It’s a lot of strategy without a bunch of complicated rules, and the simple variance in the track width shows off the versatility of the system. Your shipment will include a packaging list which will be your receipt and act as possible proof of warranty.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. The Breakaway variant adds a bidding round that allows you to break out ahead of the pack at the start of the race. Another new feature is an opening breakaway: an opportunity for two riders to start the game several spaces ahead of the pack. However, if you win the bid you have to discard your cards from the game and replace them with exhaustion cards.

In case you want the bigger crowd but don’t have 6 players, Peloton includes rules for NPC players, with two variants on how the teams are driven. Finally, there is a variant that allows up to 12 players by everyone just controlling one rider each without teams. Sometimes there will be more players and the ability to accommodate them is something that will get Flamme Rouge more table time. It offers a chase group of four riders (pink and white rouleurs and sprinters), enabling the base game to be played with up to 6 players.

Representing the narrow streets of European villages, these track sections are mostly only a single lane wide with extra spaces dotted here or there, tempting you AND EVERYONE ELSE APPARENTLY to aim for them. There are supply zone tiles and a bonus tile which provide a minimum speed of 4 and still allow for slipstreaming. It's an expensive proposition, one benefiting those farther back in the pack and, as with most of Flamme Rouge, it's a subtle advantage. Still, be aware it’s an option, especially if you really enjoy the game and don’t have a lot of opportunities to play with a group.And as the racers pass the Flamme Rouge it is clear the Peloton is working hard to reel in the small breakaway that has formed!

It should probably go without saying that you should also not stack a mess of hills and cobblestones together. Let’s assume you’re familiar with Flamme Rouge, and you’re here to see if the expansion is worth adding to the mix.Arguably, it’s worse to get stuck at the rear of the pack in these larger games; on the other hand, I’ve seen people gain 3 or 4 spaces via slipstreaming more frequently, so there you have it. Since play is simultaneous, adding 2 more people hardly extends the length of the game, although it does make the outcome of each round harder to predict. With 5-6 players, two riders get the boost and that gives you someone to work off of, but more than likely you’re going to be utilizing the jump start to get rid of low cards early while staying near the front of the pack.