Spanish turbo trainer specialist Bkool is ‘giving fans and riders from all over the world the opportunity to test themselves on the same course as the pros, ahead of the action unfolding at the Tour de France this weekend.’
Using the GPX data from the 2018 route, Bkool has uploaded four different stages of cycling’s biggest race to its indoor simulator. This gives riders the opportunity to ‘cycle the route profile and challenge themselves on its iconic climbs and descents in a 3D world.’
Bkool Tour de France – the simulator includes the following stages:
Stage 9 – Arras Citadelle – Roubaix: a stage that won’t decide this year’s Tour but certainly has the chance of ending the hopes of some of the challengers, just as it did for Froome and Contador as they crashed out in 2014.
Stage 12 – Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Alpe d’Huez: the Tour once again returns to the mythical climb of Alpe d’Huez, the famous 21 hairpin bends are bound to create a thrilling experience. Riders can re-live the gruelling 13km and picture the scenes where Pantani stormed clear of Jan Ulrich to set a disputed record time of 37 mins 35 secs.
Stage 17 – Bagnères-de-Luchon – Saint-Lary-Soulan: at 65km this is one of the shortest stages in Tour history, for the first time ever the start line will also be gridded for the top 20 on GC. A thrilling stage is likely to ensue as riders need not worry about saving energy.
Stage 20 – Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle – Espelette 31km TT: a time trial will decide the final general classification before the inevitable procession into Paris. The last the time the Tour had this format Bradley Wiggins led a British one-two as he stormed away with the yellow jersey and in the process became the first Brit to ever take it all the way to Paris.
Bkool will also be running a challenge throughout the month of July, the #TourBkool. On the three Thursdays of the Tour with stages 6, 12 and 18, riders will have the opportunity to compete in multiplayer challenges and will ride at the same time as the pros. All riders that take part in the challenge will be entered into a prize pool and the top 100 are in with a chance of winning a personalised training plan designed by Chema Arguedas.
Bkool is a technology company that creates interactive and innovative solutions for sports and video gaming. In the field of cycling, it has developed an advanced trainer and simulator. The simulator lets cyclists ride routes in a 3D virtual environment alongside other cyclists connected in real time. With the simulator, users can experience the same sensations they would have on the road. Bkool’s 3D World technology ‘simulates any route in the world in 3D and recreates the actual elevation of the terrain and the details in the landscape’.
The company’s 3D Real Weather technology also recreates the weather in real time on any route. Bkool is available in seven languages, including Chinese and Japanese, and distributes its products worldwide.
