2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge Fantasy Cycling Game: August 22-28

Welcome to the first ever, 2011 edition of the Fantasy USA Pro Cycling Challenge game! Formerly referred to as the Quiznos Challenge and sometimes (incorrectly) called the Tour of Colorado, this race is modeled after the Coors Classic of the 1980s. Play is free and you may enter as many teams as you like. Use the links above to learn more about the game, its scoring rules, and how to create your own fantasy USA Pro Cycling Challenge team. Thanks for playing and good luck!

News: 2011 USA Pro Cycling / Quiznos Challenge

Upgrade Plans for 2012

For next year, I plan to make a few changes that will increase the quality of team creation and play. First, I will add some code that keeps a running counter of fantasy dollars spent and number of cyclists chosen so game players can form teams without having to "wing it." Second, I will make small improvements to general site design, making navigation more attractive and intuitive. Third, I will do a complete translation en français. I have no stated timeline at the moment, but I also very much want to create a mini-leagues function.

Tour Fantasy will remain free of ads. Team creation will continue to be free, not requiring an email address, and as always, no creepy tracking software will be used on this site.

If you've enjoyed my fantasy cycling games, and if these planned site improvements sound good to you, please consider donating whatever you feel is right. Donations will help pay for site programming, point updates, and server hardware.

Leipheimer wins the inaugural USAPCC

August 28, 2011
Levi Leipheimer wins it! Christian Vande Velde and Tejay Van Garderen complete the podium, as cricket is good wins the fantasy competition. Congratulations to all!

Be sure to check out the final standings.

I've had a lot of fun doing the USA Pro Cycling Challenge and have decided to do this race again next year. Thank you to everyone who played!

Elia Viviani makes it two in a row!

August 27, 2011
Viviani is cleaning house! Two stage wins in a row and a pile of points for his teammates as well. The Fantasy GC is largely unchanged and settled heading into the final stage, although with only a handful of points separating the top fantasy teams, a number of them could pull off the win tomorrow.

Elia Viviani takes the stage, Levi still in lead

August 26, 2011
Liquigas picked up a nice stage win today in Steamboat Springs as Levi finishes safely in the pack. Team "cricket is good" is now in the lead in part to Viviani's stage win in addition to an excellent fantasy roster in general. Cripcycles is so close behind, though! We've got a few more stages left to sort out the classification. Good luck to all!

Hincapie for the win!

August 24, 2011
George Hincapie gets a richly deserved win in Aspen, showing both strength and smart racing. Bravo!

In the fantasy rankings, Cripcycles has moved up to the top step but the order shuffles daily. There's a bit of a selection forming in the overall GC but anything can happen at altitude, and the advantage goes to the guys like Hincapie who have experience and know how to manage themselves.

* * *

How to follow the race
August 22, 2011
Velo News is running live coverage and the race organizer is streaming live video coverage. This is in addition to the previously mentioned TV coverage in the USA.

TV Listings for the race (USA or North America Only)
August 16, 2011
Looks like Versus will be covering the race every day. Nice! They don't even do this for the Giro d'Italia. (Would be nice if they did.)

Tentative, early startlist released
August 12, 2011
You can review this list to start getting an idea of who may be racing in Colorado. Cross your fingers for an official startlist to be posted in advance of the prologue!

Complete Tour de France podium to race in Colorado
August 3, 2011
WOW: Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, and Fränk Schleck are all in. Ivan Basso and Tom Danielson (Colorado native & top American at the 2011 Tour) are set to race as well. This race is going to be AWESOME!

Teams for the 2011 USA Pro Cycling Challenge
July 7, 2011
There will be 16 teams and 8 cyclists per squad. This is going to be a great race — in its first year already, the Quiznos Pro Challenge bike race will feature most of the top teams in pro cycling. This is very exciting!