The CyclingOracle Fantasy Game is live, and here's how it works!
Friday 19 June 2026 • Blog
We'll just say it: we're proud of this one. After years of dreaming about it, our very own cycling fantasy game is live. The CyclingOracle Fantasy Game is a free fantasy game where you build your own team and predict the race results every day. From now on you can play it here (fantasy.cyclingoracle.com), right in time for the Tour de France, which starts on 4 July. Whether you're a die-hard cycling fan or just want to join in for fun with colleagues or friends, there's a way to play that suits you.
A game of our own had been on our list for years, alongside the podcast, race previews, analyses, stats, the quiz, our ever-growing Instagram account and of course our computer predictions. It came about entirely in co-creation with our own community of 375 members: from concept to UX and development. We built it around a few clear principles: stay true to ourselves (data and predictions are at the heart of it), ditch the familiar annoyances of other cycling games, add a strategic layer for the enthusiast, and keep it fun for (almost) everyone. Enough background, let's get you started!
BASIC or PRO
You play at one of two levels, each with a team of 18 riders. The budget is largely set by the computer, based on our own prediction model.
BASIC is one click of 18 riders within a given budget and done. Perfect fit if you mainly want to join in without being busy with it every day. PRO is for the die-hard who wants to tweak their line-up daily. PRO is free for now and will become paid later. Handy: if you play PRO, you automatically take part in BASIC too. That way you can compete in the same pool with your PRO team, while the colleague who likes to keep it easy simply sticks with BASIC.
Your daily line-up
Every day you pick who you think will perform well in that stage. You do that with roles that multiply your points:
- Captain: 200 percent
- Base team: 100 percent
- Team car: 50 percent
- Team bus: 25 percent
- Riders' hotel: 0 percent
The riders' hotel holds three riders without a budget on the bench, who you can swap in. That does two things: you're not stuck if your captain abandons or hits the tarmac, and you can jump on a surprise that suddenly lights up the race. We call that last bit Del Toro-proof internally, after the revelation of the 2025 Giro. It keeps the bad-luck factor small and keeps you flexible.
The biggest difference with other cycling games: your line-up is purely about the day's result. You get team and jersey points in full anyway, so you don't have to field anyone just to collect them. No dull filler spots, just focus on who's going to fly that day.
The strategic layer: chips
For those who love strategy, there are chips, inspired by the best fantasy game we know:
- Triple Captain: your captain counts triple, once.
- Free Hit: field a completely new team for a single day, once.
- Transfers: two swaps you use whenever you like.
Don't use a chip? That's worth 50 points. Save it or play it, the choice is yours.
Podium prediction and the unicorn
Alongside your team, you predict the podium each day, with riders outside your own squad, going head to head with the computer. And then there's the unicorn: your bet on a surprising rider outside the top 15 of our computer prediction. Did you see that one outsider coming that nobody else had on their radar? Then you get rewarded.
Play your own Gruppetto against friends and colleagues
A fantasy cycling game is all about the head-to-head. That's why you can create a Gruppetto, your own pool where you take on friends, colleagues or the regular bar crowd. Keep it private or open it up to everyone, and you can join an unlimited number of Gruppettos.
There's also the Equipe, inspired by the clans and guilds from the gaming world. You belong to one fixed group and compete across games for the Equipe Cup. We calculate that on the average of the top 25 percent of your Equipe, with a minimum of four players. That gives both small and large teams a fair shot.
A free Tour de France pool for the office
Looking for a free Tour de France pool for the office? You're in the right place. Create your own Gruppetto, share the link with your colleagues and within a few minutes you've got a full Tour pool running, at no cost and without the spreadsheet hassle.
The best part: everyone plays at their own level. The colleague who only knows the yellow jersey clicks together a team once in BASIC and joins right in. The cycling nut of the department dives into their line-up daily with PRO. And because a PRO team automatically counts in BASIC too, they all end up in the same standings. Three weeks of Tour de France bragging rights, water-cooler chat guaranteed.
And the points?
We deliberately keep team points small. You score mainly with your daily results: points for the stage top 20, for the top 3 in the jerseys and for the general classification, plus daily bonus points from your podium prediction and the unicorn. Streaks are on the roadmap, so consistently good predicting will soon pay off even more.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CyclingOracle Fantasy Game free?
Yes. BASIC is completely free, and PRO is free to play for now too.
Can I set up a Tour pool with my colleagues or friends?
Absolutely. Create your own Gruppetto, share the link and anyone can join. Ideal as a free Tour de France pool for the office or your group of friends.
Do I need to know a lot about cycling?
No. As long as you listen closely to our tips on the site and in the podcast, you'll be just fine ;-)
When can I start?
Right away. The game is live, and the Tour de France, the first big moment to play, starts on 4 July.
This is just the beginning
We've still got plenty on the drawing board: a game that runs all season long, more gamification, an app and much more. But first: the Tour. Build your team, pick your unicorn and play it smart.
You can join at fantasy.cyclingoracle.com. Grab your crystal ball and play along!