Gildas’s Game: Bet on the Best Nations of the Tour with Pride

A friendly and strategic competition

The principle of the game, born in 2015 with only two initial participants, Gildas and Sasha, who is the other contributor to the project, is as simple as it is ingenious: each participant must choose, before 1 PM, the nation (represented by a flag) they believe will be the best represented at the finish of each stage. Points are awarded according to the stage ranking: 10 points for the winner, 9 points for second place, and so on down to tenth, with the possibility of accumulating points if several riders from the chosen nation are in the top 10.

To spice up the game, it is forbidden to bet on the same flag for two consecutive stages. Each player also has a joker day where they can choose two flags, thus accumulating points from both nations. Furthermore, it is mandatory to bet on at least seven different nations throughout the Tour.

Rankings and new features every year

Each year, new flag bettors are invited by Gildas to join the Messenger group, and since 2021, for example, an additional green jersey ranking has even been introduced, based solely on the flag of the stage winner, adding an extra dimension to the participants’ strategy. On the first rest day, after the 9th stage, each participant must choose a flag for the final general classification. Points are then awarded in the same way as a classic stage: 10 points for the Tour winner, 1 point for tenth place, etc.

A brotherhood within the virtual peloton

Beyond the competition, this game has created a true brotherhood within the group. Gildas, a true ace of statistics and Excel file mastery, is also a fantastic host. Every day, he comments on the bets and results in the style of Daniel Mangeas, bringing a unique and immersive atmosphere to the Messenger group. His analyses and passionate comments immerse participants completely, where emotions are as vivid as those of the riders on the road.

The enthusiasm around this game quickly attracted the attention of 3bikes, which joined this virtual peloton in 2017. This presence helped to better understand the immersion and the inside aspect of the game, where participants feel fully engaged, experiencing the same emotions as the riders and the most passionate spectators.

Unrivaled conviviality

On 3bikes.fr, we are convinced that this project would be phenomenally successful if it were more widely known. However, we are not sure that the popularity and broader development of this game with many more bettors is the goal, given how pleasant the conviviality that reigns there is. Gildas’s game is not just a friendly competition based on national performances; it is also a vector of conviviality and brotherhood. Each bet, each comment, each stage strengthens the bonds between participants, creating a unique and memorable experience.

So, ready to make your choices? Join this virtual peloton and dive into the exciting world of the Tour de France. With such enthusiasm and conviviality, there is no doubt that you would quickly be won over by this friendly competition which, we are sure, could appeal far beyond this group of twenty friends.