There are just under two months to go until the races resume, but the wait for Fantacycling is already making itself felt. Do you think you are not prepared enough? Have you already changed the roster eight times taking advantage of the unlimited changes? Know that you are already in our hearts. In any case, do not worry, we are here for you; not only because we can't wait to play and have fun, but also to give you the right advice to build a team worthy of Team Ineos, Movistar, Deceuninck Quick Step and Jumbo Visma put together.

RULE NUMBER ONE: KEEP CALM

If you play in a private league, starting well is important, but it is not essential. Try to build a balanced team right from the start, do not rely only on the startlists of the first races. You could make a splash right away, but then you could find yourself in difficulty before the Giro d'Italia (for example) and you would have to immediately use up precious substitutions. In the championship the music is different, build your team by carefully observing the participants in the first four-five races; the goal will be to stay hooked to the leading group and then wisely use the substitutions to land the Carapaz-like blow and fool everyone at the most beautiful moment.

CHANGES WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, USE THEM AT THE RIGHT TIME  

Try not to use up all 30 “fixed” gears at once. It’s true that we at Fantacycling have been generous in this regard, but those who use the gears better will accumulate important bonuses over the course of this very compressed season.

BUILD A BALANCED TEAM

Getting the big names right will be crucial, of course, but it's not just the victories that count; in Fantacycling, the placings are also very important. If you want to aim for the final success, your roster of thirty riders will have to be as balanced as possible, with the right number of classics men (four or five rated elements) and also sprinters (at least two top-tier and another two or three who can get placings), as well as two or three big names who can compete for the grand tours.

This will allow you to manage the number of changes well, trying to buy one or two more classic players at the beginning and replacing them with ranked players before the grand tours, for example. If you play in private league mode with the classic upward auction together with your friends, it will be even more important to build a complete and balanced team right from the start to face the season at your best (considering that you will be the ones to decide your market sessions and the internal league exchanges).

FALL INTO THE BIG ONE, BUT BEWARE OF THE PLACED ONE

Sure, it's right to have Roglic, Alaphilippe and company winning in the team, but it will be very important to get the riders who will get many placings over many races (even if they never win). They could be the ones to make the difference in the end.

IF A RUNNER DISAPPOINTS YOU, WAIT FOR HIM, BUT NOT TOO LONG

There are riders that you should never change, even if at the beginning they don't reap the results expected based on your investment. Let's base ourselves for example on the last year of Van Avermaet and Sagan; in the first months of 2019 they didn't shine, but they still obtained placings and continued throughout the season. So, in these cases, maximum patience. However, the opposite case also applies, if you see that a rider who is paid a lot isn't having his best year, take a risk and change him: if in the change you get the Pogačar of the situation right, you could make a splash and take home the victory.

IN FANTACYCLING WE ALSO REWARD SPECIALISTS

You can sacrifice the Fantacycling Absolute Champion's Cup to throw yourself into the intermediate trophies: so nobody is stopping you from building a team full of classic men to win the Monument Trophy (the highest overall score in the five monument classics), a very strong team for the World Championship or a team specialized in the grand tours to win the Triple Crown Trophy (overall score of the Giro, Tour and Vuelta). It will be a way to bring home more trophies, but you will have fewer chances to compete for the final success: the choice is yours, that's also the beauty of Fantacycling.

GRANDI GIRI, REALITY MERGES WITH FANTASY

If you decide to aim for the triple crown, try to build a team as similar as possible to the real ones. You will need three or four men for the general classification, three sprinters (of which at least two top sprinters) and men for the breakaway. It will be up to you to choose the right mix based on your feeling, but you should feel as much as possible as if you were driving the flagship of a big World Tour team.

STUDY THE STATISTICS AND LOOK FOR A COUPLE OF REVELATIONS

In the championship mode, it is mandatory to have at least three under 25s in your squad. Signing promising young players to your fantasy team will not only be stimulating, but also very convenient. They will be a lot of points for a minimal investment, with the possibility, if you play in a private league, to throw your talent scout instincts in your friends/rivals' faces. Do you want to put the satisfaction in it?

BEWARE OF ENEMIES, BUT EVEN MORE OF FRIENDS

If you play in championship mode you can calmly build your team, doing all the necessary calculations. If, as we hope, there are many of you also battling in private leagues: maximum attention. Your friends will smile at you, they will tell you: "don't worry! I won't lift Sagan for you, Roglic is yours, I'm not interested in Viviani at Cofidis", but then they will do everything to put you in difficulty. Behind their mocking smiles, there is only one thought: to screw you.

And beware of the seatmate who unexpectedly pours you a beer every half second. He doesn't love you, he's trying to distract you to steal the champion you've been aiming for since the beginning of the auction. So be hungry....but be careful how thirsty you are and if the "cursed" friend has succeeded in getting you drunk, make sure you don't have to drive afterwards. Have fun, but with your head, that's what's closest to our hearts.

The Fantacycling Team