how to structure a 'team'

[wheelnut]

How do you suggest structuring or organizing my riders?

currently I have typically 25 riders organised into five teams...

Long tour 1 - one or two of the long tours plus a few of the short ones
long tour 2 - one or two of the long tours plus a few of the short ones
Short tours 1 - some of the remaining short tours
Short tours 2 - some of the remaining short tours
Races - individual races only, as many as fitness will allow

The long tour riders will be the best climbers, sprinters and have best balance and steering.
The short tour riders will have talent but might be weak in balance and steering
Racers will have low balance and steering but may have talent elsewhere

Teams stay riding together all season to keep similar fitness levels aligned.

Is this approach logical, optimal?

Is there another approach as an alternative?

[whistler]

I use a spreadsheet planner (the one Schizm uploaded for this season) and schedule individual riders for tours/races I think would suit their skills best, rather than having a group of riders that stay together.

I agree about putting riders with the best steering/balance in for the grand tours, but you could relax that a bit and say steering/balance matter most for your riders targetting the general classification and less so for others.

Lastly, I wouldn't spread leadership duties across too many riders - your leaders will be much more useful if you get them higher leadership skill from more experience. I'd be inclined to always pick my best leader for grand tours even if his steering/balance were not good... (Just don't pick an injury prone rider as your grand tour leader as that could be very frustrating). Remember also that team time trials give all 5 riders leadership experience so this can give your leaders a small xp boost once in a while.

[punkska]

I agree with all of what whistler said. The main thing I'd say is it sounds/seems like you're being too structured, and not focusing on the skills of the rider vs the terrain of the race/tour enough.

I have 4 proper leaders in my squad now, but rarely use 1 of them at all (he doesn't train anymore, he's essentially just a backup for injuries / super busy calendar periods).

As for the squad makup in general, make it flexible I'd say. I'd not really want more than a couple of flat specialists, ditto mountain specialists. Multiskills are good (I more often train up riders weaknesses than improve their existing specialties)

This looks good in theory: 2 flatters, 3 flat/hill, 3 flat/mountain, 3 hill/mountain, 2 hill, 2 mountain, 5 all around (2/3 of these being mountain dominant probably, big tour GC types), 1-2 sprinters, 1-2 tt specialists + 1-5 decent youngsters? = 23-29 riders. I seem to have ignored downhill, ehh. I've always considered secondaries important.

Just use the transfer market to fill weaknesses in your squad, and upgrade existing riders (and to move on riders once they stagnate in training, or your training plan no longer fits with their skills)

Feel free to PM me here or in game and I may answer more specific questions. Things I may not want everyone to know and such

[wheelnut]

Thanks Punkska,

Maybe if you would be kind enough I could send you my rider list with their skills and you could please let me know what you think?

I have the list in spreadsheet format.

Whistler - I too use the Schizm spreadsheet which is useful.

[davyduck]

Where can I find the spreadsheet?
Sounds interesting ...

[bam]

Here it is: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57827681/Peloton_Template_S13.xlsx

[wheelnut]

Coming back on this a little way down the track...

I have persuaded my drive for a home grown side and a British team. I am now in division 3:1 and struggling for money. I have had to concentrate on one core skill at a time at level 15 and unlearn the others to save money. The wages have escalated for the cyclists as each time contract renewal comes up they inevitably go up! I do use the min races and bonuses to try and get them lower.

money wise things are tight and I do all the right things I believe like selling merchandise sales (typically 200k) and also when I can investments to get the 10%. No youth scout anymore (not enough money). i am still losing money! and cannot seem to improve the team (see above).

Any ideas?