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The Tour de France deserves a better video game
The Tour de France is one of the toughest and -- in my opinion -- most exciting sporting events in the world. Every year, close to 200 riders saddle up and race across a 21-stage course that spans over 2,000 miles. Aside from the occasional rest day, it's a non-stop marathon that pushes competitors and their carbon bicycles to the limit. Lung-busting mountain climbs are punctuated with deadly descents and hard-fought sprints. Riders frequently crash, breaking bones and bending bike frames in the process. Only the fittest, smartest and luckiest athletes stand a chance of winning the tour's ultimate prize: the yellow jersey. With this year's race in full swing, I recently decided to try the official video game. My hope was that titles based on so-called "niche" sports -- anything that EA or 2K doesn't publish, essentially -- had improved since the original PlayStation era. As an adolescent, I spent many afternoons sinking hours into terrible cricket and rugby games. (I stand by Jonah Lomu Rugby, however.) By now, surely the industry had moved forward and figured out a way, both economically and technically, to do these smaller sports justice? Not in the case of the Tour de France, unfortunately.
AI will predict key moments at the Tour de France
Machine learning is popping up in a range of different sports, helping to predict everything from athletes' injuries to peak performance levels. Enter the Tour de France -- the world's biggest cycling event, consisting of 198 riders across 22 teams who must traverse a total distance of 3,540 kilometres -- which is utilizing AI for the first time ever during this year's event.
Tour de France will use thermal cameras to spot hidden motors
For decades, the world of cycling has struggled to come to terms with the amount of doping in the sport. Lance Armstrong leads a long list of athletes who have used performance-enhancing substances to win, but in recent years, technology has given rise a new form of cheating: hidden motors. With the world's most famous cycling race just a few days away, Tour de France officials will utilize thermal cameras to detect so-called "mechanical doping," putting would-be cheats on notice.
Here's what it looks like to ride in the Tour de France
The world of sports is actively finding ways to adopt new camera technologies. Namely, to help determine if a ball has crossed the goal line or, why not, to broadcast a player's point of view from a pair of glasses. In the case of the Tour de France, cycling's most celebrated competition, its governing body finally took the plunge and began allowing riders to mount a camera on their bikes. Thanks to that, Le Tour's 2014 edition, which is now at about its halfway point, has been giving us a great, inside look at the experience. Surprisingly, as Gizmodo points out, GoPro seems isn't the main choice for Tour de France teams, which is a bit strange given the popularity of the Hero line of cameras. Instead, most bicycles at the event are equipped with a CM-1000 from Shimano, a large manufacturer of cycling gear. Regardless, this is still a perfect chance to see what it's like inside the Tour de France pack, never mind who's providing the cameras.
Sony recruits sheep to film the Tour de France
When watching a gang of cyclists chase someone in a yellow jersey (aka, the Tour de France) we're used to seeing the action from bike- or car-mounted cameras. But we've all come away disappointed, never truly knowing the tournament from the ovine point of view (some say, the only point of view for cycling). To tackle this, Sony has kitted out a flock of five from Harewell Hall, Harrogate with Action Cams so they can grab grass-roots scenes of the race. The publicity stunt might not result in world-class footage, but it does mean we get to tick "gallery of camera-wearing sheep" off the Engadget bucket list.
Five apps to follow the final stages of the Tour de France
After kicking off at the end of June, the 2,000 mile Tour de France is coming to an end this weekend. These last few days of the tour will take the cyclists into beautiful Versailles and across the finish line in Paris on the Champs-Élysées. Use these five apps below to follow the leaders as they make their way through the final stages of the race. Tour De France 2013, presented by ŠKODA [iOS Universal; Category: Sports; £0.69] Follow all the Tour de France action in the official Tour de France app. This app is available in select European countries. US customers should use the NBC app listed below. If you live in another country, check this list on the official Tour de France website for the local TV broadcasters which will be covering the race. NBC Sports Tour de France Live [iOS Universal; Category: Sports; US$4.99] Watch every stage of the Tour de France live on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Available for cycling fans in the US. CyclingNews Tour Tracker [iOS Universal; Category: Sports; Free] Tour Tracker lets you follow the three major European Grand Tours including the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana (September 2013). Sportal Tour 2013 [iPhone; Category: Sports; Free] Follow the Tour de France for free with Sportal Tour 2013. The app features video highlights of each stage, top 20 results per stage, rider profiles and more. Tour de France 2013 - The Official Game [iOS Universal; Category: Games; $3.99] A game with a single mission -- lead your team to victory by winning the famed yellow jersey at the end of the Tour.
Must See HDTV (July 2nd - 8th)
UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II This weekend Chael Sonnen gets his wish. Most of our wishes don't include being locked in a cage with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, but it's the only way for Sonnen to take the belt he's been chasing for the last few years, including a loss in their first title fight in 2010. While we'll be interested to see if the "best fighter on the planet" Silva can extend his 14-fight winning streak, that's not the only fight on the card as Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin square off for the third time as light heavyweights. Plus, unlike other sports, UFC isn't purely tied to subscription pay-TV, so you can watch on YouTube, Roku, Xbox 360, PC or mobile device if you'd like. Check out a video preview for the fight embedded after the break. (July 7th, PPV, 10PM ET) Tour de France Cycling's biggest race is going on all month on Versus, oops, we mean NBC Sports Network / NBC. While we usually try to avoid getting up early for anything other than Formula 1, fans of the sport can get their stage action at 8AM daily (with a few exceptions). Epic hillclimbs, peloton crashes, inevitable accusations of doping, what's not to love? (All week, NBC Sports Network / NBC) Wimbledon Completing the sports trifecta for this week's highlights, Wimbledon action continues after the early rounds last week. Also broadcasting from Europe, Wimbledon is bringing a morning and daytime schedule finishing up with the men's and women's finals on Saturday and Sunday. ESPN has locked up the entire schedule and will be broadcasting it live, including on ESPN 3D. (All week, ESPN / ESPN 3D)
Google Maps-powered training bike simulates Tour de France, refuses to speak English
Poor France. The nation known mostly for its food and wine only has a few major sporting events to call its own, yet we -- great, fat and lazy America -- have pwned its most iconic one for seven years. That legacy could still live on -- if you don't mind shelling out $1299 and sweating all over your living room floor, that is. Powered by Google Maps and touted as the official trainer of Le Tour de France, comes a Pro-Form training bike so hardcore, it even simulates potholes. Ok, we made that last part up, but it does allow you to feel the burn of 24 pre-set courses, or one of your own punishing design. For the ultra-committed indoor enthusiast, there's also Intelligent Wind Resistance and a 20 percent incline / decline feature that'll match the ups and downs of real life outdoor cycling without the hassle of the actual outdoors. Honestly, it's a bit much and we can't really see this thing taking off with the New Year's Eve resolution set, but if you've always wanted that biker's derriere, this is your trainer.
Pro Cycling Manager gives gamers "something different"
Focus Home Interactive and Cyanide revealed a new game today, offering "something different" for PSP gamers. Pro Cycling/Tour de France 2007 is heading to both PC and PSP, and will offer players all the fun of ... bicycling. Yes. From the press release:"The PSP™ version is being specifically designed to take advantage of the features of Sony's® PlayStation Portable handheld system. The real-time simulation aspect of the game is enhanced and the game sets a faster pace than its PC brother. With careers lasting up to five seasons, unique gameplay modes which include time trials, sprints and optimized race lengths, Pro Cycling/Tour de France 2007 on PSP is a lean, mean portable dream. Players and cycling fans will love the 20 official teams and their star cyclists, and will experience the most thrilling Tour de France ever, available for the first time on PSP!"While I can't personally say I'm excited, it certainly does provide something different for PSP players.
Dekra D-Drive bike trades the chain for direct-drive
Anyone who's ever gotten clothing caught in their bicycle gears and been sent tumbling to the ground with a shredded pant leg will surely appreciate a new bike that ditches the derailleur in favor of a safer, cleaner, lower-maintenance direct-drive system. Just introduced Stateside by importer Dynacraft, the Dekra D-Drive bike uses a drive shaft to transfer power from your pedal-pumping legs to the back wheel, and includes a fully enclosed bevel gear system from Shimano to ease your load on those uphill climbs. Of course, with only three gears (changeable through a twist of the handlebar), this model will never be seen cruising victoriously down the cobbled surface of the Champs-Elysées at the end of a Tour de France, but at $300 it seems like a reasonably-priced way to roll around town hassle-free.[Via Gizmag]
