February 2026

[Gipfelstuermer]

Got some info from Alk regarding World Championships:

1.) Performance improvements are required before next WC, e.g. by limiting the Refresh-Time for Spectators (or perhaps even for team managers). And potentially mechanism to limit number of sessions?
2.) For U24 WC some development is required to limit inscriptions to U24 riders (Similar topic for continental championships).

Only once 1.) is done, I plan to schedule a Fantasy WC, and only once 2.) is done, I can include U24 races.

Hope this is understandable.

[cataracs]

Bessèges has an interesting profil with the short hilly ITT at the end. Quite short stages also, usually liked by many managers I'd remember ?
Also, some stages are similar to past years, so less design work there.

One edition of Bessèges would be nice maybe, but hard to tell with 2 tours parallel. Profiles are looking interesting

+1 for Besseges in the calender

We'll have two horrible days for one day races but if the three of you can agree on a Time for Besseges, I am OK with adding one edition.

You could maybe switch Valenciana 18h to a Besseges, as they're similar kind of Itt short tour.

[drei.zehn]

Bessèges has an interesting profil with the short hilly ITT at the end. Quite short stages also, usually liked by many managers I'd remember ?
Also, some stages are similar to past years, so less design work there.

One edition of Bessèges would be nice maybe, but hard to tell with 2 tours parallel. Profiles are looking interesting

+1 for Besseges in the calender

We'll have two horrible days for one day races but if the three of you can agree on a Time for Besseges, I am OK with adding one edition.

I would like to have it in the morning

[Schartner Bombe]

One edition of Bessèges would be nice maybe, but hard to tell with 2 tours parallel. Profiles are looking interesting

+1 for Besseges in the calender

We'll have two horrible days for one day races but if the three of you can agree on a Time for Besseges, I am OK with adding one edition.

I would like to have it in the morning

... Maybe tell your wife/(?) that tonight ...

[IDF]

calendar_2.png
As calendar coordination becomes complicated again in the early sprint, I have some suggestions as well. Again, the table includes all races x.1 and higher. This is no suggestion to ride all of them.

One day races, maybe move one from 2nd to 3rd (will there be a parallel program to the WC?). South Aegean GP could replace the fantasy race on the 26th as well.

Tour-wise, I think we can do five parallel editions. Parallel tours can turn out more teams than 5 times the same profile, so I think five editions are fine. This means we could add more tours if we have designers, even if it will be just one edition for some tours. Besseges has similar fields (in real life) to Valenciana and Oman. Lower cat should be no criterion there, especially against tours outside Europe. Murcia, as a two-stage tour, would be a newish thing. Again, it has similar participation to Provance, so a 2-2 would be possible. From UEA, Algarve, and Andalucia, I would say Andalucia has slightly weaker fields, but is still important, while Algarve has very strong fields. So my suggestion would be 2-2-1. Sardegna is back in the calendar after a few years. Maybe an Italian speaker can try to find out if it will go ahead this year. As it crashes with another half-classic on March 1st (not the February 29th) I will not ride it, but some teams may like it. Last but not least, I would love to ride a race outside Europe, but Rwanda starts one day to early to be a real option.

I would love to read more opinions, and could do some designing later this month (or next month if the profiles come late).

To be honest, having one edition for a tour is quite pointless because if you're not available at this time, you don't have a second chance. It should be minimum 2 or nothing. For Bessèges, having 2-2-2 for Valenciana/Oman/Bessèges isn't that irrelevant, could attract different kind of teams (Oman for sprinters and climbers, Bessèges for TT/leupold, Valenciana for a mix)

And for Rwanda, it isn't possible to start in the 23th and going until the 2nd of March? As you said, having a "long" stage race outside of Europe could be a kind of fresh air and having something different.

[drei.zehn]

Got some info from Alk regarding World Championships:

1.) Performance improvements are required before next WC, e.g. by limiting the Refresh-Time for Spectators (or perhaps even for team managers). And potentially mechanism to limit number of sessions?
2.) For U24 WC some development is required to limit inscriptions to U24 riders (Similar topic for continental championships).

Only once 1.) is done, I plan to schedule a Fantasy WC, and only once 2.) is done, I can include U24 races.

Hope this is understandable.

We can maybe do the NCs on the 3.2. than?

[Gipfelstuermer]

Let's speak about the tours again...

Besseges was requested by many but you were unable to agree on a time. Normally, I should not include it then. But here is my proposal:

Valenciana 10-22
Oman 15-20
Besseges 18

With UAE and Algarve it's also tricky. Have Hansa asking for 19 UAE and Let's Go asking for 22 UAE. So perhaps we actually scratch Algarve and go for 8-14-19-22 for UAE?

Opinions until Sunday, please. Final PDF should be completed Monday.

[Tukhtahuaev]

Valenciana/Oman/Besseges looks quite sensible like this. Prefered times for me depend on what the profiles actually look like, since I don't know which tour I want to ride.

Not a fan of cutting Algarve. I think it's always been quite popular here

[drei.zehn]

Let's speak about the tours again...

Besseges was requested by many but you were unable to agree on a time. Normally, I should not include it then. But here is my proposal:

Valenciana 10-22
Oman 15-20
Besseges 18

With UAE and Algarve it's also tricky. Have Hansa asking for 19 UAE and Let's Go asking for 22 UAE. So perhaps we actually scratch Algarve and go for 8-14-19-22 for UAE?

Opinions until Sunday, please. Final PDF should be completed Monday.

No Algarve sucks. Already did some form settings for it.

Also don’t quite understand it for Besseges. Morning was requested and there was no Veto.

For both tours a starting time 8-14 would be liked by me if somehow possible.

[Falcor CC]

Also not a fan of cutting Algarve at all. Other tours look good.

[Hansa]

Let's speak about the tours again...

Besseges was requested by many but you were unable to agree on a time. Normally, I should not include it then. But here is my proposal:

Valenciana 10-22
Oman 15-20
Besseges 18

With UAE and Algarve it's also tricky. Have Hansa asking for 19 UAE and Let's Go asking for 22 UAE. So perhaps we actually scratch Algarve and go for 8-14-19-22 for UAE?

Opinions until Sunday, please. Final PDF should be completed Monday.

Thats not fully what i asked for i just didnt want parallel tour to be 1 hour apart.

19 algarve 22 uae
22 algarve 19 uae
Both seem fine to me

Just one tour at 20 and one at 21 was weird

But here me out the last times 2 morning races looked good too if i remember correctly if you do 8-14-19-22 uae maybe 10 for algarve works too?

[Gipfelstuermer]

19 algarve 22 uae
22 algarve 19 uae
Both seem fine to me

Thanks for clarifying. I think then 19 algarve 22 uae would look good.

[Gipfelstuermer]

Also don’t quite understand it for Besseges. Morning was requested and there was no Veto.

Taka suggested 18 and the other two who requested Besseges did not specify which time, but I think OL often rides early evening, if I remember correctly. Also it's easy for people to switch between 18/20/22 than switching between morning and another time, so putting the lower-cat for the morning edition with only one vote for it, can be done, but might not be liked by everyone.

By the way, if you do your form settings before the Final PDF it is your own responsibility.

[Hoefs Cycling Team]

I prefer evening times: during day i am to busy with my work.
Otherwise late in afternoon.
Update: i did not read last 2 post from Gip. Now i dit, so those times are fine by me

[drei.zehn]

Also don’t quite understand it for Besseges. Morning was requested and there was no Veto.

Taka suggested 18 and the other two who requested Besseges did not specify which time, but I think OL often rides early evening, if I remember correctly. Also it's easy for people to switch between 18/20/22 than switching between morning and another time, so putting the lower-cat for the morning edition with only one vote for it, can be done, but might not be liked by everyone.

By the way, if you do your form settings before the Final PDF it is your own responsibility.

Havent seen the Taka vote, ok. 18 just a very bad time for me personally. Most likely will switch to Valenciana if it stays.

At least having Algarve somehow rideable for me would be nice.

Profiles of UAE always quite boring, don’t get why we shouldnt give Algarve some editions to have a more fun alternative

[Bugatti]

I always find it difficult to offer only one version of a tour.
The majority of managers should have the opportunity to take part every tour.
Many people play at work, so a time between 8h and 15h would be good. That applies to Algarve and Besseges, if I have read it correctly.
But I have to say that I probably won't be ride Algarve myself.

[Gipfelstuermer]

I always find it difficult to offer only one version of a tour.
The majority of managers should have the opportunity to take part every tour.

In an ideal world perhaps, but then we need 200 players instead of 100.

Also in reality teams have obligations, too. World Tour teams have to ride World Tour races.

Many people play at work, so a time between 8h and 15h would be good. That applies to Algarve and Besseges, if I have read it correctly.
But I have to say that I probably won't be ride Algarve myself.

Cat2-3 stage races in the last few months:

Guangxi: 21 teams in morning/afternoon and 21 teams in the evening
Paves: 18 teams in morning/afternoon and 23 teams in the evening
Andes: 15 teams in morning/afternoon and 16 teams in the evening
Azteca: 17 teams in morning/afternoon and 19 teams in the evening
AECT: 15 teams in morning/afternoon and 22 teams in the evening
TDU: 26 teams in morning/afternoon and 31 teams in the evening

So if there are 5 instead of 4 editions, to me it is more logical to add an edition in the evening.

[Radunion]

I do not agree that Algarve is less important than UAE. UCI race categories never were the lone criterion, and this is good. There are strong fields in game and in real life. Last year in the evening Algarve had better participation than UAE. My suggestion was 2-2 and I still think this is right. Not sure what I will do myself, so there is no time suggestion from my side.

[Hansa]

i still think a 2nd morning edition could be tried.

8-14-22 UAE
10-19 Algarve maybe?

[Tukhtahuaev]

Preliminary version of Valenciana is done. There were a few occasions where the roadbook differed from the map shown in their presentation videos, so there may be some changes later on. But should at least be enough for form planning

[Robyklebt]

Donkey from exile can't help himself and brings some brilliance, quality and clarity to the discussion

Valenciana 10-22
Oman 15-20
Besseges 18

Last year was:
Valenciana: 15-22
Oman: 10-20
Bessèges 18

10/11 participation for V+O, 15 for B.

Even if for lower cat tours like this (actually we could go down to cat 2 for all really, with all the races offered, early season it's all not that valuable, low prestige, but that's a long off-season proposal, forget it for now) trying not to repeat times from the year before IMO good.
V: 10-18
O: 15-22
Better.
Then, agree with those that say just 1 edition is a bit .....so if with B: 8-20 or similar

UAE-Algarve IMO 5 better. And forget Andalucia.
Same principle as before,
UAE: 8-14-20 last time... Change around. 9-19-23 or 9-15(then change Oman to 14)-21 and then Algarve to either 14/15-21 or 19-23. UAE is of course pure boredom, but bring longer gives points, thus rather popular with some people.

If A. has to be added (but think without works better since there are 2 real one day races parallel,) 6 editions 2-2-2 with 21-23 and something sensible Gipfel can come up with...

Murcia worth a thought. 2-2 with Provence then.

Sardegna I'd put in 2 editions Parallel to Omloop, but that hasn't prevented some to submit themselves to the pure torture of riding UAE in the past.
https://www.gsemilia.it/corse/giro-della-sardegna/
GS Emilia. Often late, but a generally reliable organizer. Map there, details should follow, if not la flame rouge guys should put something very close to reality there at some point. Evening clear, possibly morning? But no need to over-offer stuff in the morning, especially if 18/19 keep getting the "short stick" Just not the afternoon please! Exile-Donks wants full field for Omloop!!! But don't listen too much to individual time requests (including mine) a) if you do, in the end always the same active in the forum guys get what they want, that's not always the best for the game in general(not saying never listen either, participation good, but not always) b) you'll discover that at time those request-guys end up not even riding the requested race...

In the end for V-O-A Gipfel should have the numbers compared to 24, 25 and judge if 4 or 6 is better. Or if he wants to go for the uncool 5 again (bad use of designing resources, 1 edition for something) Same for UAE-Algarve, but without knowing the numbers I'd guess 5 editions (3-2) could work
Numbers! More important than individual wishes.

[drei.zehn]

Besseges-Provence-Algarve was the plan

morning till 14h starting time makes it raceable for me.
I know I am not alone with my wishes, just would be nice if it’s somehow possible

[Schartner Bombe]

Besseges-Provence-Algarve was the plan

morning till 14h starting time makes it raceable for me.
I know I am not alone with my wishes, just would be nice if it’s somehow possible

Design one or more of these tours you want to ride. Then maybe you'll get your desired start time if it's possible and makes sense, I think.
Its the Gip Anthem which you should think about:
"My fellow cyclingfreaks: ask not what the game can do for you - ask what you can do for the game."
(you must now imagine it sung by the 10 Schartners)