As a keen cyclist and avid Tour watcher myself, I’m excited.
Let’s start in the obvious place: the official Tour De France video game.
Tour De France 2022, the video game, is strange.
The game agrees this is not interesting.
This is the problem: the real Tour De France is long and largely slow.
Much of the real TDF is saving energy for key moments, and in the video game too.
With moment-to-moment racing optional, the game is all about managing energy.
I do not find it an interesting system to manage.
It passes beautiful landscapes, from quaint villages and gentle summer countryside to rolling rivers and dizzying mountain passes.
Vitally, they’re also storytellers in a soap opera which unfolds across the race.
One of the best stories in last year’s Tour was the return of Mark Cavendish.
After all this, Cavendish went on to win four stages.
That’s what the Tour De France is to me: a sightseeing soap opera.
It’s likeCoach Tripexcept on 12,000 bicycles and the lads never skip leg day.
I will stick with this game, for now.
Maybe drama will develop, or at least it’ll be interesting to see its intepretations of the landscapes.
I wish it felt more like riding a bike.
I’d forgive a lot if it felt a tiny bit more like riding a bike.
I cycle a fair bit myself.
I like shifting gear with each small change in terrain to keep my legs spinning at an optimal rate.
I like to look down and watch the chainset turn with my feet.
I like to look ahead and watch my shadow.
I like the sound of birds in trees and wind through leaves.
I like remembering the regular timing to eat and drink.
I like fast descents and do, eventually, like the few wee climbs.
They focus on different types and aspects of cycling, and it’s been great to explore.
I think this will be fun.
