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PCM.daily Tips & Tricks Section
Sprinting for Dummies
By: Masterblaster01 | Average Rating: 4.63 | Game version: PCM13
First off i always check if i have another sprinter. If your 2nd best sprinter isn't over 70 sprint it's not of much use to build a sprint train, because the AI starts sprinter at about 2 km and that's too far for one sprinter... Just catch the favorites wheel.
If you build a train it should have (From last wheel ยป Front rider): 1st. 2nd best flat rider
^ 2nd. Best FLAT rider
^ 3rd. (3rd best sprinter)
^ 4th. 2nd best sprinter
^ 5th. Main sprinter
The 3rd best sprinter is only usefull if he's above 70 as well, otherwise skip that part, add a flat rider and do not start sprinting before 2km (unless the AI does, but you should be in front of them so you can start sprinting with your best FLAT rider untill 2 km)
Most of the times you don't need more then 5 men, maybe a 6th in your sprinters wheel if he's the top favorite. It will drop the other sprinters when he can't follow the pace.
Here's my tactic:
30km - make sure to get your 5 men in front of the pack. Do it later and i might cost a lot of energy. I usually set my guys at 80%
18 - 15km - form your train at 80-85%, depends on the pace and the breakaway.
10km - Put your front man on dot so he holds steady, just behind the (chasing) train in front of the pack. Effort 80% is good enough most of the times. Now put your 2nd guy on 85%, your 3e guy on 90%, your leadout on 95% and your sprinter on 99%. This usually prevents your train from breaking. They follow so they won't be using more energy then they need.
6,5km - Use energy gel for your 3rd guy. Make sure you're just behind the forming trains. Front guy around 85%, rest on 99%
5,5km - Use energy gel for your leadout. Put your front man on 90% and make sure you move forward slowly.
4,5km - Use energy gel for your sprinter (and everyone else). Put your 1st guy on 99%.
4km - 1st guy on hold position and if it's crowded put him on 15 effort until the rest of your train is past. This will prevent him for blocking your train. Put your 2nd guy on 99 dot. This is the time to shine and get your train past the other ones.
2,5 - 3km - If the pack starts sprinting, start to sprint with your 3rd guy (your least sprinter), his energy gel should've kicked in by now. 3rd guy on hold position. If you're lucky he will block some of the other trains as well. If the pack doesn't start sprinting, do it yourself at 2,5km
1,5km - Start sprinting with your 2nd guy/leadout unless the 3rd guy is tired already (shouldn't be but still..), start earlier
0,8km - Start sprinting with your best sprinter and hope no-one catches you.
0km - WIN!
Some notes
1. If there's a hill within the last 18km, wait with forming your train because if your sprinter is in follow, he can't be protected Protect him untill they are over the hill. If the hill is in the last 10km, you should give it a try with your GC rider
2. If the sprint is downhill, everything should happen a little earlier. Including the energy gels.
3. Make sure you don't get in front too early, because other teams will overtake you when you start sprinting meaning they have a higher starting speed Steam to the lead positition between kilometers 4 and 3 (or 2,5).
4. DO NOT be affraid if a rider overtakes you with 2km to go. They will drop soon. Unless it's another train, that means your 2nd or 3rd guy isn't fast enough
5. When you're in front and you see the competition steaming towards you and their best sprinter gets out of the leadouts wheel, it's time for you to sprint because they have a higher speed, so use the few meters you've got to get that win!
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6. If you don't have a good leadout, protect your sprinter untill 10km. Get him in the wheel of your best FLAT rider. Stay near the front, just like you do with a train. At 3,5km, steam up and bring your sprinter to a favorites wheel, take the wheel, and START SPRINTING with your flat rider. They will probably cause the pack to react and start sprinting as well. This means the favorites train will run out sooner so you're in best position
Don't get in the wheel immediatly from 18km, because it's no use. It costs energy and probably you're gonna get dropped because everyone wants that wheel. [i](And often they hit the break, causing everyone to get behind, and then they punch through to the front. But you're in the crowd so YOU WILL GET STUCK.
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Hope this helps a bit.. It's not a garanteed guide to succes, but at least it's a guide to help you get started on winning mass sprints.
Never underestimate the power of high FL stat. You'll find that the really strong FL riders (Cancellara, Martin etc.) can last a very long time on the front. They can also put your other riders into trouble, so remember to be careful.
Make sure you focus on your sprinters, not the other teams. If you are pushing hard to keep up with another train, you can easily do more damage to yourself than them.
And with the new ACC stat 0.8km can be quite late. If you have a high SP but low ACC you must go earlier or just won't have the distance to come through to win.
And i don't recommend raising your riders effort's at 10km. Well at least not that high. If your train is organized right there should never be an issue of breaking up. So raise the efforts to 80-84. At 85% they can start to use up the red bar, and if that runs out they can't sprint. When they hit the front raise the effort, but otherwise try and keep it down to preserve as much energy as possible.
And if you don't have a good leadout, or a good enough FL rider to hide behind, why not try Stealing a Leadout. The Tip can be found in this section by Wiley. I love it for weaker teams like Vacansoleil.
Protect him untill they are over the hill. If the hill is in the last 10km, you should give it a try with your GC rider 
