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Team Papin wins it for Malta! |
The 15th annual Velogames Fantasy Tour de France has been won by Team Papin, managed by directeur sportif Mark Bonello.
The team, representing Malta, had an impressive array of Tour de France talent.
With Cadel Evans and both Schleck brothers in the ranks, this team was always destined for a high score once that trio showed their form in this year's race.
And the canny selections of Thomas Voeckler, Thor Hushovd and Philippe Gilbert meant that the team stayed competitive throughout the three weeks of this year's contest.
Congratulations to Mark!
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Evans takes Tour as Cavendish wins in Paris |
Stage 21 of the 2011 Tour de France was won by Mark Cavendish, while Cadel Evans confirmed the overall victory that had been likely since his time trial win on Stage 20.
Evans' win was represented in the Velogames Fantasy Tour rider standings, as the Aussie was top rider on 2199 points, followed by podium companions Andy and Frank Schleck. Double stage winner Thor Hushovd was the fourth ranked rider, while King of the Mountains winner Samuel Sanchez rounded out the top five.
Climbing newcomers Pierre Rolland and Jelle Vanendert were good value-for-money at 4 credits each, while the super-combativity winner Jeremy Roy came in as the best 2-credit rider with 416 points.
Make sure to check back when Velogames returns shortly with the Fantasy Vuelta a Espana, which rides off one week earlier than usual in mid-August!
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Donate to Velogames |
If you enjoyed this year's Fantasy Tour de France, please consider donating to the site via Paypal.
Simply give what you consider the service is worth by using the button below.
Monies gained will be reinvested back into the site, and I am especially keen on improving the user login system and team selection module in advance of future contests.
Thanks for playing this year!
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Compete against your friends and colleagues |
The popular Velogames mini league system returns to allow you to form groupings to compete against your closest rivals.
In addition to entry into the main standings and your country league, your team has five mini league slots available.
Create a league and send the league code to your friends and colleagues, to compete against them across the three week event.
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Design your own club jersey! |
New this season, Velogames now allows each team in the game to select a team jersey image, that is shown on your team screen and also within each leaderboard.
Select a jersey from the detailed list of available images, which includes real-life teams, historic teams and national jerseys.
And join the ever-increasing number of individuals and organisations that have requested their own bespoke jersey to be included in the game.
So show off your club colours and request your own jersey to be created.
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Join the LIVE PRIZE competitions! |
The main Velogames Fantasy Tour de France remains free to play.
But you can spice up the three week tour by entering one or both of the LIVE PRIZE competitions, which incorporate pre-race strategy and live scoring.
Each competition covers three of the toughest, most crucial days of competition, first across the Pyrenees and then during the crucial stages in the Alps and decisive final time trial.
Between each stage, you will be able to nominate a Race Captain and Race Lieutenant, who will score bonus points on top of the usual pints scored for their perfoamcne in the saddle.
Entry fees for the LIVE PRIZE competitions will be split between supporting the site and awarding prizes, so get involved to be in with a chance of picking up the big prize!
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Race Preview |
The 15th annual Velogames Fantasy Tour de France gets underway on Saturday 2nd July with a road stage through the Vendée region of north-west France.
The Tour sees Alberto Contador return to defend the yellow jersey that he won last season.
After recent victory in the Giro d'Italia, Contador hope to join a select goup of riders who have completed the Giro/Tour double in a single season.
But the Spaniard will not have it all his own way on the roads of France this July.
Andy Schleck and Frank Schleck return for a brotherly two-pronged attack on the yellow jersey.
Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez will be on the attack in the mountains hoping to better his fourth place last year, while the brutal climbs of the Alps and Pyrenees could also be the launchpad for the climbers from the flatlands, Jurgen Van Den Broeck and Robert Gesink.
And veterans such as Cadel Evans, Ivan Basso, Andreas Kloden and Levi Leipheimer will also be looking to make their mark.
Mark Cavendish returns for another tilt at the Green Jersey and the smart money will be on him taking another host of stage wins, despite showing poor racing form to date this season.
Sprint rivals Thor Hushovd, Alessandro Petacchi and Tom Boonen will also hope to hit the front during the big bunch finishes.
And an interesting first week sees several hilly stages that could benefit the breakaway specialists, although Philippe Gilbert, Sylvain Chavanel and Damiano CUnego will all want to bag a stage win on their favoured terrain.
With a new-look site, more efficient update process, the addition of a custom team jersey image and the return of old favourites like the ever-popular mini leagues, the fifteenth Velogames Tour de France promises to be a vintage edition.
I look forward to seeing your team on the road !
- George Chapman, Owner of Velogames