Granfondo – The Board Game in Brief

We spent the summer holidays playing plenty of games. More specifically: Granfondo, a board game by road cyclists for road cyclists. After a few rounds, it quickly became clear that this wasn't just another board game with a cycling theme. Rather, Granfondo genuinely tries to bring the tactics and dynamics of road racing to the tabletop – and it does this surprisingly well.

If you ride road bikes regularly, you know the typical situations in a road race: when is an attack worth the effort? When is it better to hold back? Who sacrifices themselves as a teammate to get the sprinter into position? And when does a small gap suddenly become a decisive advantage? These are exactly the questions Granfondo poses to its players. Road cycling enthusiast Ralf Vanpey developed the game, which was funded via Gamefound. Rather than focusing on numerous miniatures or spectacular special effects, team tactics, positioning battles and race strategy take centre stage.

Each player manages a team of three specialists: sprinter, climber and rouleur. Each has their own card deck and individual characteristics. The cards you play determine movement around the board; but at the same time you're constantly deciding which cards to save for later race situations.

You don't win with a single breakaway rider. Teamwork is what counts – and that's what sets Granfondo apart from many other racing games. If you burn out your sprinter too early or don't bring your climber to the front in time on the climb, you'll usually pay for it in the final.

What we particularly like is the modular structure. The first games can intentionally be kept simple. All riders start with the same basic rules, letting you focus on card management and how the race unfolds.

Gradually more elements are added: slipstreaming, sprinting, performance management, individual rider abilities and the Belgian corner. This way the game grows with the players instead of overwhelming them with a thick rulebook from the start.

This approach in particular makes Granfondo interesting for families or gaming groups where not everyone regularly plays complex board games.

What struck us right after the first races: Granfondo genuinely feels like road racing.

Of course, a board game is no substitute for a real ride – and yet situations arise that every road cyclist instantly recognises. Suddenly the whole team is working solely to position the sprinter perfectly for the final metres. Another rider uses up their last good cards to keep the field together. On the climb the powerful sprinter loses touch while the climber makes the most of their advantage.

These small tactical decisions are what make each game develop differently. If you just play your strongest cards as early as possible, you'll rarely win. What matters is getting the timing right.

You can tell Granfondo was made by people who understand road racing. Slipstreaming, teamwork, timing and different rider types mesh well together and make many race situations feel remarkably authentic.

What we particularly like is the modular design. Young amateur road cyclists like my daughter can get into the game fairly quickly and unlock increasingly sophisticated tactical options on their way to a pro career. This means the challenge grows with every game.

If you're after an uncomplicated family game for a quick session, you'll probably find simpler alternatives. But if you ride road bikes, enjoy team tactics and are willing to spend a few games getting to grips with the mechanics, Granfondo is an unusual board game that brings the fascination of road racing to the tabletop in a surprisingly compelling way.