AAVC Tour de France Game Starts on Saturday!

[Laurens De Jong]

Let's all play! 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Pro Cycling Stats no longer allows me to use their data. When I first started this game, manually entering the results was tedious, error-prone, and if results were changed because of relegations, I had to fix that, too. I’m not going back to doing it by hand.  I received a very nice email from the Pro Cycling Stats owner that nonetheless amounted to a firm “no, you cannot use our data for your Tour de France game.” I was able to work around the blocking, which is why I have a start list and the entry form is open.  As a result of this: The work around only works from my desk. Therefore, race reports will be sent out on July 4 and July 5, but no points will be calculated until Monday, July 6. If the work around also gets blocked, I will probably have to abandon the game.

It is time to play the 2026 AAVC Tour de France Game. This year's Tour promises to be a very competitive race. In the sense that we all know that Tadej Pogačar is going to win by a couple of hours, and then behind him will be an assortment of riders who would be champions in any era other than the current one. But okay, for the purpose of our game, the winner isn't important. Who finished 25th in the general classification is just as important.

 

Never played before? TL;DR? Go to the entry form HERE and pick your 18 riders for this year's Tour de France game. If you're concerned about rules, you can find them HERE. Register as soon as possible, preferably before the race starts on July 4. But many of you know that if you're demonstrably honest, I will let you play even if you're late. If you're late and I find your starting list questionable, then I will ask questions.

 

To all the new recruits, and everyone who hasn’t played in the past because they thought you have to be an expert: and to all our friends outside the Ann Arbor Velo Club: just give this game a go. Read the links below and pick 18 riders. Cycling is a team sport, playing this game is a team sport. We all enjoy the outcome, regardless of who wins. The more teams we have, the more we get to follow riders that otherwise would go unnoticed.

 

If you play the game, you'll also receive the daily award*-winning AAVC Stage Reports. If you want to receive those but don't want to actually pick your 18 favorite riders, then you can be added to the mailing list HERE.

 

Helpful links and tips.

The first stage this year is the beloved team time trial. The game awards half points to the riders, but because it's the first stage, those guys will be near the top of the general classification for a while. You should give a little priority to the teams most likely to win the team time trial.

I'm counting seven sprint stages. Maybe. The Tour more than the other Grand Tours specializes in bunch sprints. I'd pick at least four sprinters, maybe more. And pick a few classics specialists while you're at it.

Overall, I'd pick no more than a dozen general classification riders. The challenge with our game is always to balance the day successes with the classifications. Even if my suggestion is off, you do have to find some balance. A team with all general classification riders isn't going to win.

 

Startlist on Pro Cyclist Stats (it’s what I use to create the registration form): https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour--de-France/2026/startlist

 

PCS also uses their own ranking to break down the GC contenders, sprinters, other experts. It can be misleading because past success may not indicate that a rider is peaking for the Tour. Use this as a general guide to start selecting your riders:

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour--de-France/2026/startlist/top-gc-riders

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour--de-France/2026/startlist/sprinters

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Tour--de-France/2026/startlist/tt-specialists

 

The Tour de France is not my favorite Grand Tour, but it is the biggest of the Grand Tours. Finding previews and rider picks online should be easy. But for those who need a hand, here’s a start.

Cycling Stages lists 11 contenders for the overall victory.  Take a look: https://www.cyclingstage.com/tour-de-france-2026-favourites/contenders-tdf-2026/

 

IDL (In De Leiderstrui) has previews for each of the major classifications:

https://www.idlprocycling.com/cycling/tour-de-france-2026-gc-favourites-here-are-tadej-pogacars-main-rivals-3-4-may-shock-you

https://www.idlprocycling.com/cycling/2026-tour-de-france-points-classification-favourites-uci-seeks-broader-shoulders-for-the-green-jersey

https://www.idlprocycling.com/cycling/mountain-classification-preview-who-will-win-the-2026-tour-de-france-polka-dot-jersey

https://www.idlprocycling.com/cycling/2026-tour-de-france-white-jersey-favourites-del-toro-or-seixas-it-might-be-too-close-to-call

They even include a special top 10 fantasy picks: https://www.idlprocycling.com/cycling/fantasy-cycling-players-listen-up-here-are-our-10-fantasy-tips-for-the-2026-tour-de-france

Over on YouTube, Lanterne Rouge does their two-hour preview: https://youtu.be/_fbVBura5Xw

My thought is that if you can't think of 18 riders, make sure you play the game to learn more about pro cycling. Let's all play!

  

Enter your 18 riders using the Google Form HERE as soon as possible. 

 

Allez le Tour!

 

-laurens

 

* No actual award has ever been given.