Call me crazy (aka additional leagues brainstorming)

[Garfield]

Many thanks for everybody's feedback

UCI World Tour

Decision - mixed reviews, thus no changes in 2018.

(The game itself wouldn't improve much, thus doesn't need to become more complex.)

However, Tom's newest idea of 1-year contracts for 1st-rounders sounds VERY interesting because it would remove a toxic situation where you start the auctions already 1000+ points behind somebody (vide Gaviria's 2017), and thus would improve the game considerably. It was first raised mere hours ago, but I'd like to listen to more feedback here, and then announce the decision for 2019 WITHIN A WEEK, so that nobody tanks in vain.


Quick Fix

Most likely decision - three changes:

• Round 2 picks score double, round 5 picks score x5 etc.
• No more clock penalties.
• Use previous season's main game score as price tags.

The latter opposed by Davy, but I disagree: we don't care how reliable the number is. It is just an arbitrary number, everybody knows this number, and is still obliged to explicitly include this number when posting a pick. Fewer untouchable riders + more sneaky picks = even better chances with a late pick. Details still to be discussed in order to make sure we're not opening a Pandora's box. There would be a wide array of free riders. A single year of feedback is a fresh twist to the usual "higher of the last two" we use, but also creates some injury-riddled bargains like König in any GT. All riders would become cheaper, thus the budget would probably need to go down to 2700.


Country Roads

Most likely decision - a single draft in spite of 12 categories.
Of course the relative scoring remains.
Almost 200 picks, thus a clock of 12 hours and an earlier start, just after the WorldTour insanity slows down.


Rainbow Cup

Most likely decision - no changes.

[Joelsim]

Yep, I prefer all neos on 1 year contracts. Very very unfair to get 2 bonus years.

[GTF]

I'm not sure there's any problem with the neo-pro draft as it is now - there is very little correlation between the draft order and final standings. I think it's important to remember that for every Gaviria, there are other big talents who do nothing for 2 years (e.g. Dombrowski). An early draft pick does not guarantee future success.

Having said that, I'm not opposed to Tom's idea but for a different reason. I think 1st-rounders would almost certainly command lower salaries/shorter contracts if they were on the open market a year earlier, which wouldn't be a bad thing IMO.

[Ace]

I prefer the strategy that 2 year contracts create (can pick a rider for a year ahead if that suits your timeline better). Only thing i'd say is that it should be illegal to trade for them (i was highly opposed to this tactic last year as i believed it violated the spirit of the game but decided not to say anything).

[Garfield]

I prefer the strategy that 2 year contracts create (can pick a rider for a year ahead if that suits your timeline better).

I guess that's why Tom proposed a switch: 1 year in round 1 to get a scorer, 2 years in round 2 to get a talent.

Btw I'm not a huge fan of his idea (because 2nd round is sheer lottery), I would rather just simplify to 2x 1-year contracts.
I don't even see passing in the second round as a proof that it's useless. It's a strategical choice of how to utilize a roster spot, and it could work or not.

[Florry]

Personally I wouldn't change the neo pro draft and no that's not because I was lucky enough I got to select Gaviria in my first year, as GTF has pointed out an early pick doesn't guarantee success, and we have to remember most neos only start getting major results after a year in WT. I believe spotting talent is the main goal of this draft, and if you pick a rider that is going to become really big, you should be rewarded for it.
I get where the criticism of the current draft comes from, but I would sooner make all contracts (both 1st and 2nd round) 2 years, like in real life, and reverse the draft order for the 2nd round.

Also, I tend to agree with Ace on the subject of trading neo's the year they've been signed in the draft. Year after, all good. IMO.

[Joelsim]

Definitely reverse the draft order for the second round. 100%.

[Florry]

Definitely reverse the draft order for the second round. 100%.

It makes sense. 1st and last pick is still an advantage over 20th and 21st pick, but not as big of an advantage.

[Joelsim]

It makes sense. 1st and last pick is still an advantage over 20th and 21st pick, but not as big of an advantage.

Hugely. In every other game it's a snake draft. I've said this every year but it gets ignored. Hugely unfair on the teams who pick last.

[TERatcliffe26]

Surely if trades are in the game its up to the owner and other party who is traded, unless someone is taking advantage of a newbie for example