Flamme Rouge Peloton Game Rules
Contents
Flamme Rouge Peloton Game Rules
Hey there, welcome to the Flamme Rouge Peloton Game Rules! If you’re curious about how to play the game, you’ve come to the right place. I’m here to guide you through the exciting world of Flamme Rouge.
So, let’s dive in and explore the rules. First things first, let me introduce you to the game.
Flamme Rouge is a thrilling bicycle racing game where 2 to 4 players take on the role of competing teams. Your goal is to race your cyclists through different segments of the track and reach the finish line first.
Now, to start the game, each player will select a team and place their cyclists at the starting line. The track is divided into cards, and each card represents a part of the track. You’ll need to manage your cyclists’ energy levels wisely, as they’ll tire out if you push too hard.
During the race, you’ll use movement cards to control your cyclists. Each movement card has a number on it, representing how far your cyclist can move. The lower the number, the more energy your cyclist will conserve.
But it’s not just about moving forward. You’ll need to navigate the track, which includes challenging terrain and obstacles that can slow you down. It’s all about strategizing and making smart decisions.
When it comes to racing, drafting is an important tactic. Yes, just like in real cycling, you can use the slipstream of other cyclists to gain an advantage. If you position your cyclist behind another cyclist, you’ll benefit from reduced energy consumption.
But be careful, as other players can also use your slipstream. It’s a double-edged sword, so think carefully about your moves.
The race continues until one player’s cyclist crosses the finish line. The player who successfully manages their cyclists’ energy, makes smart moves, and crosses the finish line first wins the game!
Now that you have a good grasp of the rules, it’s time to gather your friends, set up the track, and start your thrilling race in the world of Flamme Rouge Peloton!


- The game includes 2 Player Boards.
- You will find 60 Energy cards in the game.
- There are also 30 Exhaustion cards included.
- The game comes with 6 Stage cards.
- Don’t forget the 2 Reference cards.
- There are 6 Muscle Team cards included in the game.
- Look out for the 2 Peloton Attack! cards.
- The game includes 4 Cyclist Models, with 2 in each color.
- There are 9 Track Tiles included, each double-sided.
- Lastly, the game comes with detailed instructions.
When I first opened the game box, I was surprised by the sheer number of components. Impressively, the game includes two sturdy Player Boards, which provide the foundation for the gameplay.
Inside the box, you’ll also find a total of 60 Energy cards. These cards are crucial for powering your moves and devising clever strategies to outwit your opponents.
In addition to the Energy cards, the game includes 30 Exhaustion cards. These cards represent the physical toll that your cyclist will experience throughout the race, as they push themselves to the absolute limit.
To add depth and variety to the gameplay, the game provides six Stage cards. These cards determine the different stages of the race and present unique challenges and opportunities for the players.
Guiding players through the intricacies of the game are two handy Reference cards. These cards serve as a quick reference guide, providing essential information and clarifying any confusion that may arise.
To spice up the competition, the game features six Muscle Team cards. These cards grant players special abilities, allowing them to gain an edge over their rivals and strategically manipulate the race.
Strategically deploying your cards is vital, and the game includes two Peloton Attack! cards to keep things interesting. These cards introduce unexpected events and shake up the race, forcing players to adapt and think on their feet.
Rounding out the components are four beautifully crafted Cyclist Models. These models, available in two different colors, represent the cyclists in the race and add a delightful visual element to the gameplay.
Providing endless possibilities for track configurations, the game includes nine Track Tiles. These double-sided tiles can be arranged in various ways, offering players diverse racing experiences and ensuring every game feels fresh and exciting.
Lastly, but certainly not least, the game includes a comprehensive set of instructions. These instructions walk you through the rules, mechanics, and strategies, enabling you to dive right into the action and start competing for victory.
With this impressive array of components at your fingertips, get ready to experience the thrill of competitive cycling like never before. The stage is set, the race is about to begin – are you ready to pedal your way to victory?

- When you’re riding, you can pass through other riders, but you can’t stop on them. If a square is already occupied, you have to stop behind it, in the first square with an open lane.
- In this expansion, squares can be different sizes, ranging from just one lane to three lanes wide.
The Bumpy Ride

Did you know that cobblestones are actually track tiles that can be used to create narrower single-lane sections in a stage? It’s pretty interesting, right? Just like ascents in the base game, there is no slipstreaming to or from riders on the cobblestones. Kind of makes you wonder how it all works.
Supply Zones

Supply Zones are special tiles on the track that allow for the creation of wider sections with three lanes. They are like puzzle pieces that can be used to expand the track and add more excitement to the race.
When you enter a Supply Zone during your turn, there is a minimum speed requirement of 4. This means that you cannot slow down too much while inside the Supply Zone. It keeps the action flowing and ensures that the race stays thrilling.

Hey there!
If you have three riders side by side in a Supply Zone, and you all slipstream out of the 3-lane section into a narrower section, let’s move the two riders from the rightmost lanes first. The third rider stays in its original square, but we’ll move it to the rightmost lane.
Now, here’s the important part – if there was another rider behind you three, don’t worry, they stay put. Why? Because there is still one rider in the square right in front of them.
Let’s talk about an exciting variant!
In this cool variant, remember that the second tile of the stage, the one after the Start tile, must always be the Breakaway tile (tile #2). It’s a rule.
If you’re playing with 5-6 players, make sure to use the flamme rouge peloton official rules_3.jpg side. But if you’re playing with 1-4 players, go ahead and use the flamme rouge peloton official rules_9.jpg side. Can’t go wrong with either one!

When it’s time to start the race, all the riders gather in the yellow starting area, just like they always do.
Bidding Phase
In the exciting world of auctions, the bidding phase is where the real action happens. It’s like a thrilling game, where you have the opportunity to become the ultimate winner. But how does it all work? Let me break it down for you.
First, let’s talk about the concept of bidding. Bidding is when you offer a certain amount of money to buy something you desire. In an auction, this is usually done by raising your hand, making a verbal declaration, or simply placing a bid card.
Now, when it comes to auctions, there are different types of bidding. One of the most common ones is called the open ascending bid. In this format, bidders openly compete by increasing the amount of their bids until no one is willing to offer a higher amount.
Another type of bidding is known as sealed bidding. This is a more secretive approach, where bidders submit their bids in a sealed envelope. The highest bid wins, and the amount offered by the winning bidder is kept confidential.
Before engaging in the bidding phase, there are a few important factors to consider. Firstly, you need to set a budget. It’s crucial to determine the maximum amount you are willing to spend to avoid getting caught up in the excitement and exceeding your financial limits.
Secondly, it’s essential to thoroughly research the item or property you are interested in. This will help you make an informed decision and prevent any surprises down the line.
Lastly, during the bidding phase, it’s important to stay calm and composed. The competitive nature of auctions can sometimes lead to a rush of emotions, but it’s essential to keep a clear head and stick to your strategy.
In conclusion, the bidding phase is the heart of any auction. It’s a thrilling experience where you have the chance to claim your desired item or property. Just remember to set a budget, do your research, and stay composed. Happy bidding!

Alright, here’s what you need to do before the race starts. Each one of us has to pick one rider who will try to break away. We’ll go through two bidding rounds to decide who gets to break away. Here’s how it works:
Choose your rider
Pick one of your riders who will try to break away.
Get your cards
Take 4 cards from your chosen rider’s Energy deck.
Play, Recycle, Reveal
Now, choose one card and put it facedown next to your rider’s Energy deck. This card will show your bid value. Put the rest of the cards back in the deck. Then, turn the card you played face up.
Repeat
After that, do steps 2 to 4 again for the second bidding round.
![]() Once we’re done with the breakaway bidding, it’s time to start the race. |
When playing with 5-6 people, the two riders who have the highest total of their energy cards get to be in the breakaway. The rider with the highest bid goes first in the rightmost lane. For games with 2-4 players, only the rider with the highest total of their energy cards goes into the breakaway. If there is a tie in the bids, the rider who is farthest back and leftmost wins the tie.
When a rider is in the breakaway, their played cards are taken out of the game and put back in the box. They also receive 2 Exhaustion cards and recycle them. All the riders who lost the bid recycle the cards they used. Then, all riders shuffle all their recycled cards back into their decks.
Now let’s talk about designing stages.
Hey there, let’s talk about designing your own stages for the expansion! It’s a super fun way to customize your game. But if you’d rather use the pre-built ones, that’s totally cool too. Here are some tips I have for you:
- Try to limit the Ascents and Cobblestone sections to 2 or 3 per stage. It keeps things interesting without going overboard.
- Make sure not to place a Supply Zone tile next to the Finish tile. It can mess with the flow of the race.
- A stage should have 9 straight tiles, mixed in with the sharp and soft turns. And remember, for every expansion tile you add, take out a base game straight tile.
- If you’re designing a stage for 5 or 6 players, be sure to add the Bonus tile (tile #9) without removing a straight tile. And make use of both Supply Zones.
Meet the Dummy Teams
There are two types of dummy teams you can add to your game:
First, we have the Peloton Team. They’re a solid choice for practicing different strategies and testing out new moves.
The Peloton Team

- There’s only one Peloton Team.
- You and I are taking riders of the same color. Take the Attack! cards and add them to the Rouleur deck of the same color. Shuffle the deck and put it aside.
- The Peloton team always starts in the yellow area before us. Put the riders one after another, as far ahead as possible.

- If we’re playing the Breakaway variant, the Peloton team doesn’t bid for the breakaway.
During the Movement phase, after the human players have made their choices and flipped their cards, it’s time to deal with the Peloton Team. You and I will flip one card for them. Then, we move both riders according to the number of spaces shown on the card, following the regular order of the Movement phase.
Oh, and if we happen to flip an Attack! card, things get interesting. The frontmost rider in the Peloton Team moves forward by 2 spaces, while the backmost rider goes ahead by a whopping 9 spaces!
Now, here’s an important thing to remember: the Peloton Team never gets Exhaustion cards. It’s like they have a secret power that keeps them going without getting tired.
Moving on, let’s talk about the Muscle Team. This is where things can get really exciting. Unlike the Peloton Team, there can be multiple Muscle Teams. It’s like having a whole bunch of strong and powerful riders working together.
That’s the lowdown on how to deal with the Peloton and Muscle Teams during the Movement phase. It’s all about strategic moves and making the most of each card flip. Trust me, this game is full of surprises!
Okay, here’s my take on it:
When setting up the game, here’s what you need to do:
- Choose all the riders of the same color and take their two decks of cards in the matching color. Take 1 Muscle
card and add it to the Sprinteur’s deck. Shuffle both decks well, and put them to the side. - The Muscle teams always start by placing their riders in the yellow starting area. Put the Sprinteur in front of the Rouleur, as far forward as you can.

- If you’re playing with the Breakaway variant, the Muscle teams don’t need to bid for the breakaway.
- Muscle Teams never have to take Exhaustion cards.
- After the human players have made their choices and revealed their cards, it’s time for the Muscle Teams to reveal their cards too. Flip the top card of each rider’s deck and move the riders the number of spaces shown, just like normal.
When you play with both Peloton and Muscle Teams
- Start by placing the Peloton Team first.
Solo Game
If you’re playing alone, I suggest adding one Peloton Team and one Muscle Team. Once you’ve got the hang of it, feel free to include more Muscle Teams if you want.
You begin with 3 Exhaustion cards, which you can distribute between your two riders however you like. If you want to make it harder, simply add more Exhaustion cards at the start.
The designer’s record for winning a stage is starting with 6 Exhaustion cards.
Two Player Variant
If you’re playing with two people and using Dummy Teams, I recommend starting with a Peloton Team. If you enjoy it, consider using a Muscle Team instead of or along with the Peloton Team.
If you want to add multiple Dummy Teams to the game, make sure each player takes charge of a Dummy Team. This way, the game will continue at a fast pace.
More than 6 Players
Every player on their own!
You are a diverse group of riders who have formed a breakaway with only 5-7 km left in the race. The peloton is far behind, unable to catch up, and no one has teammates to rely on. In this race, everyone is on their own. May luck be on your side!
This variation can be played with up to 12 players. It is a great way to enhance your understanding of Sprinteur and Rouleur tactics when managing just one rider. It’s recommended to play this variant after you have a few games under your belt.

- Don’t use the Player Boards.
- The youngest player chooses a single rider and puts it in the starting position, following the rules of the main game. Then each player takes turns clockwise placing their rider.
- Each player gets their own Energy deck for their rider and uses it during the race.
- If there are more than 6 players, it’s a good idea to use the breakaway variant. Use the 2 side of the Breakaway tile. Since each player only has one rider, they choose that rider during the Bidding Phase.
