As our regular readers are aware we covered a large portion of the 2016 UCI Cycling season. This year we will attempt to provide tips on even more races, starting with the 2017 Tour Down Under (17-22 January). In addition, for the first time we will include some Fantasy Cycling Games.
One of our partners, Zweeler, organise a large number of fantasy cycling games throughout the season. They start with their season long game, the one I am previewing here. I won’t provide fantasy previews for every race Zweeler cover but I will try to provide fantasy tips for the bigger races like the Monuments and Grand Tours.
The Game
This game comprises points scored across 59 different races in the 2017 season. This includes:
- The 3 Grand Tours;
- All of the One Day Classics including ‘The Monuments’;
- A number of other multi-stage races e.g. Paris-Nice;
- The World Championships.
You will need to select 36 riders from 8 groups. There is a maximum number of riders you can select from groups A-G or for those of you who are brave – you can select all 36 from Group H!
The riders in Group A are those that you would call the elite – Peter Sagan, Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana, Greg van Avermaet, Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Alexander Kristoff. I admit to seeing Kristoff in this group as a huge surprise!
The groups are then tiered on down to Group H. This group includes the domestics, young riders that starting as professionals and a number of older riders that are nearing the end of their career.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRY IS – TUESDAY 17 JANUARY 2017 AT 1:00 HOURS CET.
There are places left for you to ENTER!
Points
Points are awarded based on finishing position in that race. The points awarded for the Grand Tour stages and the Monuments are at the highest tiers. These drop down based on the ‘level’ of race. See Zweeler for the full scoring details – there are too many to include here.
Grand Tour Winners
You will also need to select the riders that you think will win the 3 Grand Tours. There are 100 points for getting each winner correct in this category. These will be added to your overall season long total BUT do not count to the points accrued in that Tour Classification sub-category.
Prizes
Prizes can be won in the game in a number of categories:
- The best sub leagues.
- The best teams in the first period.
- The best teams in the Classics Classification.
- The best teams in the Tour Classification.
- The best teams in the general classification.
These will be CASH PRIZES for each category – see Zweeler for full details.
How to Build Your Team
When creating your team you need to consider a number of factors:
- You will need to select riders that can contend for the Grand Tours;
- Pick strong men that will challenge for the early season One Day races;
- Look for sprinters, especially those will ride the early season races in Australia, Asia and the Middle East. There are easy points to pick up in these races;
- Look for riders that are chancers – the types that can attack from a long way out or surprise a group;
- Climbers are a must – they have value in the mountains on Grand Tours, Multi-stage races and the classics like Amstel Gold;
- Select some riders that can time trial.
As you are selecting 36 riders, you will be able to cover all of the above fairly easily.
My Tips – One per Group
Obviously, I cannot tell you which riders to pick. That might give away my team! I will give you a rider from each group that I think you should consider.
Group A – Peter Sagan. Sagan is a ‘no brainer’ after last seasons performance. He won a Monument, the World Championships and multiple Grand Tour stages as well as another TdF Green Jersey.
Group B – Julian Alaphilippe. He is young rider with a very bright future – the next ‘Great French Hope’. He started the season really well and looks to possibly be the heir apparent to Alejandro Valverde. Explosive climber so watch out for him in Amstel Gold, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and La Fleche Wallonne.
Group C – Ilnur Zakarin. I thought he would challenge for Giro honours but a bad day and a huge crash dashed those hopes. Zakarin returned for the TdF, won a stage and a real danger in the mountains.
Group D – Marcel Kittel. You will need sprinters and Kittel looked to be returning to the form of old at times in 2016. Mark Cavendish is the obvious choice in this group but everyone will select him. There is more value with Kittel.
Group E – Zdenek Stybar. Stybar is a dangerous man in the classics – especially the early season Ardennes race. He could get your season off to a flying start.
Group F – Dylan Groenewegen. He is another young rider who on the looks of 2016 has a strong career ahead of him. He is an emerging threat in Grand Tour sprints.
Group G – Steve Cummings. Cummings is the master of the breakaway victory in multi-stage races including stage wins in the 2015 & 2016 TdF.
2017 UCI Cycling Season Fantasy Game – How to Enter?
Click the banner below to be taken directly to the game:
For new players at Zweeler – you can obtain a bonus based on your first deposit. See Zweeler for information when you sign-up to this excellent cycling game.
HAVE FUN PLAYING!!!!
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