In a gaming market saturated with "Shooters, Racers, and FIFA" (the holy trinity of guns, cars, and balls), bicycle racing has always been a bit of a niche track. You might have heard of the ultra-hardcore Pro Cycling Manager, or the annual release of Tour de France.

But today, I want to talk about Cycling Champion. It’s something special. It doesn't have the hair-pulling spreadsheet management of the former, nor is it as mindless as some mobile tapping games.

After spending several hours deep-diving into the gameplay, I’ve put together this laid-back review to tell you why it’s worth your time.

First Impressions: Not Just a "Pedaling Simulator"

When I first booted up Cycling Champion, I didn't have high expectations. As a gamer who has played countless titles, I know that many indie games tagged with "Simulator" often suffer from terrible physics—feeling like you're skating on ice or driving a tank.

However, the first thing that struck me was the handling. The physics engine is actually solid.

The art style leans towards realistic but bright, avoiding the trap of forcing "AAA lighting" that kills performance. Instead, the game maintains a high frame rate, which is crucial for a racing game. When you control your rider around a winding mountain pass, the feedback of centrifugal force and tire grip is palpable. Even though it's through a screen, combined with the controller vibration, you can genuinely feel the "Speed and Passion.

Many competitors ignore environmental audio, but Cycling Champion nails the wind noise. When you are tucking behind another rider, the wind quiets down; the moment you break away to sprint, the wind noise explodes in your ears. It’s a detail that anyone who rides a bike in real life will immediately appreciate."

The core mechanism of this game boils down to two things: Stamina Management and Drafting Strategies.1. Your Stamina Bar is Your Health Bar

There is a very prominent stamina gauge at the top of the interface. When you climb, sprint, or ride into a headwind, that bar drops like a rock. Once your stamina is depleted, your character enters a "Bonking" state (a real cycling term for hitting the wall), and your speed instantly drops to a crawl. The despair of seeing the finish line right in front of you but being unable to pedal is recreated with painful accuracy.

2. "Wheel Suckers" Are the Real Winners

In real cycling, the guy at the front is working the hardest because he is fighting the wind resistance. In Cycling Champion, if you want to win, you have to be a "Tactical Opportunist" (or as we say in gaming, a camper).

By sticking closely to the rear wheel of the opponent in front of you, you'll notice your stamina consumption drops significantly. This mechanism forces you to constantly watch the movement of the Peloton. When do you draft? When do you seize the opportunity to move up? When do you launch an attack on a climb?

It’s not just cycling; it’s psychological warfare!

I had one match where I spent the entire race "turtling" behind the second-place rider, close enough to see the wrinkles on his jersey. Then, 200 meters from the finish line, I unleashed a full bar of saved stamina for a beautiful rocking sprint, winning by a margin of 0.01 seconds. The monkey-like scream I let out in front of my computer almost made my cat call the police.

Beginner's Guide: 3 Tips to Stop You From rage-Quitting

To prevent you from foaming at the mouth and quitting after 2 minutes like I almost did, here are three pieces of "blood and tears" advice. You might not even find these details on the Wiki.

Tip 1: Don't Brake on Downhills = Tears for Your Family

Although the game encourages speed, inertia is massive on sharp downhill turns. Many newbies love to hold down the accelerator, which usually results in flying over the guardrail—bike and all.

My Experience: Tap the brake before entering the corner and use the "Out-In-Out" racing line principle. This isn't just to avoid crashing; it keeps your exit speed high.

Tip 2: Water Bottles Are Not Just Decorations

There are feed zones in the game. Many players skip them to save time. Big mistake!

When you grab a water bottle, you get a small stamina recovery. In long stages (especially mountain stages), missing a bottle basically means declaring "Game Over." Practice the "grabbing water while moving" mechanic. It’s a bit finicky, but practice makes perfect.

Tip 3: Performance > Fashion

When you earn money (prize pool) in the game, do not buy those flashy pink tights first!

Priority:

Frame: Reduces weight, essential for climbing.

Wheels: Improves aerodynamics, saves effort on flats.

Clothes: Last priority. Even if you look like a food delivery guy, as long as the bike is fast, you are the champion.

Where Does It Fit?

As a veteran gamer, I need to objectively evaluate its positioning against the competition.

Vs. Tour de France Series:

Cycling Champion doesn't have a complex team command system. You don't need to order teammates to fetch water or worry about the sponsor's mood. It focuses more on "individual heroism." If you find TdF too tiring or bureaucratic, this game is perfect.

Vs. Zwift (Real Cycling Software):

Okay, Zwift is for fitness; this is for wearing out your thumbs. But Cycling Champion has much more "gamified" track design, including some exaggerated jumps and shortcuts that real simulation software can't offer.

Vs. Descenders:

Descenders focuses on downhill mountain biking and tricks, while Cycling Champion focuses on road racing and strategy. One is an extreme sport; the other is a competitive athletic sport.

If you ask me, is Cycling Champion the Sports Game of the Year? Of course not. But it is relaxing, stress-relieving, and carries just the right amount of competitive cruelty.

If you want to experience the thrill of the peloton, click the link below to give it a try.

🕹 Click here to start playing Cycling Champion