Duration of the toto
The Giro starts on Saturday, May 12th, 2007, but the first stage will not count for the Toto as it is a team time trial. That means the Toto will start on Sunday, May 13th, 2007 at 11:00. Until that time you are able to select your team. Registration after Sunday is possible, but of course you will miss out on valuable points. The Toto ends with the finish of the Giro d'Italia 2007 in Milan (Sunday, June 3rd 2007).
Registration
Before you can start, you must register. Enter the requested information, choose a team name and a password. You will need this password later in the game to get access to your personal pages. In case you forgot your password, contact the site administrator.
Selecting a team
Your team can consist of a maximum of 9 riders. Less than 9 is allowed, it is your free choice as a team manager. You can select your riders from the general list of cyclists. You start with a budget of € 50,000,000. Every cyclist is assigned a starting value based on his achievements in the most recent grand tours (Giro, Tour, Vuelta). The most recent achievements in the Giro are most important. The money that you have left after buying 9 cyclists can be used in a later stage of the game.
As soon as you decide to buy a rider, his purchase value will be subtracted from your budget. If you are not satisfied with a cyclist on your team, or if you believe that a rider will not play an important role in the next stage(s), you can sell this rider. His value at the time of sale will be added to your budget. At the beginning of every stage, you will have to pay a starting fee for every rider in your team. This starting fee for a cyclist is exactly 5% of the current value of that cyclist. This fee is subtracted from the value of the rider, not from your budget. Selecting more expensive riders is therefore more risky, you have to pay a higher fee after all.
The value of a rider changes during the Giro. A cyclist will become more expensive if he performs well in the Giro. The first 15 riders in every stage result are awarded prize money. This prize money is added to the current value of the rider (minus starting fee). You will have to select your team with care. If you have selected a team of sprinters, you are not likely to acquire too many points during a mountain stage, but you still have to pay the starting fee. The art is in knowing exactly when to buy or sell a rider.
The score system
The first 15 riders of a stage are awarded prize money. Next to that, the cyclists earn points. These points are important for the daily standings and the points classification. The prize money is distributed as follows:
| Result | Prize money | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | € 1,000,000 | 100 |
| 2 | € 800,000 | 80 |
| 3 | € 630,000 | 63 |
| 4 | € 500,000 | 50 |
| 5 | € 410,000 | 41 |
| 6 | € 340,000 | 34 |
| 7 | € 290,000 | 29 |
| 8 | € 240,000 | 24 |
| 9 | € 190,000 | 19 |
| 10 | € 150,000 | 15 |
| 11 | € 120,000 | 12 |
| 12 | € 90,000 | 9 |
| 13 | € 70,000 | 7 |
| 14 | € 60,000 | 6 |
| 15 | € 50,000 | 5 |
For example: Before the start of stage 1, Robbie McEwen is worth € 8,000,000. At the start of stage 1, 5% of McEwen's value is paid as a starting fee. This amount is deducted from his value. At that time, McEwen has value: € 8,000,000 - € 400,000 (5%) = € 7,600,000. Suppose McEwen ends 5th in stage 1. He then earns € 410,000 of prize money. His new value after stage 1 is then: € 7,600,000 + € 410,000 = € 8.010.000.
Because McEwen earns more prize money than his starting fee, his value will have risen after stage 1. However, if he ends 6th or worse, the prize money will be lower than the starting fee. McEwen's value will then be lower after the stage than before the stage.
Buying and selling cyclists
As the Giro rolls on, you might want to alter the composition of your team. In the flat stages, you will want to have some sprinters in your team, whereas in the mountain stages you will want some climbers. Selling a cyclist from your team can be done under 'Edit Team' in the menu and buying a cyclist can be done under 'Cyclists' in the menu. Buying and selling riders can only be done when the riders market is opened. It is opened every stage day until 11.00h. The team that you have selected at the market closure is your team for that stage. If you don't select any new riders in-between two stages you keep the same team as the day before. During the race no riders can be bought or sold. After the results of the stage have been processed, the riders market is reopened. On the rest days (May 15 and May 28) the riders market is opened all day, as well as on the day of the team time trial (May 12, first stage).
Classification
There are several different classifications. All teams are automatically ranked in all lists. On your personal 'Home' page you can view your own standings.
General Classification (Maglia Rosa)
The general classification is based on the wealth of the managers. Your wealth is the sum of the current value of the riders in your team and the budget that is left. The leader in the classification is the manager that has the most wealth. In the case that two managers have the same amount of wealth, the number of points scored in the points classification is decisive. When this is also equal, the number of points scored in stage 1 is decisive. Thereafter the number of points in stage 2, stage 3, etc. If all results are equal, the GiroToto organisation will decide upon the ranking via a lottery draw.
Daily Classification (Stage Result)
After every stage, a day ranking is calculated. This ranking is calculated on the basis of the number of points scored in that stage by the riders in your team. The manager with the most points is the winner. If this total is equal, the remaining budget is decisive. If this is also equal, the GiroToto organisation will decide upon the ranking via a lottery draw.
Points Classification (Maglia Ciclamino)
The 'Maglia Ciclamino' is for the contestant with the highest number of points. This classification is based on the sum of the points scored in the daily results. In case two contestants have the same amount of points, the standings in the general classification is decisive.
IMPORTANT: The stage results that are used to determine the new rankings, is binding. In case there are changes in those results (for example because of a disqualified rider), these changes will not be taken into account. There will be no correspondence about the results.
Prizes
The only prizes that can be earned are the eternal fame, glory and bragging rights to your friends that come with the victory.
Calamities
In very exceptional cases, the organisation may decide to disregard a stage from the rankings or to remove a rider from the teams. The timing and manner of the procedure will be determined by the organisation.
If a server breakdown or any other technical problem were to occur, the organisation of the GiroToto will do their very best to reconstruct all teams, changes and rankings as good as possible. This might entail some transactions or results to be reverted or even a complete cancellation of a stage. In this case there will be a general message about the problem and its consequences.
Disclaimer
This toto has been made by and for real fans of the sport. Unsporting behaviour is not permitted. Every instance of such behaviour will be followed by sanctions. The final decisions about the sanctions will be made by the organisation. These sanctions are not open to discussion. Possible sanctions could be exclusion from the GiroToto or deduction of points and/or wealth. In any instance in which the rules are not complete, the organisation will decide. The organisation also has the right to change the rules at any point in time. By registration, the contestant agrees with these terms.
Questions
Still have some questions after reading these rules and the FAQ? Please contact the site administrator and we will reply as soon as possible.