For three weeks each year — 21 glorious days — I become completely obsessed with road cycling. Every year I come away knowing a little more about this complex sport, a little more about the distinctive riders, and feeling surprisingly bereft after the cobbles of the Champs-Élysées.
This year, though, the obsession isn't ending with Paris.
Instead, I'm following the Tour de France Femmes, which runs through the first nine days of August. Most of the riders are new to me, and that's part of the joy. I'm learning their strengths, discovering their stories, building my Fantasy team, and trying to squeeze in as many hours of racing as my schedule allows.
Along the way, I've developed an entire mythology around my Fantasy team. Every transfer I tell myself a compelling backstory. Every tactical decision is backed by what feels like impeccable logic. Every rider has a role to play in the grand plan. Whether any of that bears much resemblance to reality is another question entirely.
My strategies are often as much fantasy as the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift Fantasy by Tissot results themselves.
