Il Giro Fantasy League

Greetings fellow cyclists and cycling fans,

As you are probably aware, Il Giro starts this coming Friday. Obviously, this is very exciting for a lot of us as the Grand Tour season begins and we look forward to listening to King Kelly and our very own Declan Quigley on Eurosport. The cyclists themselves are not bad either.

For the past few years, we have been running a Fantasy League for Orwell Members through the road.cc website. The service is free of charge and really easy to use and navigate. To set up your team simply go to the following link fantasy.road.cc/competitions , choose the Standard Version of the Giro and then set up your account if you don't already have one. Once your account has been approved, you will need you join the Orwell League by clicking on the "My Leagues" tab. The league ID is 76788. Now, you are ready to pick your team and the real craic begins! Please let me know if you have any issues or questions.

My good brother Garret Connolly has kindly sponsored the 1st Place Prize. The winner will receive a €30 Voucher for use in his shop, Baggot Street Wines, or the beautiful surroundings of his wonderful new wine bar, The Cavern. There are no prizes for second place etc but there is a lot of pride at stake and it really is enjoyable. The hot favourite again this year is Stephen O'Shea aka Irish Corner Steve, ICS or simply SOS. He is the man to beat but because of his superb performances last year he will be keenly watched by the authorities this year.

Forza Vincenzo!

Darragh

Bring on the giro!
Here's some hints on who to pick from our friends in GCN!
Garret

Boungiorno!

So far we have;

Team Bonkers Garret Connolly
Chasse patate Zjuul23 Jules De Meester?
Warren warrencray Warren Cray
Snorewell Solo Darragh Connolly
Petit Nicolas CC BigNick Nick Appleby

Any insight into team names would be much appreciated, I particularily like "Warren"! Big question is, where is ICS/SOS? We see he has been reading the thread at least!

You can follow the countdown on the Giro website below, only 3 days now! If you are thinking about signing up, do it now before you forget and miss out. No obligation to play once you sign up so you might as well.

giroditalia.it/eng/

Insight into team names? Mine refers to my minute stature.

It was a holding name Darragh....

Now amended to the team of my footballing allegiance!

And 'Snorewell Solo??'

Cant resist a good competition. Thanks guys

Buongiorno!

2 DAYS LEFT so go to fantasy.road.cc/competitions

Warren, Ipwich Town...Jaysus! Snorewell is a long story
Team Snorewell

A few new league members now, who might reveal their identity.... Good to see ICS has taken the bait but then again I don't believe Stephen would ever shy away from a chance to win!

Iron Lungs CC Wheeliebets
Team Bonkers Garret Connolly
Chasse patate Zjuul23
Irishcorner IrishCornersteve
Tractor Boys warrencray
Snorewell Solo Darragh Connolly
Petit Nicolas CC BigNick -
Hip hip hooray! Hippo2016
Casal Palocco Barry Martin
Team Built on a TUEsday Alan Hickey

Bene, Forza Nico e arrivederci!

Iron Lungs is my team

I will not be making any bold predictions for the team other than to say anything less than a win will be considered abject failure.

Entered a team to the league: Horizontal Top Tubes

Buongiorno tutti frutti!

Only one day to go! Get your teams picked asap, deadline is 10am tomorrow. A few new teams with some great names, but who are they pray tell?

Iron Lungs CC Wheeliebets Brian Geary
Team Bonkers Garret Connolly
Chasse patate Zjuul23 Jules De Meester
Irishcorner IrishCornersteve Stephen O'Shea
Tractor Boys warrencray
Snorewell Solo Darragh Connolly
Petit Nicolas CC Nick_A Nick Appleby
Hip hip hooray! Hippo2016 ?
Casal Palocco Barry Martin
Team Built on a TUEsday Alan Hickey
Horizontal Top Tubes baz Barry Mooney
VeloSoror VeloSoror ?
i ragazzi i ragazzi ?

Best of luck to one and all, Viva Il Giro!

Darragh

i ragazzi (the lads) is my fully Italian dream team! Go on the ragazzi!

VeloSoror is me... long story but it is based on part of the name of my other cycling brotherhood away from Orwell, Globus Sororis.

Long live the Pizza Munchers;)

Buonasera. I'm in.

Now that the weather is finally heating up, it's time for Team Cornetto led by Mr. Nibali.

Ciao,

Here's your first rest day update. Jules has stormed off to an early lead with Hippo and Bryan in 2nd and 3rd at the moment. SOS and Gar, two previous fantasy champions are going quietly about their business at the moment but should be watched at all times! Alan is scoring very well too. Hope you are all enjoying the Giro and the fantasy element so far.

Grazie,
Darragh

1 Chasse patate Zjuul23 417
2 Hip hip hooray! Hippo2016 412
3 Iron Lungs CC Wheeliebets 392
4 Team Bonkers Garret Connolly 390
5 Team Built on a TUEsday Alan Hickey 385
6 Irishcorner IrishCornersteve 375
7 Snorewell Solo Darragh Connolly 320
8 Horizontal Top Tubes baz 266
9 BYRNE eoinbyrne81298 251
10 pizza munchers Ladyluck 247
11 VeloSoror VeloSoror 229
12 Petit Nicolas CC Nick_A 213
13 Casal Palocco Barry Martin 210
14 thebeesknees vandersons 159
15 i ragazzi i ragazzi 110
16 Team Cornetto Paulwalsh 108
17 Saddle sore wheelers Black ice slider 73
18 Tractor Boys warrencray 48

the cream is already rising to the top

I'm enjoying my rest day

also very fitting a Dutchman leads coming out of the Netherlands

That's the end of that now though.

Well done to Kittel for sitting up yesterday... and well done me for getting rid of Greipel!!!! Stupid cyclists!

Questo é vero Conoro! Seems like Bryan is romping away with this but will he fade in the coming weeks, we are only in week 1 after all. Watch out for SOS and his famous sprint finish...

1 Iron Lungs CC Wheeliebets 659
2 Chasse patate Zjuul23 602
3 Team Bonkers Garret Connolly 565
4 Hip hip hooray! Hippo2016 562
5 Team Built on a TUEsday Alan Hickey 546
6 Irishcorner IrishCornersteve 545
7 Snorewell Solo Darragh Connolly 451
8 Horizontal Top Tubes baz 417
9 VeloSoror VeloSoror 395
10 Petit Nicolas CC Nick_A 392
11 BYRNE eoinbyrne81298 385
12 pizza munchers Ladyluck 379
13 Casal Palocco Barry Martin 356
14 thebeesknees vandersons 275
15 Team Cornetto Paulwalsh 265
16 i ragazzi i ragazzi 164
17 Saddle sore wheelers Black ice slider 160
18 Tractor Boys warrencray 140

Buongiorno!

Bene,

Da dove posso communicare?! It was a weekend for the movers and shakers as Bryan now takes a commanding lead with Jules and Gar still very much in the hunt for podium places. It seems that SOS has now taken up the role of Fantasy Coach for Bryan judging by his comments on the league page ;-) Jules may have been hampered by having to make his transfers at the top of Kippure having just climbed it!

I have been slipping slowly down the table slowly but surely as I watch strong performances by the likes of Barry and Louise as they overtake me without even saying hello, what do I expect this is racing after all! In the relegation battle Warren has finally made a move and is scoring consistently now. Freddie on the other hand seems to have secured one or two of the podium girls in his transfers as he seems somewhat distracted!

Still loads to play for. 2 weeks left and the Giro really begins tomorrow. Enjoy your rest day, choose your teams wisely and mind those transfers! Forza Vincenzo, it's Nibali time!!

1 Iron Lungs CC Wheeliebets 1085
2 Chasse patate Zjuul23 994
3 Team Bonkers Garret Connolly 947
4 Team Built on a TUEsday Alan Hickey 898
5 Irishcorner IrishCornersteve 874
6 Hip hip hooray! Hippo2016 822
7 Horizontal Top Tubes baz 814
8 pizza munchers Ladyluck 722
9 Snorewell Solo Darragh Connolly 689
10 VeloSoror VeloSoror 677
11 Petit Nicolas CC Nick_A 646
12 Casal Palocco Barry Martin 630
13 Team Cornetto Paulwalsh 608
14 BYRNE eoinbyrne81298 560
15 thebeesknees vandersons 500
16 Tractor Boys warrencray 337
17 i ragazzi i ragazzi 333 1
17= Saddle sore wheelers Black ice slider 333