On the virtual path of suffering with "Tour de France 2018 - Pro Cycling Manager"
6.7.2018
Translation: machine translated
At the beginning of July, the Tour de France, the most famous national tour of the racing bike scene, enters its 105th round. Cyanide and Focus are once again bringing the legendary Grand Boucle to PCs and consoles this year. Find out what the simulated exertions feel like here.
The world-famous cycling race is the cycling event par excellence. The 3,329 kilometres, spread over 21 stages, lead the professionals right across France. The two French studios Cyanide and Focus are teaming up again in 2018 and released "Tour de France 2018 - Pro Cycling Manager" at the end of June. A cycling simulation series that aims to go into ever greater detail and get closer to reality. From race preparation to the choice of equipment and water carrier: every decision influences your chances of victory. If you make the wrong choice, you have no chance.
Are you still running or are you already pedalling?
Yes, I'm a byte cyclist. Road bikes appeal to me a little more than mountain bikes. Nevertheless, I own both. Not a week goes by without me being on my bike. Whether it's just to reel off kilometres on the roller trainer in front of the TV or in the wild, the natural habitat of the two-wheeler.
More to the point: Yes, I am a gamer - somewhere between a hobby and a frequent player - and a big fan of (sports) simulations. Whether it's Formula 1, football, baseball or cycling: It's games like these that keep me hooked for hours. Manager, strategy or planning modes make my heart beat faster. I love to work out my strategies, put together the perfect line-up in painstaking detail or spend nights tinkering with the best equipment.
I only play the PC version of "Tour de France 2018 - Pro Cycling Manager". This is because the options are too limited on the PS4 and Xbox: you either take control of a single rider at the Tour de France or put together the team of your choice. But what makes the game so appealing for me can only be found on the computer. There you act as a genuine cycling team manager, but you can also control the individual riders on your team at the same time.
The eternal curse of the series
It's a never-ending debate: do annual video game series and sequels make sense, even if there's nothing really new in them? Die-hard fans would answer this question with a resounding "yes", as they buy the game either way. It's similar for me and "FIFA": I'm at the forefront every year, even if there's a disappointment here and there. But "FIFA" and I have a relationship that is difficult to put into words... so this comparison is not really representative.
The Tour de France title from Cyanide and Focus has also been published annually for more than a decade. While in my opinion - I've been playing since 2014 - little to nothing has changed in terms of graphics, I'm more optimistic when it comes to content, modes and features. A lot of time is obviously invested in making things like fatigue, driving physics, race preparation and daily form as realistic as possible. Of course, as soon as the graphics card market revolutionises, the French racing bike series will also become more vivid. But to speak of visual quantum leaps would be presumptuous.
The first impression emphasises this statement: the game has been somewhat improved since 2017. The edges are rounder, the drivers' faces are more recognisable and the animations are smoother. It's still not a graphical masterpiece - but it doesn't have to be for my taste in such a format. Because all the hoopla surrounding the Tour de France circus is very well received by the player.
In terms of visuals, the curse of the series is only partially confirmed, if at all. But what about the content?
What's really in it?
The content hasn't actually changed compared to its predecessor. The same game modes are still available, without any new features. This doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the game either. The important thing is that the career mode is still there. I will go into this in more detail in a moment. In addition to a career as a manager, you can, for example (as on the console version), control a single player in the Tour de France, take part in indoor track races or replay individual monuments such as the Tour of Flanders.
I've never played anything other than the manager career. I played the other modes briefly, yes - but not enough to be able to give a meaningful rating. This year, the developers are said to have focussed primarily on improving the AI through Community feedback and the results of actual races. Spoiler: You'll notice this in the first serious battle. Spoiler #2: Cyanide and Focus have actually succeeded (with a few exceptions) in creating even more realistic racing situations.
On the way to the top
Starting a promising career is anything but quick and easy. At the beginning, you have to choose your team or put one together yourself. If you choose a predefined team, you can opt for a team from the World, Pro Continental or Continental Tour. If you put together your own team, you start in the lowest strength class, the Continental Tour. You can either poach athletes from the professional teams or give free agent riders - riders without a contract - a chance. I prefer the latter, it makes the whole thing more realistic.
You should bear in mind that certain races are mandatory for your team - this becomes increasingly important, especially later in your career. As a World Tour team, you have to bring a group of riders to the start in multi-day tours, cobbled classics and one-day races. You should take this into account when selecting your clique. Of course, transfers are always possible. But for your first team, I recommend at least four climbers and four sprinters - that way you have both mountain and flat stages covered. A cobblestone specialist never hurts either, fill the remaining places with all-rounders or young talents. Twelve riders are enough at the beginning, otherwise it quickly becomes confusing.
Once you've got your squad together, it's time to get down to business. No, you won't be pedalling for a long time yet. First you have to read, process and answer a bunch of emails. This involves preparing each rider for the season, choosing equipment, sponsorship contracts and goals, the team's race calendar, national squad matters, international news and much more. I strongly advise you not to close your eyes and click through. Because preparation is essential for later success. There are no tutorials as such, just a few tips in passing.
The simulation is run on a daily basis, provided there are no races. The simulation stops automatically before a race, unless a matter requires your approval or rejection. You can also take over the coaching of the national team - as in "FIFA" career mode, for example. Injuries, incorrect training methods and exclusion from your favourite competition can throw everything out of kilter, while unexpected successes and leader jerseys can help your riders reach unexpected heights.
Patience is a virtue
For strategy, simulation and reality fanatics like me, the underlying database plays a crucial role. If Chris Froome becomes Kris Frumey, the game immediately flies off my hard drive. The developers have improved a lot in this respect, but the data still leaves a lot to be desired. The first time I bought a game from the Tour de France series, I was bitterly disappointed.
Luckily, fans in numerous forums step into the breach and provide their own databases every year, the so-called "Real Name Databases" and "Expansion Packs". A simple database with the real names, nationalities and abilities of the drivers usually appears on the day of release. Patience is required for detailed expansions with additional route variants (so that the Tour de France - as in real life - does not always pass the exact same places), updated jerseys, sponsors and much more. It often takes three to five weeks for such packages to be ready - depending on how much the game has changed compared to the previous year.
Conclusion
"Tour de France 2018 - Pro Cycling Manager" is still the best cycling simulation on the market. But: The game once again fails to finally crawl out from under the mountain of laurel wreaths from the development phase and explode a bomb. It is true, for example, that breakaway attempts have been toned down somewhat and made more realistic. However, they still lead to success too often, even though they shouldn't. Alternatively, no efforts are made to escape in the first place. One of the many missed opportunities that we Take a Byte hope for every year. The goals that are not adjusted after the race schedule has been set and the drivers' wishes ignored also leave a lot to be desired.
Is the game suitable for beginners who are not familiar with cycle racing? Definitely not. Is it worth buying for cycling aficionados who are new to the series? Yes, but you need a lot of time to familiarise yourself with the game. An effort that was worth it for me in the end. For die-hards, the purchase is a must anyway, while casual players can also confidently get the cheaper but almost identical 2017 version.
In the end, the fun of this game stands and falls with a solid database. If it were only the game developers' database, I would advise you not to buy it. However, since hard-working helpers usually come up with the basics required for the game pass two to three hours after release, this is not a problem.
The digital excursion on a two-wheeler with a competitive character is always worthwhile. Especially as it will certainly not stop at just one ride.
Header image: Toward the sun at high speed: The atmosphere seems more idyllic than it is in real life.
Raphael Knecht
Senior Editor
raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.
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