There’s a Fantasy Game for Cyclocross Now
Mud, barriers, run-ups, and athletes gasping for air in Belgian fields—cyclocross is one of the most intense disciplines in cycling. And until recently, there was no way to play fantasy with it.
Peaxel changed that. It’s a free-to-play fantasy sports platform that covers disciplines traditional fantasy games ignore completely. No football. No basketball. Instead: cyclocross, BMX, trampoline, karate, and dozens of other sports where real athletes compete at the highest level but rarely get fantasy attention.
If you’ve ever watched a World Cup CX race and thought “I wish I could build a lineup around these riders,” this is for you.
How Peaxel Works: The Basics
Peaxel isn’t a betting app. It’s not crypto-complicated either. You collect digital athlete cards, build lineups, and earn points based on how those athletes perform in real competitions.
Here’s the short version:
- Collect cards: Each athlete on Peaxel has a digital card you can add to your collection. Free starter cards are available—no purchase required to begin.
- Build lineups: Pick athletes you think will perform well in upcoming events. Your lineup competes against other players.
- Earn points: Athletes score based on real-world results. Podiums, breakaways, consistency—it all counts.
The entire game is free to play. You can explore every sport Peaxel covers on their full sports list.
Why Cyclocross Works Perfectly for Fantasy
Cyclocross has a compact season. Races happen weekly from October through February, mostly on weekends across Europe. That rhythm is ideal for fantasy—you get consistent scoring opportunities without the year-round grind of road cycling.
The sport also has clear hierarchies but real volatility. A mechanical issue, a crash on a slippery off-camber, or a perfectly timed attack can reshape results. That unpredictability rewards players who actually follow the sport rather than just picking the same names every week.
And here’s the honest truth: most fantasy platforms don’t touch cyclocross. Sorare doesn’t have it. FPL obviously doesn’t. If you want to play fantasy with CX athletes, Peaxel is where you go.
Meet Kristýna Zemanová: A Perfect Starting Point
Let’s talk about an actual athlete to make this concrete. Kristýna Zemanová is a 22-year-old Czech cyclocross rider who has won five consecutive national championships. That’s not a typo—five in a row, from 2022 through 2026.
Internationally, she took silver at the 2024 UCI Cyclocross World Championships U23 in Tábor and bronze the year before in Hoogerheide. In December 2025, she finished second at the X2O Trofee Loenhout behind Lucinda Brand—one of the best elite women in the world.
Zemanová is exactly the kind of athlete Peaxel was built for. She’s world-class, she’s consistent, and almost nobody outside dedicated CX fans knows her name. In fantasy terms, that’s value.
You can check out her athlete card on Peaxel and see how she fits into your lineup strategy.
What Makes Her a Smart Early Pick
Zemanová combines technical skill with mental toughness. CX courses test both—one mistake on a muddy descent and your race is over. Her five national titles show she handles pressure. Her World Championship medals show she performs against the best fields in the sport.
She also races road alongside her CX calendar, which means she maintains fitness year-round. For fantasy purposes, that dual focus can be an advantage: she’s race-sharp even early in the CX season when some specialists are still building form.
Getting Started: Your First Cyclocross Lineup
Here’s a simple approach for your first Peaxel lineup in cyclocross:
- Pick one anchor: An athlete you’re confident will score consistently. Zemanová fits here—she finishes near the front almost every race.
- Add one wildcard: A less established rider who could surprise. Cyclocross has deep fields and young riders break through every season.
- Watch one race first: Before locking in picks, watch a single World Cup event. You’ll learn more about form and course conditions than any preview article can teach you.
That’s it. No need to overthink it. Peaxel is designed for you to learn as you play.
The CX Season Calendar
Cyclocross races cluster between October and February. The UCI Cyclocross World Cup hits venues across Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and beyond. National championships happen in January, and the World Championships cap the season in late January or early February.
For fantasy players, this means concentrated action. You’re not waiting months between scoring opportunities—there’s a race almost every weekend during peak season.
Why Peaxel Instead of Other Fantasy Platforms
Most fantasy sports platforms focus on the obvious: football, basketball, maybe baseball. They serve mass markets and ignore everything else.
Peaxel went the opposite direction. It covers the sports where passionate fans exist but fantasy options don’t. Cyclocross is a perfect example. So is BMX racing, trampoline gymnastics, karate, and parkour.
If you’re someone who watches niche sports and wishes you could play fantasy with them, Peaxel is the answer. It’s free, it’s straightforward, and it covers athletes you actually care about.
Honestly, Kristýna Zemanová deserves a bigger audience. Peaxel gives you a reason to follow her season closely—and rewards you for it.