The Fight To Save Cycling---Team High Road

[Terpripken]

After receiving some encouragement from several loyal reader's of my old cycling dynasty, I have decided to give it another go. This time I am using a new database, a new team, several 3rd party utilities, a greater understanding of the game in which I use (Pro Cycling Manager), and perhaps most importantly...a renewed desire to produce a unique and enjoyable (hopefully) story.

I know this is a forum for OOTP dynasties, but I have seen over the past several years quite a few stories that utilized other games and sports. Besides...the team I am using has quite few German riders, so maybe Markus and Company will forgive this foray into the world of cycling. Europeans appreciate cycling more generally anyways.

Hopefully I can also expose some members of this site to a beautiful, highly skilled sport that is deep in tradition. The recent doping scandals in past years have soured many long-time fans and turned away many potential new ones. But the sport is now in the midst of a very important renewal. Looking to put the turbulent past behind, most involved in the sport are taking a proactive and preventive stance on doping. Leading the way is a team now based in San Luis Obispo, CA, that was founded on the principles of fair and clean sport, and the belief that the whole is better than its parts.

....and so I present...

Team High Road

[CatKnight]

I enjoyed Team Discovery when it was active. Good to see you back in the saddle!

[Terpripken]

A Brief Story Introduction

Who: Team High Road is owned and run by High Road Sports, Inc. The man who makes it all happen is Bob Stapleton, and this is very much HIS team. Formerly sponsored by T-Mobile, the team is currently without a sponsor. *
The men's team, who are the subject of this story, total 30 in number, and represent 14 different countries. Over two thirds of our rider's are under the age of 26, making us the youngest team in the Pro Tour. The team has moved its headquarters to California, and with the disbanding of Team Discovery, is now the only Pro Tour team racing on an American license.

What: This story will follow the team starting at the first day of January, 2008. I will report on every single race the squad participates in, showing complete results for all, and screenshots of most. Essentially...I am simulating the 2008 cycling season and beyond (*crosses fingers*), using a "real life" database. While this story is centered around Team High Road, I will also be reporting on other races and teams, although only in brief.

When: Starting tonight! The story will move slowly at first, as I introduce the team and develop the format. However...I have already played out this career well into April, and so once I begin to report on the races, the pace should pick up considerably.

How: I use Pro Cycling Manager 2007. I have the latest version of the game, which came out last month, but it is still too buggy for my tastes. Although it (like OOTP) gets better with each version. I also use a program written by a 3rd party, called PCM Dashboard. This allows me to do some editing of the database and helps with exporting text and images. I do not edit rider's abilities, form, fatigue or any of that sort of thing. However...no database is perfect, and things like startlists, race schedules (I will have the exact schedule of Team High Road for 2008), and other nuances of the game need to be edited from time to time to add the level of realism that I need to enjoy the game. I also use Paint to edit images. The story will basically be in a magazine type format. There will be text, but also alot of images and captions, because they quite frankly tell the story the best.

Why: I enjoy this game immensely. It is a simulation with pretty cool gameplay and graphics. The economy has hit my household pretty hard, and so for now anyways...I have alot of free time on my hands. Having recently fallen back in love with cycling, I now enjoy more than ever talking about the sport passionately to anyone who will listen. That person...will hopefully be you.


* Team High Road announced a new sponsor earlier this summer, and introduced them at the Tour de France. The team is now called Team Columbia. But because they started the season as Team High Road, and all the text and graphics in the database reflect that, I will write in the seeking of a sponsor into the storyline. It won't be Columbia...but there are several hundred real life companies in the game. In fact, financial management as you will soon see, is a HUGE part of the game.

[Terpripken]

Team High Road introduces comprehensive anti-doping program

December 09, 2007
Team High Road is implementing a new comprehensive and independent anti-doping program. The program will be managed by Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE), a company that provides anti-doping monitoring and testing programs to prevent and detect doping behavior in cyclists. "Last year we made a strong commitment to fight against doping," said Bob Stapleton of High Road Sports. "It is the most comprehensive program out there. It is what the team needs and what the sport needs." Through this program, each of the team's riders will give a minimum of 26 random blood AND urine samples per year. This is dramatically more testing than any other program conducts and will allow ACE to build profiles of each individual rider so that they will be able to detect small changes in the body chemistry that may be caused by blood transfusions or banned substances. The profiles will use blood and urine to build hematological parameters and a urinary steroidal profile. ACE will send test results to the UCI, to WADA and to the team. The profiles are intended to be used in conjunction with the new World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) biological passports, which the UCI has announced will be introduced for each ProTour rider at the beginning of the 2008 season. The passports will act as a record of all tests for each professional rider to provide more comprehensive blood and urine profiles, much the same as the ACE system works. The ACE program is fully endorsed by the UCI. Anne Gripper commented that "the Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE) assists cycling teams to create a doping-free culture by providing a robust, independent and transparent anti-doping program." She added that, "Bob Stapleton and High Road Sports continue to demonstrate leadership in this regard. By initiating a comprehensive team-based anti-doping program delivered by the Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE), by actively supporting the UCI in their broad anti-doping efforts and most importantly, by actively working to create a doping-free culture within their team, they are a role model for other teams to follow." Stapleton stated, "We started with the first testing at our team meeting in October and we are very pleased to see that our riders understand the importance of these strict measures. We believe frequent comprehensive testing and using profiles that detect small changes in body chemistry are invaluable tools to ensure the future of the team in the sport. The testing will keep us more informed about the conduct and health of our athletes," he added. ACE is also 100 percent committed to the same cause. CEO of ACE, Paul Strauss MD, says they are excited to be working with the team to bring their program to the highest level. "For us", he said, "It is great to have the opportunity to participate in this positive change, not only with Team High Road, but with the whole sport of cycling."



*This is an actual press release copied and pasted from the Team High Road website. I did not write it, but have chosen to include it, so as to give some backround on exactly what I meant by "proactive and preventive measures" in my first post. Also...hopefully this will help clear up some misunderstandings about the future of the sport, as unfortunately 4 riders tested positive at the Tour de France, including the high profile Ricardo Ricco. So understandably so, many casual fans may still have the preception that the whole sport is rampant with dopers. While there are certainly still some moronic individuals who still think they can get away with cheating, I honestly believe that the sport in general, led by teams like High Road are really turning the corner on doping. I hope I am not proven wrong.


...and now for Team Introductions.

[Terpripken]

Before I begin introducing the squad...here is an explanation of the abbreviations that will be found on each rider's bio. 85 is the max a rider can reach in any skill area.



Flat (FL)---This represents the performance of the rider on flat terrain. It is important for team members and those who want to win one of the classics.

Mountain (MO)---This represents the performance of the rider in the mountains. It is important for climbers and riders in stage races.

Hills (HIL)---This represents the performance of the rider in hilly sections. It is important for climbers and those who seek to win one of the classics.

Downhill (DH)---This represents the performance of the rider on downhill portions.

Time Trial (TT)---This represents the performance of the rider in team or individual time trials. It is important for stage races.

Stamina (STA)---This represents the aptitude of the rider for prolonged efforts. The higher the value of stamina, the more a rider can maintain energy levels over long stages.

Resistance (RES)---This represents the vivacity of the rider. The higher the level of resistance, the more he is able to keep making attacks.

Recovery (REC)---This represents the ability of a rider to recover between two stages of a race. It is important for riders gearing for the podium in a stage race.

Cobblestones (COB)---This represents the ability of the rider on cobbled sections that can be found in alot of the Classics races. Important skill for those seeking to win a classic.

Fighter (FTR)---This represents the ability of the rider to attack, to make the extra effort, and to take risks to win a race.

Sprints (SP)---This represents the top speed for a rider for stage finishes. It is importnant for sprinters and those who seek to win a classic.

Acceleration (ACC)---This represents the explosive nature of the rider that translates into his ability to make decisive attacks or to gain an edge in a sprint finish.

Average (AVG)---Average score across all abilities.

[Hageneezz]

Cool, i hope you`ll update this soon..and good luck

[Terpripken]

1/1/2008

Happy New Years! I am enjoying a Stella Artois and celebrating the beginning of the greatest opportunity of my life. I just got off the phone with Team High Road owner and director Bob Stapleton, who is one of the most well respected men in all of cycling. He made me an offer that I just could not refuse. He asked me, quite matter-of-factly, if I would be interested in being the Director of Media Relations for High Road Sports, Inc.. I, up until this point, have been a struggling young reporter, and this is the break I have been looking for. No more covering semi-pro races from the back seat of my friend Tim's beat-up 1996 Dodge Caravan. Instead I will be flying around the world covering the biggest pro races from inside the Team High Road car. I will be rubbing elbows with the biggest stars in the sport. My camera and labtop will be upgraded as well, and I will have access to the best technology available. I know that my new title is just a fancy way of saying "team reporter", but I don't care...I'm in. I get to cover cycling for a living.

[Terpripken]

Team High Road Presentation 2008



Part I---Team Goals



Bob Stapleton wants to win. He also wants to find a main sponsor. But he is a reasonable man, and the goals he has set for the squad are very attainable given the talent and diversity of our riders. We have guys like Kim Kirchen, Michael Rogers and Linus Gerdemann who can compete for the overall General Classification in the Grand Tours. Excellent cobblemen like George Hincapie, Bernhard Eisel and Marcus Burghardt can compete for podiums in the cobble classics. We may have the best collection of sprinter's in the world, led by perhaps the fastest finisher of all, Mark Cavendish. We have plenty of young talent in the fold as well. Rider's like Tony Martin, Edvald Boassan Hagen, Thomas Lovkvist, Kanstantsin Siutsou and American John Devine are amongst the best young talents in the peleton. I expect to see many victories this season, and wouldn't be suprised to see us far exceed the goals that have been set for us.

Tour of California---To win here will be tough. Even though the race is still an infant in cycling years, it has already become the premiere American stage race. There will be quite a few Pro Tour teams present, as well as top American squads like Team Slipstream, Rock Racing, and BMC Racing Team to name a few. That it happens in our backyard (literally), makes it an obvious choice for chosen success. A team leader has not been announced yet, but I suspect that Big George will be there along with Kirchen.

Deutschland Tour---With so many German rider's on the squad, and a former German based sponsor, this 8 day stage race is another no brainer for a season objective. With both a team and individual time trial, we should fair well here. Look for emerging star Linus Gerdemann to lead the team in front of his countrymen. It is a Pro Tour event as well, adding even more importance, as a secondary goal of the squad is to win the team competion this season. With the Vuelta Espana starting the same week, we should see the absence of some of the top GC men in the peleton, which should be a huge advantage for us.

Tour de France---No need to expound on the importance of a good showing here. Kirchen and Rogers will be co-leaders here, and Mark Cavendish will be sprinting for stage victories. We will bring the strongest team possible, and try to aim for higher than a Top 10.

Giro d Italia---This race poses the biggest problem, as Kirchin and Rogers will not be present, focusing instead exclusively on the Tour. Gerdemann, Lovkvist, and perhaps even Siutsou could lead the squad. Cavendish will ride here as well, but is unlikely to finish either Grand tour this season, meaning he will have to put off his aspirations for a Green jersey for future seasons. The poor guy is going to get murdered in the mountains, and we have to protect him for the long haul. We'll be creative in how we manage this race, and at least one stage win shouldn't be too hard to manage.

Gent-Wevelgem/Ronde van Vlaanderen---Big George has these races circled on his calender along with Paris-Roubaix. Eisel and Burghardt offer us solid back-up plans, while riders like Roger Hammond and Andreas Klier offer us talented support.

[CatKnight]

I have a dumb question related to cycling in general.

On your pic, I see the rider's wearing a helmet and gloves for protection, however I also see several bulges in his lower chest down to his stomach. Is he wearing some kind of body armor under his jersey in case he falls, or what?

Back to the dynasty: What do the stars on your 'goals' represent? The relative importance of the races to your team?

[Terpripken]

Originally Posted by Hageneezz

Cool, i hope you`ll update this soon..and good luck

Thank you very much. I plan on updating daily.

[Terpripken]

Originally Posted by CatKnight

I have a dumb question related to cycling in general.

On your pic, I see the rider's wearing a helmet and gloves for protection, however I also see several bulges in his lower chest down to his stomach. Is he wearing some kind of body armor under his jersey in case he falls, or what?

Back to the dynasty: What do the stars on your 'goals' represent? The relative importance of the races to your team?

Hmm...not sure...they do make armor type protection, but I don't think pros wear that sort of thing. My best guess is that he has a rain type jacket/jersey on and a lighter jersey on underneath that is in fact still unzipped. He has arm warmers rolled down...so that seems to make the most sense. It is not uncommon to see riders adding/shedding clothing over the course of a race. With some races in excess of 200 km. and/or 7 hours, the conditions can change quite a bit. This is especially true in the Spring where it is always raining in Europe...and also for stages that have severe changes in elevation...like a climb up a mountain pass for example.

Yes...you are correct..the stars indicate the importance of each race.

[Terpripken]

Team High Road Presentation 2008



Part II---Sponsors and Finances



We are still without a primary sponsor, but High Road Sports is in a good financial situation. This means we can choose carefully a company that fits the image and priorities of our team. We did manage to snag 3 secondary sponsors, who collectively will chip in about 75,000 Euros a month. We can afford to hire another rider or two before the season starts, and have some offer sheets on the table.

As far as cycling companies are concerned...we will use Time frames, Shimano components, HED wheels, and Bell helmets.



These riders are not under contract for next season. It's too early to make any decisions now, but obviously performance and market value will come into play, as it does in all sports. My gut instinct is that Hincapie will be a priority if he feels like he can still perform at a high level.

[Terpripken]

Team High Road Presentation 2008



Part III---Team Leaders & Riders To Watch---Pt 1



George Hincapie is arguably the most important rider to Team High Road. It is because he does so many things well and is such a team oriented rider, that he is invaluable. His many years of experience in the pro peleton make him an ideal mentor for a younger riders. He has finished the Tour de France 12 times, and helped Lance Armstrong to all 7 of his victories. He has finished in the Top 6 at Paris-Roubaix 5 times, perhaps the most prestigious of all the Classics. He can motor on the flats, is a serviceable climber, an underrated time trialist, and one of the world's best cobblers. He can go on the attack, reel in a breakaway and has even won a sprint or two in his day. Yes...George Hincapie might be the best American cyclist you have never heard of. Big George will start the season at the Amgen Tour of California, an important race to him and our management. He will then ride in Tirreno-Adriatico as preperation for his two major goals of the season: Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. He will return to America in May to ride in the Tour de Georgia, a very tough stage race that contains two time trials and a pair of brutal mountain stages. He'll then take time off to prepare to do what he does best...help other rider's do well in the Tour de France. The rest of his season will be sprinkled with races here and there. Yes indeed...George Hincapie is a key cog in the Team High Road machine.



Hailing from Voitsberg, Austria, this 27 year old signed on with T-Mobile following the 2006 season. He has had to endure a management shake up due to the Jan Ulrich affair, and now finds himself riding for a sponsorless team. Nonetheless, he has maintained a positive outlook, and will be rewarded for that by essentially being the team leader for the first 3rd of the season. He can win big sprints, but also is valuable as a domestique, and will at times be asked to lead-out other riders, for Team High Road has no shortage of strong men. His above average cobble skills will find him racing alot in the early Spring Classics. With Omloop Het Volk, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Nokere-Koerse, and Dwars door Vlaanderen all races he is expected to lead. His season will start in Australia at the first race of the year, the Pro Tour event Tour Down Under, where he hopes to garner Team High Road their first of many points this season.



Often overshadowed by his fellow countrymen, the Schleck brothers, Kim Kirchen is out to prove in 2008, that it is HE is who the best cyclist from Luxembourg. 2007 was a breakout campaign of sorts for Kirchen. He finished second at both Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour de Suisse, and then followed that with a 7th place at the Tour de France. He will be looking to improve upon those results this season, and has his eye on the Tour again. He will also be gunning for good results at the Amstel Gold Race, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and La Fleche Wallone, three hilly Classics in the Ardennes that suit his skill set. He'll also ride plenty of Pro Tour events, and will look for glory again at the Tour de Suisse. He'll complete his season by riding in either the Tour of Britian or Tour de Pologne.

[Hoolegan]

I love cycling as well and follow the pro tour when I can. The doping scandals have put a damper on the sport but I do believe that new teams like Team High Road (Team Columbia) and Garmin-Chipotle (I wish they kept the Slipstream name more prominent) will change the culture within the tour.

You don't need to be a hardcore cyclist or follow the pro tour to enjoy this beautiful sport. For me, there is nothing like an early morning ride, the self reliance needed when you are 20 miles from home, and the satisfaction of getting up that last big hill (when you're not sure what's left in the old legs).

Best wishes to you and your new dynasty. I'm looking forward to reading future posts about the ultimate team player - George Hincapie - and Team High Road's journey.

[Terpripken]

Team High Road Presentation 2008



Part III---Team Leaders & Riders To Watch---Pt 2



After suffering through several knee injuries in 2006, the big German bounced back in 2007 with a very big victory at Gent-Wevelgem. On a team with the likes of Hincapie, Eisel, and Hammond, he is easy to overlook when it comes to the Spring Classics. He will focus on them exclusively, sometimes as a leader and sometimes as a helper. He is a rider to watch, as on any given day he could have the form to match his talent, and end up winning a big race. He will also likely ride the Tour in a support role, as with his skills on the flats, he could be a wicked lead out man for Cavendish.



Forgive Michael Rogers if he has a bad taste in his mouth. After finishing 10th at the Tour de France in 2006, he was riding well, with a legitimate shot at the yellow jersey last year, when a crash forced him to withdraw. A 3 time World Time Trial Champion, the Aussie's main objective in 2008 is quite clear: a podium in Paris. He is one of the best against the clock and can hold his own in the mountains, so the recipe for success is there. High Road will race him sparingly until mid-season trying very carefully to peak him at the right time. He'll square off against the other yellow jersey hopefuls in June at the Criterium du Dauphine Libre, a race that is a true preview of the Tour de France. His season will begin in mere days however, as he will be participating in the Australian Championships in both the time trial and road race.



To say that Mark Cavendish had a successful debut as a pro last season, is a serious understatement. He won a whopping 11 races, and established himself as one of the world's most dominant sprinters. Many of his compatriots believe the 21 year old from the Isle of Man, is the fastest man over the last 200 meters. If Cavendish is on the startlist and the profile is flat, you might just be sprinting for 2nd place. He still as alot to prove though, and he is far from being a complete rider. He desperately wants to prove himself in the Grand Tours, and beat the best sprinters in the biggest races. He will be given a chance to do so at the Giro d Italia...and if all goes well...the Tour de France as well. The team will pick his race schedule carefully to keep him fresh, and they will not force him to finish the Giro if the mountains prove to be too much. Keep on eye on this young man though, he is going to be a superstar.

[Terpripken]

Team High Road Presentation 2008



Part III---Team Leaders & Riders To Watch---Pt 3



Linus Gerdemann can no longer fly below the radar, he made sure of that by donning the yellow jersey briefly in last year's Tour. The German is one of High Road's many young stage race talents, and he will have plenty of opportunity to further prove himself. The Deutschland Tour and the Tour de Suisse are two races he will be given an opportunity to win this season. His prospects for one of the Grand Tours are good as well, but on a deep team, he will need to continue to improve to catch the eye of management. That shouldn't prove hard, as he is a good climber and can ride the race of truth. This is a rider who may be primed for a breakout campaign.



Gotland, Sweden is the home of Thomas Lovkvist, a racer who has been creating a buzz for awhile now. He has the talent and work ethic to be a Grand Tour winner, and Team High Road may just turn him loose this season. He'll be on the startlists for smaller stage races like the Tour of California, The Tour of Georgia, and Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco before the team decides his Tour de France prospects based on his form at the Tour de Suisse. The Tour of Ireland and Tour of Missouri will complete his 2008...one that should see this immense talent take a huge step forward.


Quickly! Name a cyclist from Belarus! I don't blame you for not naming one. Kanstansin Sivtsov is out to change that. A gifted climber, he will surely be a key to any success Team High Road has in the mountains. He has all but been promised a spot on the Giro team, and will join Lovkvist at the Tour of Georgia which has got to be one of the tougher Continental races. His schedule may well include the Tour de France, as High Road considers him to be their top climbing domestique. If he can improve his time trialing, he may soon have teammates riding for him. I am really looking forward to seeing what this youngster does this season.

[Terpripken]

Originally Posted by Hoolegan

I love cycling as well and follow the pro tour when I can. The doping scandals have put a damper on the sport but I do believe that new teams like Team High Road (Team Columbia) and Garmin-Chipotle (I wish they kept the Slipstream name more prominent) will change the culture within the tour.

You don't need to be a hardcore cyclist or follow the pro tour to enjoy this beautiful sport. For me, there is nothing like an early morning ride, the self reliance needed when you are 20 miles from home, and the satisfaction of getting up that last big hill (when you're not sure what's left in the old legs).

Best wishes to you and your new dynasty. I'm looking forward to reading future posts about the ultimate team player - George Hincapie - and Team High Road's journey.

Thanks for the kind words of support. Don't worry...Big George will get plenty of ink, as he is probably my favorite rider of all time. And your right...cycling IS a beautiful sport.

[Terpripken]

Team High Road Presentation 2008



Part III---Team Leaders & Riders To Watch---Pt 4



While team brass scratch their heads and throw names in a hat to determine the rider to support at the Giro dItalia, the most obvious choice of all is hardly mentioned. Marco Pinotti would love nothing more than to wear the Maglia Rosa again, as he did for 4 days in last years race. With 3 individual time trials in this year's edition, a man who can race against the clock, and is riding in his home country could fair quite well. His climbing ability may hinder his GC prospects, but he will be aiming to win a stage or two for sure. His schedule will be geared for success in Italy, but his main responsibilty will be to mentor Morris Possoni, a fellow Italian who is developing into a very good climber.



Poor Gerald Ciolek. With all of the success of Mark Cavendish last season, people forget that he is an immense sprinting talent himself. He won 3 stages at the Deutschland Tour last season, and like Cavendish is a feared man during the dash to the line. While most of our Spring will be devoted towards success in the Ardennes Classics, Ciolek has his eye on Milan-San Remo, a race that every sprinter dreams of winning. He'd like to crack the Tour team as well, and he and Cavendish could form a formidable duo that could surely garner a stage win or two. When he isn't leading out Cavendish, Ciolek will be looking to get podiums himself. I'd be suprised not to see quite a few victories from him this season.



Ask any team director in the Pro Tour who some of the top young talents are, and I bet you every single one mentions this youngster from Norway. Boassen Hagen may soon pass the mighty Thor Hushovd as the most feared Norwegian in the peleton. His attacking style makes him an excellent breakaway artist, but he is quickly developing a reputation as a good time trialist and sprinter as well. As he continues to grow into his body, his climbing abilities should improve...and then you have a rider who can do it all. That is scary. His schedule is pretty open at the moment, as Team High Road tries to determine what races offer him the best chance for success. They will race him early and often though, as Bob Stapleton salivates over the potential he has smartly signed through 2011. Boassen Hagen is going to be a Team High Road star very soon...and for a long time.

[Loeffle]

This looks like big fun

Wonder if the Deutschlandtour will stop somewhere in Baden in your game Usually they have at least one stage down here in the medium sized mountains.

[Craig Costello]

So looking forward to this.

I own Pro Cycling Manager (from 2005, I think) and played it a great deal in the recent past.