Granfondo is a tactical cycling board game about positioning, timing, and team coordination in a road race. Each player controls a team of three riders — a Sprinter, Climber, and Rouleur — racing across tracks with flats, climbs, and descents.
The goal is to finish the race in the best possible positions and score the most points based on final placements.
Movement is card-driven. For each rider, players secretly select a movement card. Riders then move in order based on their current positions in the race. Card values determine movement distance, while terrain, drafting, and tactical options influence the final result.
Different terrain types affect riders in specific ways. Climbs limit movement depending on rider type, descents allow faster movement, and curves may impose positioning penalties. Feed zones restore stamina, while obstacles can trigger performance checks.
Each rider has performance points, representing stamina and tactical flexibility. These points determine hand size and can be gained through teamwork, feed zones, or coordinated moves such as the Belgian Rotation, while crashes, obstacles, or difficult terrain may reduce them.
Players can use several tactical options during the race, including multi-card sprints, slipstreaming behind other riders, positional battles for contested spaces, and coordinated team movement. Risky doping cards may provide temporary advantages but can lead to disqualification during the post-race doping control.
When riders cross the finish line, the round is completed and final placement is determined by distance beyond the line. The top three riders are tested for doping, and final points (15–1) determine the winner.
Optional modules introduce additional tactical elements such as crashes, intermediate sprints, rider drafting, team-based Race Alliance play, and Automa opponents for solo or smaller player counts.
The New Challengers expansion increases the player count to six, adds additional race tracks, and introduces the Legends of Granfondo tournament mode.
