It takes a bold developer to tackle long-distance cycling as a subject matter. Arduous uphill climbs and hours in the peloton simply aren’t obvious elements for enthralling gameplay. But despite the challenges, Cyanide has crafted a surprisingly captivating game with Tour de France 2015, by offering a winning blend of strategy and racing.

Asking the player to take teams through the titular contest’s stages, the experience swings between flashes of intensity akin to those in the most sincere and realistic motor racing titles and peculiarly meditative, protracted stretches of drifting through rural France.

The cycling itself is action-oriented and accessible, where a focus on energy management over hogging first place offers a really distinct racing experience. Strategy and depth, meanwhile, are introduced through an intuitive system for commanding team-mates and hopping between riders.

Unlikely to convert non-cyclists, Tour de France 2015 is admittedly unadventurous in presentation and staid in character, but it proves understated gameplay need not come at the expense of immersion.