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Fantasy Cycling in 2024

So, after the fun with the Tour de France this year it was almost the end for FC – we have an old codebase that's difficult to update and at some point we'll either have to fully rebuild it (expensive) or turn it off (unpopular); we nearly turned it off. Even with volunteers doing a lot of the legwork during the season it still costs us money to run overall, and one of the stalwarts of the volunteer force has stepped down this year. A massive thanks to Condor Andy who's done an enormous amount of work behind the scenes.

The main issue with the game code is scale: it doesn't scale up particularly well and in the big tours it sometimes falls over. why this should be the case now, when player numbers are a lot lower than they were in early years, isn't clear: again, it's probably down to legacy issues in the code which have been difficult to pinpoint.

Anyway, we're in a position where we don't really want to turn off the game, but sometimes it struggles to cope with a big influx of new players. So the solution is really an obvious one. Starting with the Giro d'Italia this year, the FC game will be available for road.cc subscribers only. That will allow us to manage the player numbers and server resources through the season to avoid the big spikes for the grand tours (especially the Tour de France) and we're hoping that it will increase the number of subscribers too, which will mean we can make the game revenue neutral and hopefully work to a place where we can rebuild it properly.

We're aiming to follow the UCI worldtour calendar as usual and the Tour Down Under will be open in the week before it starts.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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33 comments

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MinardiM189 | 3 months ago
1 like

I hope the game continues for quite some time yet.

It is remarkably challenging to do well over a season. It took me some years to become competitive, finally competing to come 2nd behind Mountain Renegade in the Standard competition and actually winning Purist one year.

I then quit the game during covid and only came back again last year and it has taken me some time to re-learn how to play the game competitively. Or maybe I am having a lucky blip over the last few races.

One thing missing from the earlier years is the banter, but without Dr Winston it may be difficult.

Keep up the good work with the best fantasy cycling game out there.

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11waterloo replied to MinardiM189 | 3 months ago
2 likes

I agree with all the above, especially the challenge of staying competitive over a season. I was planning to pick & choose my races this year to lessen the stress but can't bring myself to miss races when I am doing OK overall. The random nature of the purist competition is showing itself though. I had a big lead before the TDF but it has evaporated due to some poor choices and the early demise of Mads Pedersen! 
I too miss the banter on the forum. I posted a while ago that I had met up with Steve (Dr Winston) when he moved very close to where I live a year or so ago. He was dealing with a few real life issues at that time so I suspect this is why he is not playing the game. Hopefully he will return at some point as he was good on the forum and a really good player especially the purist game.

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Dan Rolfe Johnson | 3 months ago
0 likes

I've subscribed but don't seem to be able to join any competitions. Whenever I click one it takes.me back to the subscription page which shows me I have an active subscription.

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trenzalorian | 3 months ago
0 likes

I'm confused.
I am showing as a premium subscriber but the account shows no end date.
I paid for the giro comp and stopped membership after and now intended to pay for tdf.
But I'm already showing as a member. why is that and why doesn't it show a renewal date?

I did win the Spring Classics competition so is free membership a prize for that?

Or is it a site bug

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Cobble Wobblers | 3 months ago
1 like

I have subcribed but when I try and play I just keep having to go back to the subcribe page, that says I am active.  I go back to home screen but am in an eternal loop and cant actually play the game.  It says on my homescreen that I am a subscriber but it still prompts me to subscribe if I try and play.  Any ideas?

 

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Polly replied to Cobble Wobblers | 3 months ago
0 likes

Yes, mine is the same, I go backwards and forwards, I tried logging in and out but it won't let me make a team. It still asks me to subscribe.

I logged out again, went back in and it works now

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RambleOn | 3 months ago
0 likes

Was logging in to do my annual tdf fantasy but see this is pay only nowadays. Thanks for all those years  1 was fun playing with you.

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ORICA-Jase | 7 months ago
0 likes

No Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne game this year as part of Spring Classics?

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tony kappler | 8 months ago
2 likes

Iv'e alerted Dave to the fact that TDU scores haven't been added to CEGORR for season totals.

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Daniel Norton replied to tony kappler | 8 months ago
0 likes

I think you might need to have a look in a bit more detail.  I only have 74 points for the season at the minute. yes

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teckert replied to Daniel Norton | 8 months ago
1 like

Yes, that's what Tony is talking about Daniel.
Only the CEGORR results are included atm. The TDU results have been wiped. Hopefully it wont be hard to get them back!

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cove123 | 8 months ago
0 likes

Hi Team

When do we think the Cadel Evans start list be up to pick a team or 2  1 Looking forward to the new season.

More than the bike 

Cove123

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Lev Bronstein | 8 months ago
0 likes

I want to upgrade my standard account to Premiuum, but I can't seem to use my present user name and email. How can I do this?

 

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Lev Bronstein replied to Lev Bronstein | 8 months ago
0 likes

Sorted, ignore me

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ORICA-Jase | 8 months ago
1 like

Where have the regional leagues gone please?

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tony kappler replied to ORICA-Jase | 8 months ago
1 like

Yes, it appears Dave has removed those regional leagues in his revamp of the site. Now that you mention it, "rest of the world" has gone. You can always create your own league; on the Dashboard page on the RHS under "user leagues (overall)".

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thedex | 8 months ago
0 likes

How do you update your e-mail address?

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STEVESPRO 79 replied to thedex | 8 months ago
0 likes

thedex wrote:

How do you update your e-mail address?

Go to main roadcc page, click on username top right. Your account details should then pop-up, including email address..

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ORICA-Jase | 8 months ago
0 likes

Firstly, keep up the fantastic work running this fantasy game.

Have the regional leagues been removed this year? Every year I would be automatically assigned to the South East league which I enjoyed but can't see this after stage 1 Tour Down Under score updates?

Thanks.

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andre3 | 9 months ago
0 likes

Sorry Guys, I've made my Road.cc subscription, but my fantasy.road account is still STANDARD and I have only other 7 competitition to join. What's wrong?

Thank you for the answer!

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NJA | 9 months ago
4 likes

For me the Fantasy game is the only reason I subscribe and, despite never having got remotely close to winning anything ever, I think it alone is worth the cost of subscribing.

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MinardiM189 | 9 months ago
2 likes

I will certainly be renewing when my subscription runs out.

Great game with a great team behind. I tried a few other cycling games but this is by far the best.

Keep up the good work.

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Left_is_for_Losers | 9 months ago
0 likes

Another "we want your money" begging post

Pro Cycling Stats have a good, free cycling prediction game though still. 

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bminchow replied to Left_is_for_Losers | 9 months ago
1 like

actually i think no procycling game this year. 

 

 

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jollygoodvelo | 9 months ago
1 like

My day job is to be owner of a product built on a recalcitrant legacy software platform, so I feel your pain.  I'd just like to say how much I appreciate you guys hosting the game and all the volunteers who help run it. 

I've been playing for ten years or so now, rarely troubling the very top of the leaderboards, but the relative lack of changes just goes to prove how good it is.  Other games often demand too much involvement, with too many bells and whistles or too much randomness, but the balance here is just right.

Looking forward to 2024!

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Condor Andy | 9 months ago
5 likes

Thanks for all your suppport over the years, and Dave for letting me be a part of it. It's been fun over the years and the game is in good hands going forward. Good luck this season everyone!

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Daniel Norton replied to Condor Andy | 9 months ago
1 like

Thanks for doing it for as long as you have.  Good luck if you enter a team.

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RoadKatz | 9 months ago
0 likes

Greetings All : )
Are we going to have a Purist bracket for the Tour Down Under this year? I don't see any mention of it. Also, is there a list of the events that will make up the Purist competition for 2024 available?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.  : )
Thanks!

 

 

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dave atkinson replied to RoadKatz | 9 months ago
1 like

yes, generally the purist will work as before and there will be a purist competition for each tour. 

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bminchow | 9 months ago
1 like

I really appreciate effort. Only you can know if it is worth it or not. But I love it and am renewing my membership eh.

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