All Things Vital Downhill Fantasy

DustOnCrust
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6
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Sacramento, CA US
6/8/2025 12:10am
"sspomer wrote:If you have any questions or thoughts about Vital Downhill Fantasy, let us know here."Howdy sspomer & Vital Fantasy Team,Would it be possible to open...
"sspomer wrote:

If you have any questions or thoughts about Vital Downhill Fantasy, let us know here."
Howdy sspomer & Vital Fantasy Team,
Would it be possible to open team selection for the next World Cup as soon as the previous round finishes, or make the default keeping your current rider selections from round to round? 
I ask because I missed the narrow window to pick new riders before the last round, and wound up w/ your system auto-selecting for me and achieving less than half the points I normally do.
PB’s fantasy game provides both of these convenient options, with the system only replacing one rider at a time, should a team wind up over budget for the next round. Life gets busy sometimes, and it would be nice to not have to worry about an “all or nothing” window of 24-48hrs to re-select a team every week.

sspomer wrote:
sorry, but we only use riders on the qualifying start list, not the 'entry' list. the qualifying start list comes out later than the entry list...

sorry, but we only use riders on the qualifying start list, not the 'entry' list. the qualifying start list comes out later than the entry list (but the entry list is not accurate w/ who's actually racing).

every round this year (and last) the window to pick riders is around 55 hours.

Just to play devil's advocate: would it hurt to just let us pick earlier from the entry list at our own risk?
I fail to see the downside.

sspomer
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Boise, ID US
Fantasy
6/8/2025 12:15pm Edited Date/Time 6/8/2025 12:16pm
Just to play devil's advocate: would it hurt to just let us pick earlier from the entry list at our own risk?I fail to see the...

Just to play devil's advocate: would it hurt to just let us pick earlier from the entry list at our own risk?
I fail to see the downside.

the way we're setup, it would mean more/unnecessary work on our end and potential for errors - two lists to add/verify/assign rider values to instead of 1. entry list may include riders who aren't not racing but it also may not include riders that register later and show up on the start list. 

fwiw, there's no overall season-end prize this year. prizes are given out per race.

1
6/8/2025 12:43pm

"fwiw, there's no overall season-end prize this year. prizes are given out per race."

Shame to hear this (the prizes were outstanding last year) but do understand (sponsors etc). It will change the strategy though so good to know. No longer worth picking a lower-risk bankable team. Better to take a chance on picking winners. 

1
LePigPen
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6/8/2025 12:53pm

(Steve sitting on his pile of winnings from his fantasy career)

"Shame, innit..."

One thing I wanted to know is are top 5 rewarded per event or top 3 only? Came real close to 5th this go around. At the very least I need that Vital shirt in my life.

1
1
6/8/2025 1:28pm
LePigPen wrote:
(Steve sitting on his pile of winnings from his fantasy career)"Shame, innit..."One thing I wanted to know is are top 5 rewarded per event or top...

(Steve sitting on his pile of winnings from his fantasy career)

"Shame, innit..."

One thing I wanted to know is are top 5 rewarded per event or top 3 only? Came real close to 5th this go around. At the very least I need that Vital shirt in my life.

I got a Vital t-shirt last season. Wear that thing with pride. Well worth chasing. 

4
sspomer
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6/8/2025 2:13pm

top 5 prizes each round. and overall will get some kind of swag for sure, but not big prizes like last year.

1
LePigPen
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6/20/2025 3:44pm

This round may feel gnarly in the 'fantasy curse' realm...

I had an easier time making my picks this round. But given how things are it's gonna be a full on gamble round. Seemingly similar to a wet race BUT with more speed (and injuries).

Lotta new names this round tho. Plus I always pick more so mid range riders so... I can sleep at night knowing I'm not jeopardizing overall performances of the top riders lol

mfoga
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Moreno Valley, CA US
Fantasy
6/20/2025 5:38pm

I have 20 riders and not one is worth more than 100k.  Let’s see how this goes 😂

LePigPen
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6/20/2025 5:59pm
mfoga wrote:

I have 20 riders and not one is worth more than 100k.  Let’s see how this goes 😂

I think I did a max riders team once as a test... The results were predictable. You do okay but it's def not a winning strategy. Or it would be the most insane race ever if it were. Basically pick cheapest rider of every cat in the finals, then work your way up adding whoever is cheap.

I also landed on 20 riders this round. With a healthily diversified bondz portfolio of 5-5-6-4. Was at 19 until qualies finished and changes allowed me to squeak another low level rider in. Gotta git those numbers up!

6/21/2025 2:26am

Got Rosa (1), Kate (3), and Bellah (5)

Would've been way cooler to see it live.

1
6/21/2025 3:13am

@sspomer Is there a randomization element to rider pricing, or is it purely based on an algorithm?

6/21/2025 6:52am

1,2,3,4 and 6 in mens.

1 & 3 women's.

.3 j w 

2 in j m.

 Hoping for my best score to date

1
LePigPen
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6/21/2025 7:52am

hmmm i did

JW 3, 5, 6, 10

JM 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 18

EW 1, 3, 5, 6, 12

EM 2, 4, 13, 20, 28

Sorry Antoine Sad likely the entire Vital and PB fantasy community combined picked you and put about a generation's worth of cursed luck on ya

2
6/21/2025 8:37am

I had the winner in all races except EM, but I had Brosnan there. Score should be pretty decent Smile

sspomer
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6/21/2025 9:03am

@sspomer Is there a randomization element to rider pricing, or is it purely based on an algorithm?

we assign rider values each race based on how they've done this year and using past results as best we can. general idea is getting them in the neighborhood of $1k/point in value. no AI or algorithms like that are used, just the human element. new or lesser-known riders are always tricky, but also the most fun if they come out of nowhere to earn good points for only a couple bucks.

working on results now. should be ready soon.

6/21/2025 10:20am

still jinxing my riders but moving up the ranks.

JW - 3

JM - 2, 8, 11 19

EW - 3, 8 10

EM - 2, 4, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 

LePigPen
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6/21/2025 2:06pm

Nice, Spomer!!

Well, I got my highest amount of points... Yet it was my worst placing (115th) so there were a LOT of points on the table at this round.

It was the highest score by a Vital user this year so far... However not the highest best possible actually, as Loudenvielle almost hit 2k for best possible. This round was 1911 best possible.

But yeah. Highest average score round. And I FUMBLED. But it's the black snake I didn't expect to win on strat alone.

Lost some overall rank Sad 29th now but literally one spot above Jason so I'll take it... There can only be ONE redhead in this fantasy, highlander!!

1
6/21/2025 3:02pm

13th on the round, 71st overall now. Tantalizingly close to prizes, yet so far away lol. 

dolface
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6/21/2025 6:58pm

Maybe a dumb question, but how do I see where each rider on my team placed and scored for a given round? I feel like I've clicked on every possible link but can't figure it out... 🤦‍♂️

LePigPen
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6/21/2025 7:10pm
dolface wrote:
Maybe a dumb question, but how do I see where each rider on my team placed and scored for a given round? I feel like I've...

Maybe a dumb question, but how do I see where each rider on my team placed and scored for a given round? I feel like I've clicked on every possible link but can't figure it out... 🤦‍♂️

On mobile? On desktop I am going to the dashboard, clicking on the event val di sole, and there is a 'view my team' page right next to view leaderboard above the full rider results sheet. That said, it's a pop up and not it's own page, so there is no 'link' for it.

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/2025/round-4-val-di-sole-italy 

I feel like you can usually request to visit desktop version instead of mobile on most websites... Not sure about vital tho.

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/300036/team Does this show you... "my" team or your team?

1
dolface
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6/21/2025 7:17pm
dolface wrote:
Maybe a dumb question, but how do I see where each rider on my team placed and scored for a given round? I feel like I've...

Maybe a dumb question, but how do I see where each rider on my team placed and scored for a given round? I feel like I've clicked on every possible link but can't figure it out... 🤦‍♂️

LePigPen wrote:
On mobile? On desktop I am going to the dashboard, clicking on the event val di sole, and there is a 'view my team' page right...

On mobile? On desktop I am going to the dashboard, clicking on the event val di sole, and there is a 'view my team' page right next to view leaderboard above the full rider results sheet. That said, it's a pop up and not it's own page, so there is no 'link' for it.

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/2025/round-4-val-di-sole-italy 

I feel like you can usually request to visit desktop version instead of mobile on most websites... Not sure about vital tho.

https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/300036/team Does this show you... "my" team or your team?

Got it, thanks! (I was confused because 1. I was a expecting a table and 2. I was also expecting riders who didn't score to have a (0)  not a blank, see below)

Any idea why Jacko and Loris don't have scores here?
 

image 364.png?VersionId=8wgULvP8gcN0ZIGPBnb
sspomer
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6/21/2025 7:43pm Edited Date/Time 6/21/2025 7:52pm

i'll check in on why points aren't showing up. it was an issue before but was supposed to be solved.

also, you should be able to see the teams you picked here from various rounds here - https://www.vitalmtb.com/fantasy/manage-team but clicking on "view picks" is coming up blank. i'll look into that too.

in the mean time, just click on the round name on the dashboard link and it'll take you to the page to "view my team"

Screen Shot 2025-06-21 at 8.42.22 PM.png?VersionId=0NFtRi7BzG.AJv7wUnSw06pGFsZ3cpScreenshot 2025-06-21 at 8.50.57 PM.png?VersionId=vc99dd.7Vvz4J1yed6y4hIvLd
1
mfoga
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6/22/2025 9:08pm

Ok that didn’t work either as I put my fantasy hex on them still.

7/3/2025 10:22am Edited Date/Time 7/3/2025 10:23am

Bump for round 5! Good luck everyone.

7/3/2025 9:34pm

think there is an error with Zwar's price. Guessing he should be 111k not 11.1k.

3
1
sspomer
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7/4/2025 7:14am Edited Date/Time 7/4/2025 8:53am
Jblack89 wrote:

think there is an error with Zwar's price. Guessing he should be 111k not 11.1k.

unfortunately my error can't be changed. the game is on and he has been picked for teams already. with that said, it's fair for everyone with zwar being an insane value if he makes finals. 

2
mfoga
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Moreno Valley, CA US
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7/4/2025 12:23pm

Poor Zwar is going to get fantasy curse 😂

2
7/4/2025 4:42pm

Spotted the Zwar discount, too tempting not to have him in the lineup.

Here’s hoping he can make it through Q1/Q2

3
LePigPen
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Harbor City, CA US
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7/5/2025 3:11pm

got home from the mammoth trip just in time to wig out over fantasy team picks for a few hours weeeeeee 

7/6/2025 5:46pm

Results??? I'm jonesin! (even though my elite picks weren't great) 

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