Fantasy sports are not a fad. Fantasy football is a $1-billion industry that will attract 27 million players this year. Watch SportsCenter, the NFL Network, or even the live broadcast of any game and you will undoubtedly hear about fantasy football. A simple "fantasy football" internet search shows that there are hundreds of different ways to play the game.
Unfortunately, fantasy cycling is behind the curve, despite the fact that bike racing as a sport is fantastically fantasy-friendly. There are only a handful of fantasy cycling games out there and most of them use a very similar playing structure.
What makes cycling so fantasy-friendly?
Cycling has a long season, so there is ample opportunity to play. The UCI season begins in mid-January and lasts until mid-October.
The season is based around 3 major races: the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and La Vuelta a Espana. This means that players can both (a) participate in year-long competitions and (b) participate in smaller event-based competitions. The fantasy player has something to look forward to at all times.
Scoring is simple and easy to understand. Riders always finish in a well-defined position (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) and there is always a clear winner. There is no such thing as a rider putting up meaningless stats on a losing team.
Stage races have a variety of "races within the race," competitions like points jerseys, king-of-the-mountains jerseys, best young rider jerseys, and individual stage wins. There are different ways to score points; therefore, strategy becomes vital. Much like the sport of cycling itself, fantasy cycling seems simple on the surface, but is more complex and interesting when fully understood.
Most cycling fans root for individual riders, not teams, so there isn't so much of a conflict of interest inherent in the game as opposed to fantasy football, for example. In fantasy football, a person might be a fan of the Cowboys, for example, but have a player from the rival Redskins on his fantasy team. Who does he root for if the Cowboys are up by 3 and his fantasy Redskins payer is rushing down the sideline with a chance to score a touchdown? In cycling, most fans have favorite riders and they can simply root for their favorite rider to win the race.
The Current State of Fantasy Cycling
Of the few fantasy games that exist, most are based around the three grand tours. Entrants are usually given a budget and select a team of riders who they think will score the most points throughout each 3-week race. Each race is separate, so there is no reward for being consistent over the course of an entire season. Prizes are few and far between and there are no auction-style leagues where each rider can only be selected by one player. Teams are usually 9 riders deep and each rider starts every stage, so there is no ongoing drama about which riders to start for Stage 1 versus which riders to start for Stage 2. Today's fantasy player simply selects a team before the race and then sits back and hopes for the best for 3 weeks.
Fantasy coverage on TV or the internet doesn't exist. Many cycling fans are unaware that fantasy cycling games exist, and some who are aware aren't sure where to find them. Fantasy cycling is in its infancy, reminiscent of the early days of fantasy football.
How to Improve Fantasy Cycling in the Future
More year-long competitions. Games based on the grand tours are essential and should always be part of the equation, but today's fantasy fans want more.
More options on how to play. Auctions, drafts among friends, and other options should be available.
More interaction with the roster. Especially in a year-long competition, players should have a larger roster of riders from which they select a lineup of who will ride a given race. This keeps players involved and makes strategy more important.
More prizes. We all want to win, but it's that much more satisfying if a prize is involved.
The Future is Bright
Fantasy cycling is improving. New games are popping up every year and the existing games are getting better. More and more fans are joining the fantasy sites and they genuinely have an interest in more than just the Tour de France. As things continue to progress, we will see more playing options and coverage will increase.
Unfortunately, fantasy cycling is behind the curve, despite the fact that bike racing as a sport is fantastically fantasy-friendly. There are only a handful of fantasy cycling games out there and most of them use a very similar playing structure.
What makes cycling so fantasy-friendly?
Cycling has a long season, so there is ample opportunity to play. The UCI season begins in mid-January and lasts until mid-October.
The season is based around 3 major races: the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and La Vuelta a Espana. This means that players can both (a) participate in year-long competitions and (b) participate in smaller event-based competitions. The fantasy player has something to look forward to at all times.
Scoring is simple and easy to understand. Riders always finish in a well-defined position (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) and there is always a clear winner. There is no such thing as a rider putting up meaningless stats on a losing team.
Stage races have a variety of "races within the race," competitions like points jerseys, king-of-the-mountains jerseys, best young rider jerseys, and individual stage wins. There are different ways to score points; therefore, strategy becomes vital. Much like the sport of cycling itself, fantasy cycling seems simple on the surface, but is more complex and interesting when fully understood.
Most cycling fans root for individual riders, not teams, so there isn't so much of a conflict of interest inherent in the game as opposed to fantasy football, for example. In fantasy football, a person might be a fan of the Cowboys, for example, but have a player from the rival Redskins on his fantasy team. Who does he root for if the Cowboys are up by 3 and his fantasy Redskins payer is rushing down the sideline with a chance to score a touchdown? In cycling, most fans have favorite riders and they can simply root for their favorite rider to win the race.
The Current State of Fantasy Cycling
Of the few fantasy games that exist, most are based around the three grand tours. Entrants are usually given a budget and select a team of riders who they think will score the most points throughout each 3-week race. Each race is separate, so there is no reward for being consistent over the course of an entire season. Prizes are few and far between and there are no auction-style leagues where each rider can only be selected by one player. Teams are usually 9 riders deep and each rider starts every stage, so there is no ongoing drama about which riders to start for Stage 1 versus which riders to start for Stage 2. Today's fantasy player simply selects a team before the race and then sits back and hopes for the best for 3 weeks.
Fantasy coverage on TV or the internet doesn't exist. Many cycling fans are unaware that fantasy cycling games exist, and some who are aware aren't sure where to find them. Fantasy cycling is in its infancy, reminiscent of the early days of fantasy football.
How to Improve Fantasy Cycling in the Future
More year-long competitions. Games based on the grand tours are essential and should always be part of the equation, but today's fantasy fans want more.
More options on how to play. Auctions, drafts among friends, and other options should be available.
More interaction with the roster. Especially in a year-long competition, players should have a larger roster of riders from which they select a lineup of who will ride a given race. This keeps players involved and makes strategy more important.
More prizes. We all want to win, but it's that much more satisfying if a prize is involved.
The Future is Bright
Fantasy cycling is improving. New games are popping up every year and the existing games are getting better. More and more fans are joining the fantasy sites and they genuinely have an interest in more than just the Tour de France. As things continue to progress, we will see more playing options and coverage will increase.
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