Fantasy DH League: Build Your Team Ahead of Round 1 - Lourdes World Cup DH 2022

Mar 17, 2022
by Pinkbike Staff  
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It's back! Pick your dream DH World Cup team and you could be the lucky person who gets to win this year's Grand Prize of a Specialized Demo Race!

Get ready to show your skills for picking winners, at all 8 rounds of the 2022 UCI World Cup and the 2021 UCI World Championships. With a fictional budget of $1.5 million you will choose your ultimate team of 6 riders (4 men, 2 women) and go to battle in the Fantasy Downhill League. Each round you can make changes to your team and you can be a part of 2 mini-leagues and compete against your friends. Each race round will have feature prizing for the overall Top Team of the round and then at the end of all 9 races, we crown the overall Fantasy Downhill Champion and present the Grand Prize!

Sound good? Build your team today!



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Prizes

Grand Prize
Season Overall

At the end of the season the overall Fantasy Downhill Champion will get a Specialized Demo Race worth $7,000 USD in any size of your choosing.

All-out speed has always been the Demo’s target, and with the Demo Race it’s no different. Introducing a new flexible wheel-size frame design that allows riders to take advantage of a 29-inch front wheel and a 27.5-inch rear wheel, it’s a special blend that’s long been tested by World Champ Loic Bruni looking for the perfect balance of traction and maneuverability, but only just green-lighted by the UCI this past year. Not that it stopped the Demo Race from racking up both the Downhill World Championship and overall World Cup titles in its very first season... Learn more about the Specialized Demo Race here.


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IMPORTANT: To maximize your chances to win the Grand Prize, we recommend you have your team created by March 24, 2022. You will want to maximize your points score and have your team present for all races. Teams created at a time after races have previously occurred earlier will not be eligible to backlog points that riders would have accrued from previous races.

2022 Race Schedule:

March 26-27: Lourdes, France
May 21-22: Fort William, UK
June 10-12: Leogang, Austria
July 8-10: Lenzerheide
July 15-17: Vallnord, Andorra
July 29-31: Snowshoe, USA
August 5-7: Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada
August 24–28: UCI Mountain Bike World Championships – Les Gets, France
September 2-4: Val di Sole, Italy

Good luck!


Pinkbike Fantasy Downhill League in Association with Specialized

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Posted In:
Contests and Deals Fantasy Fantasy DH Sponsored


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95 Comments
  • 71 0
 Prices are very steep this year to put a solid team together.
  • 57 0
 seriously can we get an inflation budget increase
  • 17 15
 Someone makes this exact same comment every single year.
  • 13 2
 We need a budget increase to 2m at least. You can really only choose 2 top riders.
  • 13 0
 Cost of living crisis has went too far
  • 4 0
 Rachel Atherton cost is a little surprising. Maybe not...
  • 14 1
 @kev-bike: I think PB has done a great job adjusting the prices while taking everything into consideration. This is the closest a lot of us get to racing and as long as everyone has to work with the same budget, it's all fair and square.
Enjoy the last season via Red Bull TV
  • 5 1
 Was thinking this too. Very tricky this year to have a balanced team
  • 3 1
 I agree Frown
  • 4 0
 If only their sponsors paid them this much...Fantasy is right!
  • 3 1
 Yeah it's tough. You basically get 2 ringers and a bunch of zeros or you have to find the perfect mix of over achieving 5-20 riders. This years winner is going to be the person that finds the lowest ranked rider that that breaks through this year.
  • 4 0
 @kev-bike: Then again she's Rachel f*cking Atherton. Don't forget 2008 is when she was first hot, only to bounce back in 2016 and *win every round of the season*.

If she's hungry she's as dangerous as they come.
  • 30 0
 Aaron Gwin for 400K is hilarious - he barely raced last year, Gee Atherton for 300K you're hearty when you laugh Pinkbike! 53 riders with less than 100 points last year and 23 of those priced above 100K
  • 15 3
 So is Rachel Atherton, we all know she is an amazing rider but the last time she finished a race was on 7th July 2019!!!, since then she's had a massive injury and delivered a baby so there is absolutely no guarantee she will return in top 5 as her price suggests...
  • 13 1
 While I love the GOAT, Minaar ranked 15th last year but is 3rd on price list.
  • 6 0
 @pourquois-pas: He does get to race in a highly coveted jersey this year. He is always a solid pic.
  • 3 0
 @MonsterTruck: true, true, but 3rd most likely to win any given world cup?
  • 1 0
 @pourquois-pas: True, but that was after he injured himself at the last round and missed two races. That said, I would not have him at no 3 either. Maybe 5-10.
  • 3 0
 @winko: to be fair though I can't remember her exact win streak but it was like nearly three years or so without a loss
  • 5 0
 @cbro4444: Rachel's also racked up more world cup overall wins and more world champs than Minaar, a longer winning streak than Gwin, etc. As far as getting results she's in a different league.

We'll see, but given her past I'm not going to be surprised if Rachel comes out of the gate this season with murder in her eye and smoke coming out of her nostrils.

One thing for sure, this racing season is going to epic.
  • 24 0
 Congratulations to the OCD fantasy players getting a DH bike for Fantasy DH. To everyone else, you were going to sell it anyway.
  • 4 1
 I hope there is a group of us that would just replace the fork with a Zeb/38, upgrade to 12s, and call it NBD before they sell the whole thing.
  • 3 6
 @rustiegrizwold: Receiving this bike will count as $7,000 in income. Let's assume this results in $1,500 in income tax. You are proposing spending another $1,000 on swapping the fork, stem, drivetrain and adding and externally actuated dropper post (assuming you do a good job selling the original parts). Total cost $2,500 to ride the compromise machine.

The alternative being selling the bike. Let's say you get $6,000. Minus income tax you are at $4,500 to do with whatever you want.
  • 1 0
 @vapidoscar: First, yea it's a niche mod but I don't think it would be a "compromised machine." Lots of reviews for the demo comment on how well it pedals and they used the same basis of design for the enduro. I see the mod perfect for people that mostly shuttle and ride lifts.

Also, I'd guess most of the people on here would sell a bike if they won, this or personal, but it depends on what's in your quiver and what you want. If you've been eyeing a big bike but have little money, do you want a pedal-able demo with great components or a true enduro bike with maybe step-down on components?
  • 4 0
 @vapidoscar: I’ve won stuff from PB before and have never once given out my SSN and have no reason to think that I’m paying taxes on anything. f*ck, Ive only won fantasy rounds on burner accounts with fake names
  • 5 0
 @vapidoscar: What it this Income Tax you speak of?
  • 3 0
 @vapidoscar: forgot about being taxed on winnings in the states! Have a Canadian claim it for you and ship it over… give them half the tax and everyone wins
  • 6 0
 @Mntneer: you got me at "burner accounts with fake names"
  • 3 0
 @rustiegrizwold: That would be my dream Bike. The Owner of a LBS in my Hometown has been riding Demos (but build up as a Endurobike) for years. He Currently rides a `19 Demo with a Fox 38, 12s and AXS Dropper Post on it
  • 1 0
 Ok, everyone can give up. I just noticed I'm leading the contest now.
  • 18 0
 The denim destroyer is still on there
  • 5 0
 There are a lot on there that dont race DH - Miranda Miller?
  • 11 0
 Please ad Goncalo Bandeira
  • 7 0
 Here's an actually useful place to see previous results from last year to help make your picks since UCI's website is good looking, but actually trash when trying to find this information: www.rootsandrain.com/series1319/2021-mercedes-benz-uci-world-cup-dh/schedule
  • 5 1
 Final Overall Standings as well: www.pinkbike.com/news/final-results-overall-standings-for-the-2021-dh-world-cup-season.html
  • 10 0
 A DH prize for a DH contest!

WHO WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY IMAGINED THAT IT COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN?
  • 5 0
 Easy, it's the only bike Specialized has in stock and has no problems giving away.
  • 8 0
 Prices are stupid this year, only 20 riders down in price out of 113 in mens and 10 down out of 26 in the womens - come on pinkbike get a grip
  • 9 1
 Demo don't look like a session. Good to see a new sponsorship in fantasy league.
  • 6 0
 Good to see a DH bike!
  • 2 0
 @naptime: The first Demo I really like. It's one nice looking sled.
  • 1 0
 @fartymarty: definitely a looker, paint job is killer! I hope the winner gets to be a dick an pick they're wheel size :'D
  • 7 0
 Here’s to hoping a revised start list of riders who will actually be attending/racing an event will be posted prior to the fantasy league cut-off time.
  • 3 0
 Did pretty well in this last year but every single one of the riders I had on my team has gone up 100k at least and it doesn't seem that any on the other riders prices have gone down. I imagine a lot of the riders wouldn't even be getting paid close to half their prices in real life.
  • 4 1
 At least Ben Cathro is available reckon this could be the year we see him in the top 20, besides my man Greg who I think is going to go super hard for the overall, so I chose most of my riders by height, go figurre
  • 5 0
 Guy we might get lucky this year, @dolores somehow deleted his profile it seems
  • 1 0
 or changed his name
  • 4 0
 @SeanDRC: He could be any of us. He could be you. He could be me.
  • 7 1
 BMX background riders only for the win. Just a hunch
  • 3 1
 Speaking as an engineer, only racers taking advantage of the added strength and stiffness provided by the new "Ultraboost" front hub featuring a 22mn x 112 mm axle and "Prominent Buldge" 37.8 mm diameter handlebar will be competitive this year.
  • 6 0
 Welp....time to ruin some seasons again.
  • 5 1
 Shouldn't Goldstone be available? Or is the syndicate looking to own the junior category?
  • 1 0
 He's still a Jr. This is them investing in the future. Minnaar can't race forever... well...
  • 4 0
 Glad they included a link to the 2019 overall results. A great form guide for this season!
  • 4 0
 Please add Melanie Chappaz
  • 3 0
 Didn't know we were that close to the WorldCup. Good news! Hopefully, Nekos finger heals quickly!
  • 2 0
 The fun part of having a limited budget is finding the value up and comers, cagey veterans, budget riders on a hot streak, or early starters on a forecasted rainy weekend.
  • 4 1
 Jackson goldstone not on the list?
  • 6 0
 This is for Elite level not junior. Goldstone is still 14 year old (sarcasm).
  • 1 0
 @kroozctrl: Goldstone is still Juniors, 2nd year this season, so that makes him 16/17?
  • 1 0
 @melonhead1145: Google says he turned 18 last month.
  • 2 0
 @melonhead1145: man, even when people type out sarcasm, still goes whoosh. Come on….
  • 3 0
 Ben, Thibaut, Vali and some Whodats.
  • 3 0
 Tuhoto is hurt FYI, just announced.
  • 2 0
 Oh feck.
  • 1 0
 i wish Pinkbike have already order a demo..............otherwise by late 2024 shoyld be able to do the giveaway!!!!!!!! i am still waiting 7 months now
  • 1 0
 No pressure PB Racing/ Cathro. But if you help me win, I promise to provide a substantial ice cream budget.
  • 1 0
 Come on Neko and Lucas. Those two seem to at more comfortable on their bikes ever since they switched.
  • 2 0
 Currently ranked 9th #crushingit
  • 2 1
 Probably the last year this wont be behind a paywall so make the most of it.
  • 2 4
 Hey Pinkbike could we not get a better mix please? why not a third woman rider and total of 7 ....or 3 male 3 female....there are enough good women riders to mix it up , we often see a focus on trying to make / encourage mountain biking for all...yet the emphasis in fantasy league is always stacked to the male picks.
  • 1 0
 Lame how many privateers/lower performing racers are left off the selection this year
  • 1 0
 A message to riders on my fantasy team: désolé de t'avoir mis dans mon équipe
  • 1 0
 Jackson Goldstone -not elite men this year ? or later this year ?
  • 2 0
 One more year of juniors
  • 2 0
 Still a jr
  • 11 11
 Andreas Kolb is listed while we know he's not going to race, please remove his name and serve us some fresh meat instead.
  • 1 0
 why is he not racing\?
  • 3 3
 @Ds1234: He's focusing on his job/business. Unfortunately, racing just doesn't pay the bills for +90% of professional riders.
  • 3 0
 Where did you get this information from? kolb was just in training camp in lousa with his team.or did you mess up kolb with the denim destroyer?
  • 11 0
 That is Johannes von Klebelsberg, not Andreas Kob
  • 2 0
 @NicoOfner: Aaaah my bad, sorry for confusing guys
  • 1 0
 @DH-Smurf: Oh yeah, I did get him mixed up! My bad guys!
  • 2 0
 @bok-CZ: both have K's and Es's, it's understandable
  • 1 0
 Exactly! And both speaking German
  • 1 0
 Anyone from area code 828 have their own league I can join?
  • 1 0
 Has Gee recovered and fit for racing? If so fairplay
  • 1 0
 Chuck
  • 1 0
 Entry list
  • 2 3
 How many times can I put Ben Cathro on my team?
  • 4 3
 Not a single one from what I can see.
  • 1 0
 @lRaphl: $125k
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