Professional Cycling For the Fans - Fantasy Tour de France 2011

As usual, on velogames.com:

League Code: 22165758

I'm in.

I'm in. And this time I'm only picking guys actually in the race.

I joined in, should be fun!

I'm in.. As of the last places I've had in the other two races, my title is "From the bottom-up" :lol:

I'm in. And this time I'm only picking guys actually in the race.

+1

I don't want to poach anyone's strategy but is anyone else worried about the high price for Contador? I am sure he is worth it but paying 30vc for one rider seems crazy. It puts a real crimp in the rest of ones roster. That coupled with the disconcerting way he gave stages away in the Giro has got me on edge.

I don't want to poach anyone's strategy but is anyone else worried about the high price for Contador? I am sure he is worth it but paying 30vc for one rider seems crazy. It puts a real crimp in the rest of ones roster. That coupled with the disconcerting way he gave stages away in the Giro has got me on edge.

Hard not to pick Contador. He's about as close to sure points as it gets. Even if he gifts a stage or two he'll still score big points.

What's really tough is trying to fit Contador & Cav on the same team. I'm not crazy about the choices in the "All Rounder 2" slot and they force you to use 10 credits there.

I am in:thumb:

I'm in and will be proudly wearing the Jamis Sutter Home jersey just for the hell of it.

I'm excited to see everyone's teams. I have a feeling there will be a ton of very different teams, and a couple very similar teams. The smart people and then the front runners...

Strong showing in the league so far. That should make the view from the podium all the more enjoyable. ;) Same from the other end, too -- eddiepliers, are you going for a three-peat of the lantern rouge? :roflmao2:

Let the games commence!

Yes, George has made the top tier folk pretty pricey, AC in particular. On top of sneaking some extra velobucks out of your pocket with GC #2 and climber #2, this one is a puzzler.

The nrtoone site is ready now: http://www.nrtoone.com/fantasy/cycling/

I found it much easier to field a strong team over there. I actually like all of my riders on that team.

I enjoy the fact that the more likely winners are much more expensive. It makes for a much more difficult decision, and likely some gambling. I cant wait to see everyone's teams.

Shall we post our teams?

eddiepliers, are you going for a three-peat of the lantern rouge? :roflmao2:


Maybe a four-peat with the vuelta!!! :lol: It's really hard to build a team around Contador this time around due to his and everyone else's pricing..

Shall we post our teams?

As of right now...

Bradley WIGGINS [14] SKY
Levi LEIPHEIMER [12] RSH
Robert GESINK [16] RAB
David MONCOUTIÉ [10] COF
Mark CAVENDISH [20] THR
Sylvain CHAVANEL [8] QST
Thomas VOECKLER [6] EUC
Jens VOIGT [6] LEO
Philippe GILBERT [8] OLO

Andy SCHLECK [24] LEO
Tony MARTIN [10] THR
Janez BRAJKOVIC [12] RSH
Fränk SCHLECK [16] LEO
Andre GREIPEL [8] OLO
Fabian CANCELLARA [8] LEO
Thomas VOECKLER [6] EUC
Sylvain CHAVANEL [8] QST
Lars BOOM [6] RAB

ALEXANDRE VINOKOUROV
BRADLEY WIGGINS
DAMIANO CUNEGO
JURGEN VAN DEN BROECK
TYLER FERRAR
THOMAS VOEKLER
LUIS LEON SANCHEZ
FABIAN CANCELLARA
PHILIPPE GILBERT

I'm still considering at least 2 or 3 changes.

I think this is all part of the deception plan by some nefarious schemer to gain advantage in a cut throat competition. My top secret elixir of victors shall remain covert until George unveils it all on the morning of Le Grande Depart, and ye shall see your fate coming at you with great vengeance. :lol:

dstrong Looks like we have very similar teams

Mine:

http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/SKY.pngBradley WIGGINS [14] SKY
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/AST.pngAlexandre VINOKOUROV [14] AST
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/ALM.pngJohn GADRET [10] ALM
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/LAM.pngDamiano CUNEGO [12] LAM
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/THR.pngMark CAVENDISH [20] THR
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/QST.pngSylvain CHAVANEL [8] QST
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/RSH.pngChris HORNER [6] RSH
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/SKY.pngGeraint THOMAS [4] SKY
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/AST.pngRoman KREUZIGER [12] AST

My only hint is that my team will definitely have Contador. I made one lineup with Cav and one with a cheaper alternative. I keep going back and forth on Cav because I think he'll win ~3 stages, but how hard will he try for green? I feel like he's worth the 20 points if he goes for green, but if he's just going for stages I'd rather gamble on two lower-cost sprinters and hope one gets green.

I'd feel much better about my non-Cav team if they'd put Gesink in that second "All Rounder" slot and I could build a team around him and Contador. I end up spending at least 10 points on a guy I'm not crazy about and then I can't afford him.

Made a bunch of chances, disregard my previous line up.

And I'm keeping this one secret.

Im in.....Tigerbait, Tigerbait, Tigerbait

I watched the Kobyashi Moru episode of Star Trek 3 times before I finally broke the code. Now I've got Contador, Schleck, Cav, Tyler, Thor, Gilbert, Gesink, Wiggo, and even threw in whiny Cadel just for laughs.

You guys watch out. I'm coming.

You guys watch out. I'm coming.
Thanks for the heads up.

dstrong Looks like we have very similar teams

Mine:

http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/SKY.pngBradley WIGGINS [14] SKY
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/AST.pngAlexandre VINOKOUROV [14] AST
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/ALM.pngJohn GADRET [10] ALM
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/LAM.pngDamiano CUNEGO [12] LAM
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/THR.pngMark CAVENDISH [20] THR
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/QST.pngSylvain CHAVANEL [8] QST
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/RSH.pngChris HORNER [6] RSH
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/SKY.pngGeraint THOMAS [4] SKY
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/AST.pngRoman KREUZIGER [12] AST
A couple of matched sets of first and second fiddles there. Interesting approach. How about Renshaw? I'd almost suggest getting Roche, too, but I guess neither of us believe Gadret is really riding for him.

You will all RUE THE DAY you went up against Second Mice!

When all my guys get sick/crash out/get popped for doping, you can point and laugh.

How can multiple mice all be second? And don't they fight over the cheese, over the dead body of their fearless leader? Perhaps like Renshaw and Goss will be doing?

Contador @ 30 velobuck$ is crushing me. Oh, so many permutations here, and as much as I like the thorough scoring system I'm really starting to hate this 2 GC / 2 climbers demand.

I'm in

dstrong Looks like we have very similar teams

They say "Great minds think alike"...but so do mediocre ones!

My team eats oreo's, so you guys don't have a chance. It's like automatic win.

http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/SBS.pngAlberto CONTADOR [30] SBS
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/THR.pngTony MARTIN [10] THR
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/RAB.pngJuan Manuel GARATE [6] RAB
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/AST.pngRemy DI GREGORIO [6] AST
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/THR.pngMark CAVENDISH [20] THR
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/BMC.pngBrent BOOKWALTER [4] BMC
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/OLO.pngJurgen VAN DE WALLE [4] OLO
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/SKY.pngSimon GERRANS [6] SKY
http://www.velogames.com/images/shirts/small/GRM.pngTyler FARRAR [14] GRM

OK, I'm DONE. Really. I'm not going to perseverate over this a few more times later today. Really. I'm not. Self - listen to that.

Vexing choices from that infernal demand of George's to structure 2 GCs and 2 climbers. Second Mice, I may rue the day but I'm going with a bunch of second bananas to get myself under the salary cap. No grade A choice Spanish bistec for team "Where's the Beef?", almost sacrilege.

Oh well, see you all at the start tomorrow, and let the games commence!

Done, I'm not touching it any more :twitchy:


No grade A choice Spanish bistec for team "Where's the Beef?", almost sacrilege.!

+1 on not sacrificing the whole team for him.

My team is a lil different than others. Sink or swim, I'm still in.

http://i54.tinypic.com/11sjpep.jpg

Dicey move, Eddie.

Hey, if I get the Lantern rouge again, at least I'm consistent.

Now that the kimonos are open, I spot checked a few of the familiar teams from prior tours. I was pretty sure L'Enfer would have to have Gilbert (damn, I was right), but am vexed that he made it onto Scansorial's team too. At least Philippe will be my ace in the hole to put a dig into the Mudcats, all assuming my sans Contador approach (and tribute to the grand lady of cheesy advertising) survives the first day in the Pyrenees. We shall see..... No doubt new foes and fellows will arise in the swirl of madness.

I think Rojas will turn out to be the best 6 pts in the game, but I ran out of square holes for his peg.

Really counting on Cadel to have a hissy fit and lose it one of these days. Hincapie is good for him, but as sage as he is George is no Phil Jackson Zen jedi so I'm calculating it won't be enough. Plus I think the meds Cadel needs are on the banned substances list.

Eddie, looking good for that plan of yours. ;)

Fell back to 10th today, grabbed Gilbert on the Versus Fantasy but couldn't find a way to make him in my team on this one. Wish I had now! Hopefully I can make it up later on!

Alberto CONTADOR [30]
Tony MARTIN [10]
David MONCOUTIÉ [10]
Damiano CUNEGO [12]
Andre GREIPEL [8]
Philippe GILBERT [8]
Thomas VOECKLER [6]
Chris HORNER [6]
Francisco VENTOSO [6]

I still like Contador's chances to win, but he's not going to score as many points as I thought now that he'll be low on GC for a week or two.

I decided against Cav and went for the Greipel/Ventoso combo. I wasn't confident that Cav would try 100% for green, and hopefully today's intermediate sprint was a sign of things to come. If Cav wins 5 stages it might not matter, though.

The Martin pick was more or less forced by the structure of the game. It would be nice if HTC wins the TTT and he has yellow for a couple days. Some people are seeing top 10 for him, but I don't see it at all.

Moncoutie was my stab at the KOM. Cunego and Voeckler are aggressive guys and potential stage winners. Gilbert was a no-brainer at 8 points and Horner seemed like a good value at 6 points.

Signed up but forgot to join the league; I'm glad it let me join late. Sorry for those of you I bumped :)

Tommy
Team Zissou

I am "SlowestOfAll" and I won today's stage!!! :bday:

Added Slowstep to the league. I actually made the team a while ago, but I kept forgetting to log in and add myself.

I keep falling to worse positions, stop joining people! haha.

^ I second that!

I made a shadow team of the guys I had an iteration of tinkering ago, before my last "upgrade." That team scored 425 today and would be in 1st spot in our BF league.

D'oh! :crash:

I only did that for myself because I enjoy suffering. They shall remain unjoined here, at least until I forfeit my last shreds of integrity and honor.

I'm hoping I'm going to be better off for the long run with the horse I rode in on into 11th place (at the moment), but we shall see. Placing may get worse before (if ever) it get better, particularly with these pesky high scoring late joins.

I move to prohibit anyone in front of me from signing in late.:p

Being within the top 10 on the first day isn't too shabby. I feel better about refusing to sacrifice so much for Contador, it was a gamble but it looks like it may pay off. I'm not sure he can come back from such a deficit especially considering his teams weakness in the TTT. I'm hearing he might lose as much as another 30 seconds to his competitors on BMC, Leo, and Rshack. It'll only be the end of stage two and he could be behind 5 or 6 of his biggest GC competitors by about 2 minutes. :eek:

Now I just need Cadal to fall apart (safely of course).

Eisel's crash killed me. Now Tony Martin is going to get dropped on the climbs and he'll be a waste of 10 points. The final TT will be too little too late.

I'm in.

Stayed in 13th even though I had a decent stage. 7-13 is super close though, should be an interesting next couple weeks.