Written by don hamstre of Don Hamstre Team
Stroopwafel
Why did you start playing OCM?
Because I love professional cycling, strategy games and numbers/statistics. It was recommended to me by Guido Smits of Team DSM.
You have been performing quite well the last season, many times against all odds. What is your secret?
Usually at this time I make a funny remark about fortune cookies, but this might be a good time to give a serious answer. I do not think my team is winning against the odds and there is no secret. Sure, individual riders have taken some surprising big victories here and there, but I am convinced that this is mostly a result of a balanced team construction and precise planning, top form being very important in all this. Also, not a whole lot of selling let alone buying has been going on, it helps. That, and eating a stroopwafel before every race.
Ok, so it is not luck, but tactics that win the races for you. Which of those races do you see as your biggest victory?
Speaking of luck, the team certainly has not had much of that in training sprinters, a string of ten early maxiculations was quite tough to take. Maybe surprise wins are OCM's way to compensate? The best results obviously were the six Classics, but that is too obvious. Memorable as well: Joost Paschier's victory in Bastogne-Hasselt, the only win in Top Division, during our short stay there. Repeat wins by Balthazar Kint in Bahrain, Auch and Halifax were awesome. However, I will cheer for the outsider and pick Armand Kint in the hills of Bagno di Bomagna GP, by breakaway, his only result ever. That put the biggest smile on my face, I love seeing support riders get rewarded for their many seasons of hard work.
You seem to have lots of memorable moments. Do you have an equal amount of top-riders too, or is there one man that beats all the others?
Although the youngsters have been delivering great breakthroughs, this crown still goes to Balthazar Kint no doubt.
With Frank Kint turning out to be quite a nice rider, do you still have talents in your team that you want to train or will you focus on building a team around your captain(s)?
Of course Frank will be the main focus for quite some years to come, he is an absolute boy wonder (hopefully he will reduce the talk of 'luck' a little, which is ironic, since he is the biggest piece of luck we have ever had). He needs some strong team mates, the squad is still working on this. Brend Roussel will be important in this perspective, actually he is potentially a better pure climber than Kint. In the sprinting department, energy and money will be spent on Menno van Dalen, leadout for now and maybe forever, but he is looking good. And we need a time trial center. And a bigger cookie jar.
Do you have any further future plans or races you want to win?
I am just gonna keep on training. More classic wins would be awesome. Critérium La Provence suits Frank Kint very well, his biggest dream however is Alpe d'Huez. If we drop back into Zyte Division, a repeat win in Ainet-Bruggen or one of the sprinting classics would be cool. Also, any race in Belgium.
Do you have anything you want to share with the community? Any tips, fun facts and what else
Tip: play your own game 100%. If buying and selling riders is your thing, go for it. If not, join the club and give me money. Fun fact: whenever | | I check new results, I slowly scroll up from the bottom finishers, hiding the left part of the screen with a magazine, currently a Tour de France 2012 guide, which will soon be upgraded. Speaking of fun: I won two race bikes in three years with Tour predictions. Sold em both, bought stroopwafels. I ride an absolute wreck myself.
Choose the one you like best of these and try to explain your choice Climbing or Sprinting?
Sprinting and descending.
Training or Transfer?
Training training training training training. I would do it even without races, it is that much fun.
Points or Trophies and Jerseys?
Trophies, they do not vanish. Jerseys do not either, but I do not have them yet.
Dussel or The Beast?
The Beast, because I have raced against him more often. In fact, we go way back. And Paschiers finished one position ahead of him in two recent two races, mucho fun for old times' sake.
EEO or FFL or maybe sprint4live?
NightmareChaos
Germay Tour or Vuelta?
Germany is slightly ahead on gut feeling, but they are both awesome.
World Tour or World Rankings?
World Rankings. I love the Tour as well, but it is just harder to find, navigating the site could use some tweaking here and there.
Forum or Chat?
Forum
Real Life or No Life?
Dream Life
Velo Club Bored Man
Why did you start playing OCM?
I enjoy management games. It is nice to be able to come and go, with small daily checks on your team. The almost real time element is important. That is why I played a well known football management game for so long. If you can just play through several seasons oryears in a few days it is not quite the same.
Cycling has always been my main sport. So one year, when Tour fever hit me, I started looking for an online cycling game. And OCM kept me involved I guess.
I have heard of a something called 'doing a VCBM'. Can you explain that to me, is it a positive thing?
Ah yes, 'doing a VCBM' is one of the coolest things you can do in OCM. It means that you reach a point where your team is so good you feel sorry for everyone else. And so, out of pity and the good of your heart, you sell your team. Even your awesome captain who you spent a fortune training. You sell them all. So all the other managers can feel the thrill of their rider crossing the line in first position.
As you seem to be so humble about your successes, what do you see as your biggest achievement so far?
I have not had many real successes in OCM. Considering how long the team has been in the pro ranks.
The infamous Jimmy Waller had a podium finish in Cymru Taith with his 3rd place, many many years ago. Then VCBM's aborted rejuvenation with Bartosz Ozog saw him win a stage of the Volta and briefly wear the race leaders jersey - until he completely hit the wall the next day.
So, undoubtedly, my success has come in the last few seasons with Fergus Harrold. My first and only 'red' rider. He was runner up in Fast on Wheels, but he gave us our best moment by claiming victory in last seasons Race of The Minutemen.
Does his success make Harrold your best rider ever?
| |
Fergus Harrold has certainly fulfilled his potential. So he is my best rider ever for sure. And of course, he has done it in big races, so he looks good and rides good!
Bartosz Ozog could have been the best though, but he maxed a little early and I made mistakes in his training, so he never reached his full potential. I remember scouting him, and being blown away by his stats:
Ozog's Potential: CL: Good DH: Very good HL: Average SP: Average FR: Average CB: Small TT: Very good TQ: Good
Harrold looks good on his scout report too, but two stats really stood out for him.
Harrold's Potential: CL: Very good DH: Small HL: Good SP: Average FR: Good CB: None TT: None TQ: Small
On Ozog every stat except Cobbling stood out. Anyway...many managers have tales of what might have been of course, so I am just happy to have a top rider in Harrold doing the business.
So you have had great talents in your team. Do you still have those kind of talents who are still on your 'to be trained' list?
At the moment I am just trying to train some better teammates. Sastre was from my talent scheme, but he maxed early. I have bought another Englishmen - Warburton - who can also be Very Good as Climbing support, but I have no super-talents coming through.
I rarely buy anyone or scout anyone these days. I will just see what the talent scheme brings me.
Do you have any further future plans or races you want to win?
I always wanted to race in the Germany Tour, but I am not sure I will ever make that now. At the moment I find it hard to compete in Climbing races because Harrold is not quite a pure climber. So I am falling back down the leagues. I have a reserved spot for RotM next season. I might base everything around trying to win it again. And then let Harrold go.
Do you have anything you want to share with the community? Any tips, fun facts and what else?
On the subject of races still, I think it is a shame the World Championships are only for Division 1 as well. I really think that there should be a small number of Qualification races for the World Championship RR and TT. So every team in every Division can have a chance to race - we all know that some of the best riders are not in Division one.
Choose the one you like best of these and try to explain your choice
Climbing or Sprinting?
Climbing. Because, you know, sprinters are rubbish at climbing.
Training or Transfer?
Training. Cycling is not football.
Points or Trophies and Jerseys?
Trophies and Jerseys. You do not keep points.
Dussel or The Beast?
Who?
EEO or FFL or maybe sprint4live?
I do not know enough about any of them to comment really. Anyone who does things the 'right way' gets a thumbs up from me.
Germany Tour or Vuelta?
Germany. It is the original. Hard to get into, hard to win. Therefore the most prestigious.
World Tour or World Rankings?
Never really payed too much attention to the World Tour. So rankings I guess.
Forum or Chat?
Forum. Though it is very easy to miss conversations.
Real Life or No Life?
Real life.
A big thanks to both managers for letting me interview them. It was a real pleasure.
|