I would call myself a part-time watcher of the Tour de France; I watch the 30-minute highlights when the race is on. Hence, when the Tour de France 2026 from developer Cyanide Studios came up for review, I was intrigued by how it would convert into a Steam game. From publisher Nacon, Tour de France 2026 is listed on their page as “Take on the best International cyclists with one goal in mind: Winning Tour de France 2026”. Let’s see how this iconic race ports into a video game.

Loading in, you are advised that you must have a controller to play; there is no keyboard support on PC. You then have four different difficulty settings you can choose from: Amateur – All riders can win regardless of stats, Professional – Difficulty that will suit most players, Champion – Seasoned players who like to use long-term strategy and Legend – For those who like to suffer. You also have a few different game modes: Race, Club Tour, Pro Team and Pro Leaders. The tutorial is very detailed and covers the essentials for learning the game, as it is quite technical.

Make no mistake, this is a strategy and simulation game; it is all about managing your fatigue, energy, weather conditions, and team position to ensure you have the speed you need when you need it. You have an energy and cadence bar on the right of the screen showing you all this information. It shows how much effort and energy you have, your current position, weather conditions, and your current speed. The top left shows the remaining distance in the race and the times of yourself and the riders around you, so you are constantly surrounded by information to help you plan and execute your next move.

There is a handy automated cadence feature, like cruise control in a car, that keeps you going at the same speed, since some of these races are long! I did find the braking and not pedalling janky; it basically made you come to a complete stop, which, for me, is a bit odd, as a bike should still keep moving after you stop pedalling. I also found the bikes very rigid; there was no back wheel slipping out or front wheel turning; it really felt like you were on a solid bit of metal that just went straight. There was also little to no consequence for bumping into other rides, which I understand could be hard to model in such a large pack of riders.

This year’s title features dynamic weather, and the wind and rain certainly increase the dangers and the energy required as you pedal along. With dynamic weather, cold-weather gear has also been added, along with jackets, which incur a stamina penalty when caught in the wind. It’s these small details that Nacon have refined over the numerous cycling titles they have released. You can also race with your friends, with multiplayer available for up to six people in a session.

Even if you are playing single-player, the AI is quite intelligent, knowing when to attack and also fighting fatigue when climbing mountains and during hotter days, so don’t think they have unlimited energy levels; it’s a game of chess, and that’s what keeps it interesting. With over 100 playable racers across all the different locations, it’s not just the Tour de France. Singleplayer takes a whole new level as you can control the whole team of seven riders as well, planning your strategy and keeping your lead rider fresh for that sprint to the line.

The level of detail in the map really shines through with the Unreal Engine. The cities and mountains you ride through aren’t just there as a place holder; they are there to take your breath away. From the crowds cheering and waving their flags to the dark forest, open farms, and wildflowers all over the ground, it is visually stunning and really adds to the immersion, making you feel like you are actually there. You will see real landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, all the real teams’ jerseys, and real bikes as well, making the Tour de France 2026 game a true simulation.

The title is equipped with FMOD, so you know the sound will be on point. The commentary, the first time around, is engaging and accurate, but it feels like it just keeps repeating as you continue on through the races. Like all sports games, there isn’t an unlimited amount of vocabulary you can put into a game. As you are going along in the pack, you can hear the bike chains turning, the wind noise getting louder the faster you go, and the spectators yelling as you go by.

Overall, the Tour de France 2026 game is really for the cycling enthusiast who thrives on the technical and tactical nature of bike racing. The game is visually stunning, and you can really get lost in the beauty as you are pedalling along. The AI, from all reports, has been improved over previous titles, making it unpredictable and a real challenge, whether you are playing single-player or multiplayer. With the length of the races and the need to constantly monitor the weather and tactics, you will have hours of enjoyment in this title.

Written by: Mike Bridge