Season 15

[Vos]

Today the season 15 calendar is published. 

Although the WC roadrace is again in Portugal, this season 15 calendar is very different compared to season 14.
And sometimes even different than all seasons before. 2 examples ;
for the 1st time the TDU has the mountain-hills-stage ánd the long distance time trial ; for the 1st time no mountains in the Tour de Suisse.

Probably more remarkable and interesting things, but I did not examine it yet, I just had a quick look.
Up to others to post something in this topic about the season 15 calendar.

Already good luck and have fun in season 15 ! 

[ophiuko]

Dauphine looks like a second TDU, and Tour de Suisse looks like a second BBT 

[Aurora Australis]

Interestingly there are several stages that have never been raced.

[Sjiz]

That was a tough start. Verbeek had a mechinal breakdown in s1 and lost the lead group and his domestique. Lost 38 seconds, such a shame.

[Franky]

Not a good start for me neither...I had a lot of doubts with the tactic yesterday, if was too conservative or not...blabla. Yes, was too conservative 

[Vos]

Same here, not a good season start of my team.

CFF CUP : a bad draw because I had no cobblehills cyclist, so it was easy for azerite to win. Already after round 1 ; exit SPORTLIFE.
Congrats, azerite, and good luck in round 2.

   selection SPORTLIFE

No GC ambition, my team goes for stage results.
Including the today bought flat-hills specialist Portugal, let's see if he is worth the investment of 228k.
As current 1A champion, my team starts for the first time ever with backnumbers 001, 002, 003, 004, 005. 

001 Simon ( 32 ), hills
002 Millan ( 31 ), TT
003 Lebrun ( 30 ), sprint
004 Portugal ( 32 ), flat-hills
005 Daniljev ( 32 ), hills

stage 1 TDU :
17º  Lebrun
I expected he would have big difficulties in hill s1. Despite 4 EP and good help in s1, Lebrun was in the 3rd group on 0:28"
And I gambled too much on his double active weather icons to return in s2,
because the 2 EP was not enough to make the jump to the s2 break away group of just 12.
Without help on the flat sections and not in topform yet, Lebrun could follow the chasing group and scored the first points of season 15.

[Sjiz]

Another tough stage. Verbeek did score his first points of the season: a whopping 8! He also moved up to 5th in the GC. Tomorrow we have 2 stages that should suit him better. Hopefully we get the first podiums.

The scouts are also a bit rusty. My first 4 pulls had a salary of 560, 560, 510 and 540. A different way of saying they are completely useless as cyclist.

[Vos]

stage 2 TDU ;
39º  Simon

Big tactical doubts before this stage, although I had the CFF record of this stage.
But that was with a real specialist, and not a hills specialist like Simon with a little climb skill as extra.
So I decided to take no risk and used a total of 7 EP in the first 2 sections,
and that was "good" for ; in the chasing group on 0:31" behind the s2 break away group of 18.
Despite good help of Daniljev in s2 and in s3 ; teamcaptain+helper unexpectedly dropped to the 3rd group on already 0:43"   
In s4 Simon was isolated and also inexplicable ( but this time positive ) he did very well by keeping the gap on 0:43"
Of course, the damage was already done earlier in the race, and he had not much energy left to finish good.
According to CFF a missed opportunity to score many points ( Simon could challenge the 5th favorite ).
But so far behind earlier in the race with using so many EP + help in s2 ( and s3 ) ; perhaps not being in topform explains it.
Again a bad stage, let's hope stage 3 goes well. Also there my cyclists are not in topform. After last topseason no WC form cards left.

To Franky ; Congratulations with the Australian victory of Martin Hunter ! 

[Vos]

Also a bad season start in recruiting and scouting, but I'm used to that because that happens every season.
The new recruit is by far the best, but not good enough and his salary of 597 is also not good but above my average.^^

[Franky]

 

[Vos]

stage 3 TDU ;
4º  Portugal
25º  Daniljev ( free role )
Perfect race of my team who all are not in topform yet.
Portugal could not even challenge the favorites, and he proved to be worth the 228k investment of Monday morning.

[kirin]

So far, no pressure on this season. Today we welcome Bruno Mazzarelli, desired for a long time by azerite's manager.

On CFF-Cup, we managed to win against SPORTLIFE, as he had no cobble-hillers on his team, and the stage was Ronde van Vlaanderen. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on our side on the draw, and we got paired against Thorarboarvesen in a flat TT, where he has the specialist McDermott while i have no fkat TTers.

[Sjiz]

Verbeek still has it. His 4th stage win to Stirling. Now second in the GC, he will lose a lot tomorrow but maybe he can hold on to a top 10.

[Vos]

Versus McDermot my team was out in round 2 as well. So, I'm happy that only azerite could conquer my new cool shirt in the CFF Cup.

stage 4 TDU ;
29º  Simon 
Again a tactical failure. Very unexpectedly Simon started too slow despite a hard start ánd an active weather icon.
If Simon would have had a "normal" start and kept the wheel of helper Daniljev, Simon would have had a great race,
because Daniljev did excellent. Besides the fact that his teamcaptain was not in his wheel from the start, hahaha.
I even was so confident that the Simon-Daniljev combo would work, that I gave Portugal a free role so he might have a tiny GC chance.
Well, also a tactical failure ; Portugal has no GC chance, he should have been the back up helper, because in s1 to s4 he was with Simon.

In 3 out of the 4 TDU stages the tactics did not go well, I'm happy there is a time trial now, no tactics. 
I guess the SPORTLIFE manager is not in form yet.

To Sjiz ; congrats with the splendid victory of Verbeek.

[Sjiz]

In the end the mechanica breakdown cost only 1 place so thats not too bad. I think i should be happy with 4th. Due to the TT the win was never possible.