On yer Bike

Sweaty, skinny men in spandex aren’t everyone’s idea of fun, but add a bicycle and a large European country for them to race around and you’ve got a popular sporting spectacle on your hands. At least that’s what In-Fusion is hoping as it launches the official Tour de France game for mobile phones.

Taking in all 21 stages of le Tour, the game is a sideways-scrolling 2D racer that replicates pretty closely the variety of time trials that make up the four-week long event. The individual time-trial is an honest-to-goodness competition to be the fastest cyclist, balancing your stamina and energy levels while maintaining a rapid pace; the team trials rely on working with your three team-mates; the classic stages are the chances for sprint specialists to shine; and the mountain stages test your endurance to the limit. Effects such as slipstreaming and taking turns at the front of the pack are all included and should keep Tour aficionados and cycling buffs happy, while retaining a sense of fun and simplicity to make it a mobile success. It’s available now.