![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
Current situation:
The youth transfer markets (YTM) for Div 1-5 and Div 6+ still makes no difference for flat, pavé and "classic" riders, while we have differences for climbers, TT specialists and sprinters. Max values are still 56 (climbing), 74 (flat) and 82 (internal pavé skill) on both markets. This leads to the following problems:
1) High supply of excellent riders for lower divisions: As there are more active teams in higher divisions, but at the same time, there are more riders available on the YTM for the lower divisions, the choice for the lower divisions is substantially higher while the price is in average lower (that's an educated guess, which is certainly true for the beloved 56-74-79 rider).
2) Intentional relegation: As the lower division's market is so appealing, managers intentionally try to go down to Div 6 to rebuild a strong classic rider's team there. While this is of course allowed, it's not really the point of having divisions. There should be motivation for going up, not for going down.
3) Farming (sometimes in combination with multi accounts): team betty looks like the perfect example for farming:
- was in higher divisions (also pretty successful in the past) before stopping to ride around the end of 2013
- bought 5 excellent classic riders in Div 6 (Jan / Feb 2014)
- no races for around half a year
- continued riding in August once the team got really strong
One suggestion to resolve that issue would be to introduce a limit on the skills for flat riders on the YTM for Div 6. One idea (the one proposed (without pavé) yesterday in the race) would be the following:
- max(mountain + flat) = 127
- max(flat) = 74
- max(climbing) = 56
- max(pavé) = 78
That would lead to maximum skills of 56-71, 55-72, 54-73 and 53-74.
Comments? Opinions? Other suggestions?