Le Tour de France 2009

The Tour de France has always been something of a mystery to me. Last year's tour was the first I gave my full attention, and I was somewhat confused to see it kick off in ol' London town. Had we been invaded, I thought?

This year, it's an entire sweep of Spain that plays host to a section of The Tour, proving that the organisers are just as adaptable as ever.

It's been some time since we've checked out any mobile interpretations of the world's greatest cycle race, perhaps because some failed to adhere to such a vast vision, suffering from an inability to embrace the bold and brash element of the sport.

Extra Live's 2009 Tour is somewhat different. Switching the view around to the back, like the sport itself, this tour is less about merely racing your opponents and more about hustling in the middle of the pack, waiting for your opportunity to strike and seizing it.

That's because each and every single race is governed by one single frailty of humanity: we get tired. With your fitness measured via a gauge at the bottom of the screen, riding fast or peddling up a climb eats into your health, with only periods of rest or the mid-stage drinks refuel building it back up.

Hit rock bottom and your bike will stall to a crawl, each and every rider in the vicinity flying past until you have a chance to build your strength back up.

This makes setting off in each encounter a question of patience. With points on offer for winning quick bursts to sprint lines or topping the climbs along the way, as well as actually winning the stage itself, knowing when to make a dash for the front is key, because rare are the races when leading from the front throughout is a realistic goal.

Instead, positioning yourself so you can break through the ranks and charge if and when you need to is what dominates play. It really is a mental game of chicken.

The actual action behind the cycling is incredibly simple. Tapping '5' on the flat increases your peddle power, while '8' reins it in to recoup some energy. On the climbs, an actual peddling motion is required, switching between '1' and '3' at pace driving you up at speed, but using up more energy as a result. So straightforward are the controls, in fact, that it's the tactics that determine success from failure, rather than the implementation.

And that's just as well, because just like the tour itself Extra Live's Tour de France 2009 is more of a mind game than it is a flat-out sprint. It looks a little plain and isn't exactly bursting with character, but its 21 stages offer variety (not in terms of looks, but in terms of the demands on your ability) and manage to convey the idea of tight, strategic battles that slice their way through the French countryside.

That said, if you're more 'green' than 'green jersey', 2009's Tour isn't especially welcoming. Even on Amateur, Tour de France 2009 doesn't offer many favours. While choosing your targets wisely will be a key part of anyone's game here, it doesn't really affect those around you, who seem to hang in the same packs whatever the race.

It certainly doesn't spoil the party, but there is a slightly sour taste left in the mouth when race leaders, who have done nothing but hammer the peddles from beginning to end, whatever the terrain, fly away from you towards the finish line.

Regardless, even with such Herculean efforts from your rivals, victories are still on the cards, and it's entirely likely you'll find your own style, whether you're indulging the track on a stage by stage basis or jumping straight into the full tour.

Should you try for 'King of the Mountains', or steal the headlines by going for stage win after stage win, or hang on back and creep up the leaderboard for the final run in? It's entirely your choice, and it's just as likely you'll be tempted away from your initial plan mid-stage - when the pack is leaving you for dust, it's very hard to hold back and stick to the long-game.

But those who stick with Le Tour de France 2009 will find it hard to put down, whether they're wearing the yellow jersey or floundering in everyone's shadow. On this form, the French can invade any time they like.