George Chapman, a 46-year-old fantasy sports and cycling enthusiast, launched Velogames.com in the 1990s. This platform now engages approximately 30,000 players in fantasy competitions spanning various cycling events, including the Classics, Grand Tours, and week-long stage races. Players create virtual teams from real-world cyclists within a set budget, earning points based on their chosen riders' actual performance. Chapman discusses the game's origins, its evolution through challenges like trademark disputes with Tour de France owners ASO, and the delicate art of pricing star riders like Tadej Pogačar.
The Evolution of a Cycling Fantasy Dream
George Chapman, a devoted cycling fan, initiated Velogames.com in 1997. What began as a pen-and-paper game, inspired by fantasy football, evolved into a sophisticated online platform boasting 30,000 players. Chapman’s early experiences involved manually processing entries from around 150 participants for the Tour de France. The game gained significant traction during the Lance Armstrong era, attracting numerous American users, and later saw a surge in British players during the Team Sky era and the London Olympics. By 2002, Velogames.com was officially launched, expanding to include the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta in 2005, and various Classics games by 2014. Chapman, a former accountant and auditor now working as a product manager at Haymarket, shared insights into the challenges of balancing game management with family life, particularly with two young sons. He recounted how technological advancements, such as laptops and hotel WiFi, made it easier to update scores on the go. A notable hurdle was a two-year hiatus for the Tour de France game due to a trademark dispute with ASO, the Tour’s organizers, regarding the use of 'Tour de France' in the website title and imagery. This issue was eventually resolved, with ASO extending an invitation to Chapman for the final stage in Paris as a gesture of reconciliation. Chapman emphasizes that simplicity is key to Velogames's enduring appeal, with players embracing the challenge of sticking with their initial nine-rider team selection. While he occasionally offers side games allowing transfers, the core experience remains unchanged. The game primarily runs on donations, with no entry fees to avoid gambling regulations, allowing Chapman to cover operational costs and occasionally fund a vacation. Velogames attracts a global audience, with 30% of players from Britain, 30% from the US, and the remaining 40% from diverse countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, and France, with even a podcast dedicated to it in Brazil.
Chapman’s journey with Velogames highlights the passion and dedication required to cultivate a thriving online community around a niche sport. His story underscores the importance of adapting to change, navigating legal complexities, and maintaining a commitment to the game's core values. It's a testament to how a simple idea, fueled by love for cycling, can grow into a global phenomenon, connecting fans and enriching their experience of professional cycling.