question has been asked but forgive me, since I'm new to this game. I have read the guide to training in the 06/07 article section. I thought that was fairly understandable but how do you manage your riders fitness level throughout the season? It is obvious that they can not perform well during the whole season but a team must ride a great number of races so how do you do that? Do you nominate 8 riders who will ride all races from january through april and then another 8 riders from there and so on?
I know this is a large (or how to put it) question but any comments would be appreciated.
I will need a while to formulate an answer - a while which I do not have this evening, so I'll answer tomorrow unless someone comes in and answers before me
I have never tried to manage a continental team, only Pro Tour-teams, therefore only the PT-races are important to me. With that in mind, it's fairly easy to always have a couple of riders in form for the races. I mean, not all riders _have_ to be in form for the races, as some riders can use the races as preparation races before their actual goal of the season.
It's a bit difficult to explain, but I hope you got he point.
I have been away for a while but thanks for the answers. I see the point in always having a couple of riders peaking for the different races, which is manageble with a pro tour team.
My questions was more along the lines of what your "tactics" are (I know this of course depends of which races you want to do well in). The way I plan the season (off the top of my head as I have never played an entire season) will be to have several riders that have finished their season by May. Then having other riders that will race in the grand tours and others again focusing on the autum races.
I was wondering if others have a similar approach or, if not, how they plan a season. For instance, I can see that my sprinters basically want to participate in every race there is.
I usually keep an eye out on a rider of 4 or 5, and let the rest of the riders be managed by the computer. For the big races (ProTour), like the spring and autumn classics and the grand tours, you only have like 2-4 'important' riders (one or two stage racer(s), a sprinter and a 'breakaway' rider for the GT's and maybe two or three riders who are able to win a classic). You just keep an eye out on those riders, who you want to participate in the big/important races. The CPU helps you a little bit by presenting the programs for some of your leaders, thus adjusting the trainingprogram accordingly...
Iam playing mainly with small continental teams. My tactics are in general to always have at least 1-2 riders in top condition at all times. These are usually never my top riders. And I mainly use this rider in breakaways, this have proven very successful(5 long breakaway stage wins in a season on normal, with the small Danish continental team TPH, which is a lot in a season with a total of 9 victories). Make sure that you both got a good hill/mountain and a good flat rider in good condition, so you are able to attack in all terrains.
Else I prepare the rest of the team in groups of 5 - 6 riders, for the races that I think my best riders got a chance to win.
This tactic based on good breakaway riders, seem to work very well, with small continental teams without any good sprinters or climbers who can win by staying with the peleton.
