By Jon Wakefield
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the highly anticipated indieVelo Grand Tour, a premier 5-day event that promises to kick start the 2024/25 season on the platform.
Since the introduction of the closed Beta launch on June 3, 2023, indieVelo has continued to impress with ongoing user base growth and the introduction of industry-leading features on a weekly basis.
indieVelo’s advanced physics model elevates virtual racing to a new level of realism. The platform simulates real-world conditions such as cornering, braking, and wind dynamics, requiring riders to strategically manage their speed and positioning during every race.
Thomas Launois, the organizer of the upcoming indieVelo Grand Tour, says, “What really sets indieVelo apart is its commitment to the community. The developer [George Gilbert] listens to user feedback and implements changes with a speed and dedication I’ve never seen before.”
The indieVelo Grand Tour
The indieVelo Grand Tour is a collaborative effort between a group of community organizers motivated to celebrate and showcase the dynamic, tactical, and engaging racing that the platform has to offer.
It was felt that, as we welcome riders back into the 24/25 indoor season, September 25th to September 29th was the right time for this event.
Over the course of five days, participants will compete in six exhilarating stages, including a time-trial prologue and five varied races that challenge riders across different terrains.
Whether you’re a solo competitor or part of a team, this event offers a unique opportunity to discover the platform, showcase your skills, and connect with fellow cycling enthusiasts.
What Does the indieVelo Grand Tour Offer?
The indieVelo Grand Tour has been well-considered and put together, offering an enticing mix of features that make the series accessible to all:
- Flexible Racing: Multiple time slots allow you to participate at your convenience.
- Inclusive: Riders are grouped by ability, ensuring fair competition for everyone. Individual GC categories are in place for Women, <23 and >60 racers.
- Cutting-Edge Platform: indieVelo’s realistic experience makes every ride immersive and exciting.
The Format
For the full race details and course profiles, take a look at the Road Book.
- Wednesday 25th of September
STAGE 1—PROLOGUE: (Individual Time Trial): only stage with NO DRAFT
(and only stage using a single pen).
STAGE 2 (flat): LIGHT WIND ON, Sprint arches: N°2 & Finish line, Climb arches: None
- Thursday 26th of September
STAGE 3 (rolling): Sprint arches: N°3, Climb arches: N°4 & Finish line
- Friday 27th of September
STAGE 4 (flat): Sprint arches: N°2, Climb arches: N°6 & Finish line
- Saturday 28th of September
STAGE 5 (hilly): Sprint arches: N°1, Climb arches: N°2 & Finish line
- Sunday 29th of September
Stage 6 (flat): LIGHT WIND ON, Sprint arches: N°10 & N°15 & Finish line, Climb arches: None
Just so you know: The event also serves as a showcase of what indieVelo can do. Therefore, the organizer intentionally enabled LIGHT wind for Stages 2 and 6.
These two races feature almost circular courses with minimal elevation gain, ensuring that race dynamics and strategies play a more significant role in determining the winners’ times than variations in the wind between slots. However, the inclusion of even light wind is key for demonstrating pack dynamics to new riders, showcasing how wind influences cycling without being overly harsh (even if, again, it’s only LIGHT wind applied, nothing too brutal).
The Classifications
The indieVelo Grand Tour strikes a perfect balance, providing a classification for everyone to target and compete for. These are broken down into:
- Individual General Classification: Race against the clock across all stages to claim the top spot. There is a winner for each of:
- Male (overall)
- Women (overall)
- > 60 year old
- < 23 year old
- Team General Classification: Combine forces with your team; the top 3 riders’ times will determine your ranking.
- Sprinter & Climber Classifications: Earn points at designated arches to dominate the sprint and climb leaderboards.
In stages 2 to 6, riders will be distributed in pens and matched with competitors of similar abilities.
The organizer reserves the option to populate the pens with Bots (AI-driven riders) if some events have a low attendance (to ensure a minimum of 50 riders for everyone). Bots “steal” points at arches for the sprint and climb jerseys, but only human riders will count in the sprint, climb, individual and team GC (based on scratch time).
As an extra touch for the indieVelo Grand Tour, the organizer will award the leaders of each classification with an in-game jersey before the start of each stage.
Entry Requirements For the indieVelo Stage Race
The indieVelo Grand Tour is a “Performance Verification Level 1” event. The designation means that racers need a smart trainer with cadence, a connected heart rate monitor, and properly calibrated equipment to ensure a fair and competitive environment.
indieVelo’s industry-leading built-in Performance Verification system allows the platform to ensure fair racing by automatically removing riders with faulty data or demonstrating inconsistent pedaling behavior from races at any point (live).
How To Get Involved in the indieVelo Stage Race
Since July 1st, 2024, indieVelo is now in Open Public Beta, marking another significant step for the platform.
As a fully open beta, anyone can download it on PC, Mac, Android, or iOS (iPhone and iPad) from https://indieVelo.com/downloads. indieVelo is currently free to use on these platforms. Additionally, there is a “Founders Club” option where, for a subscription fee, you can support the platform’s development and gain access to extra benefits.
An Apple TV version is currently available for Founders Club members only.
For the full race details, classification rules, and links to the events, visit the Road Book.
Registration is open now! Gather your teammates, register for the event, and start planning your strategy. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of the indieVelo Grand Tour—a race that promises to test your limits and deliver unforgettable moments.
Answers to some key questions
The community has already started getting excited about the upcoming indieVelo Grand Tour! Here are answers to common questions asked by the community:
- You don’t need to be part of a team to participate—you can compete as an individual if you prefer.
- Ten time slots are available per day (see the Roadbook for all the sign-up links).
- You can change time slot every day (there is one common GC, gathering all time slots)
- Teammates can ride in separate time slots. Their time will be counted (just more challenging to really play team tactics)
- You can join even for one event (knowing that you won’t get a chance of winning the GC if you don’t do all six races)
Meet the Organizer—Thomas Launois
The indieVelo Grand Tour is a collaboration brought to life by a team of experienced community organizers, with Thomas Launois—known as Totolekoala—leading the charge.
Thomas is a seasoned organizer credited with hosting the weekly “Wednesday Omnium” on indieVelo for over a year (now in its 115th edition).
Launois says, “My journey as an event organizer began as an active member of the “Riders Givrés du Trainer” team. What started as small team events quickly grew into something much bigger—races that attract highly competitive riders from all over the world. It’s the unique nature of indoor cycling that makes this possible, offering a level of global engagement that outdoor events can’t match.”
When asked about his thoughts on indieVelo, he shared that “it offers the perfect blend of accessibility and innovation. I’ve found indieVelo to be unmatched in its ability to support a wide range of race formats (elimination races, point races, time trials, team point races, etc). The platform’s versatility is a game-changer, accommodating both new and old hardware seamlessly, making it free and accessible to everyone.”
“I believe in indieVelo’s vision and development path, which is why I’m passionate about bringing more riders to the platform. The indieVelo Grand Tour is more than just a race—it’s an opportunity to introduce leisure riders to the thrill of competitive racing. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or new to the sport, this event is designed to be both challenging and fun, with something for everyone.”
More Resources to Help You Get Involved
Do you want to experience what indieVelo has to offer? Are you excited to compete in the upcoming indieVelo Grand Tour?
Here are some more links with all the details and ways to engage with the indieVelo community.
For the full race details, classification rules, and links to the events, visit the Road Book.
Facebook: indieVelo Riders & Racers | Facebook
Discord: Join the official indieVelo Discord
Still want to hear more about indieVelo: Virtual Velo Podcast-Ep. 42: indieVelo’s Dr. George Gilbert, Watts Aren’t Watts in the Present and Future of Defining Virtual Sport
Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
Jon is a passionate and dedicated member of the cycling esports community, known for his refreshing positive mindset and a wealth of experience as the principle of Team CLS and partner to an elite-level racer. His commitment and dedication to the development and growth of cycling esports—at all levels—are evident.
The Zommunique is thrilled to have him join its contributor team. His analytical skills, forward-thinking approach, and empathy promise to offer valuable insights and a comprehensive perspective on the sport’s future.
