Whether you are new to cycling or not, you might have been wondering about Velogames. Unless, of course you are already a fellow Velogamer.
Some sports fans enjoy rooting for their favourite teams or player while others enjoy a rather neutral position and then there are fantasy games. Imagine, you supporting a team that barely comes out on top. Where do you find happiness?
Fantasy games gives you a alley, allowing you to make up your own teams within a reasonable budget and earn points according to their real time performances. Suddenly you will find yourself rooting for a lot more than one single outcome and everything will be so enjoyable. (this is what Fantasy Premier League did to me, a Manchester United fan back in its glory days). I was openly crossing fingers for Fernando Torres to score against my own team. 😉 )
As you might have guessed Velogames is one of the fantasy game in the cycling world. But what sets it apart?
Velon Fantasy is probably the ‘most official’ of them, yet there seems to always be a problem with the platform. Already limited on the schedule, sometimes they forget to open for entries. Firstcycling, Fantacycling are among the many others.
What sets Velogames and Cycling Fantasy apart is the freedom they give you. You just set your team once at the start of a one day classics or before the opening day of a stage race and you are done. Watch things unravel, no need to come back every day and readjust your teams. Currently cycling fantasy is only available as an app and the price tag associated with the riders sometimes give you little room. Yet it is not bad, I do play it.
But Velogames is something else. First and foremost, it is available and free for all! Started in 1997 by a normal student from his univerisity room the games has gained in popularity with a record of 50000 players in the Tour de France 2017. You can read more about the origin of the game and its genius creator here:
How to register and play Velogames?
If you head up to the velogames website right now, you might get lost. The season has not started yet and no races is open. Once the velogames season is go, make sure to go back and register.
Velogames is all about freedom. You just want to set up a team and play against some buddies for the Tour de France? No problem.
The basics of the game is pretty simple with a budget of 100 coins you are required to select your teams. For one day races, there are two competitions the springs classics and the legendary superclassico. Each with their own rules.
As for stage races, a selection of 9 riders is expected and special restrictions for grand Tours as riders are categorised.
The best news is that women cycling is equally given a go. The fastest rising sports on the planet made its full way to the velogames in 2022 with its own women classics and stage races.
Here are the rules and scoring system for the 2022 season in:
-The spring classics: rules and scoring system
-The superclassico: rules and scoring system
-Normal Stage races as example Paris Nice : rules and scoring system
-Grand tour for rules and scoring system
-Women classics: rules and scoring system
-Women stage championship as example tour de Romandie : rules and scoring system
A full review of all men and women teams performances in velogames in 2022 was what I had planned. As Team DSM, Trek-Segafredo, UAE Emirates and Bike Exchange are still missing a bomb has been dropped. The Velogames 2023 season is most likely to start with the Tour Down Under.
Due to covid, the Australian races has missed some editions and the opening of velogames was rather scheduled for Strade Bianche. The plan to give more insights and some advices on the superclassico championship and the spring classics is still here. But for now, see you on the other side for a preview of The Tour Down Under 2023!
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