In the grand tradition of cyling not every hero wears yellow. Some carry bidons. Some pull into the wind. Some sacrifice their own glory so their teammates can shine. Le Domestique is a celebration of those riders — the loyal lieutenants, the road captains, the unsung strategists who make victory possible. This playbook is for them.
The Bidon Blueprint is your guide to tactical decision-making in the heat of virtual racing. Whether you're shielding your sprinter on the flats or pacing your climber up the Alpe, this book offers scenarios inspired by the drama of the peloton and the camaraderie of old-school European cycling. Think of it as your directeur sportif in digital form — minus the yelling from the team car.
Below, you'll find 7 race-day dilemmas that test your team’s coordination, adaptability, and grit. From breakaway gambits to bonus point strategies, each page is a reminder that in Le Domestique, the strongest teams aren’t just fast — they’re united. So grab your bidon, clip in, and let’s ride smart.
Will you go for a full squad with more average vELO scores, or will you select a leader with a high vELO and maybe a domestique less?
Do you help the pack to catch the break away because your front rider will probably come last in that break away? Or do you take the gamble that your break away rider can drop the domestiques and score big? Or do you keep the gap small and use your rider up front as a satelite rider to give a last hero pull after you jumped across?
You have a strong sprinter, but another teammate is feeling confident and wants to launch a solo attack with 3 km to go. Do you commit to a structured lead-out train or gamble on the surprise move?
Your team leader is in the top 5, but several teammates are close behind. Do you slow the leader slightly to allow domestiques to finish within the bonus time window and multiply their points, or push for a podium and risk losing teamwork bonuses?
Your team has a solid plan for the upcoming stage. Do you share your intentions openly to coordinate with other teams (e.g., breakaway cooperation), or keep your cards close and rely on surprise tactics?
One teammate is struggling but could earn valuable bonus points if they finish within the time window. Do you send support riders to pace them, or focus all efforts on your top finisher?
How are your riders coping with power surges? Do you catch the break quickly and try to form a new one with more punchy riders? Or do you time the catch towards the end of the stage so the pace in the peleton is more steady to protect the ones in the team that aren’t good in coping with the change in pace well?