Tour Prime

The Tour Prime is the most prestigious cycling race in Magnus Prime, attracting elite riders from across the continent. First held in the 480s, it has become a gruelling test of endurance, strategy, and adaptability. The race spans three different countries each year, with seven stages in each. Riders must navigate mountain climbs, sprints, and time trials, requiring both physical endurance and tactical expertise.

Race Structure & Format

Stages & Duration

• The Tour Prime consists of 21 stages over 23 days for the male divisions, with two designated rest days.
• The female divisions compete over 12 stages in 15 days, with three rest days.
• Rest days allow riders to recover, receive medical treatment, and prepare for the next stages.
• Each stage varies in difficulty, featuring flat sprints, rolling hills, steep mountain climbs, and time trials.
• The race moves between three different countries each year, selected from Favont, Marwor, Torelund, Hetela, Peren, Perth, Malagal, Midden, Thelran, Thaxted, Tolpanco, Helwar, and Etoroth.
• No country hosts the race in consecutive years, ensuring a constantly evolving route and new challenges.

Stage Types

• Flat Stages: High-speed sections suited to sprinters, often resulting in dramatic finishes.
• Hilly Stages: Unpredictable terrain favouring all-rounders and breakaway specialists.
• Mountain Stages: The toughest test of endurance, with punishing ascents that often determine the overall winner.
• Time Trials: Individual races against the clock, demanding precision, speed, and efficiency.

Competition Categories

• Magi Division: Open only to Magi. Riders can adjust their bike’s configuration before and during the race through an integrated HUD, making strategy and innovation key factors.
• Human Division: Open only to humans. Success depends entirely on physical endurance, race strategy, and teamwork.

Teams & Participation

• Each division features 20-22 teams, with eight riders per team.
• Slaves (helots) cannot compete but work in team support roles, handling supplies, equipment, and race logistics.
• Team success often depends on race control, protecting key riders, setting the pace, and managing breakaways.

History & Origins

Competitive cycling in Magnus Prime dates back to the 450s, when Magi first experimented with self-designed bicycles. These early races were informal, focused more on testing their inventions than structured competition. By the 480s, organised races had become widespread, leading to the official founding of the Tour Prime.

For over 200 years, the race remained exclusive to Magi, as bicycles were designed specifically for their use, requiring aetheric integration. However, during the Age of Enlightenment, the rise of the middle class and advancements in industrial technology increased human interest in recreational vehicles. By 710, the Tour Prime introduced a human division, allowing non-Magi to compete for the first time. The event expanded to include separate competitions for Magi and human riders, solidifying the race’s modern structure.

Divisions

The Tour Prime consists of four divisions, each crowning its own champion. While all winners are recognised, prestige, sponsorship, and viewership vary based on the race hierarchy of Magnus Prime.

Magi Men’s Division

• The premier event, attracting the highest sponsorships, investment, and media coverage.
• Riders use aetheric adjustments to fine-tune their performance before and during the race, making it a highly strategic competition.
• Winning this division is considered the greatest cycling achievement in Magnus Prime.

Magi Women’s Division

• Respected but positioned below the men’s division in status.
• Considered a technical rather than physically dominant competition.
• Receives steady sponsorship and media coverage, but significantly less than the men’s event.

Human Men’s Division

• The most popular event among human spectators, showcasing endurance and tactical racing.
• Lacks the magical element of the Magi divisions, relying purely on physical ability and strategy.
• Well-supported by human sponsors but still receives less coverage than Magi races.

Human Women’s Division

• The least-funded and least-publicised race, with minimal sponsorship and media attention.
• Teams operate with limited resources, making competition more challenging.
• Rarely discussed outside dedicated cycling circles.

Notable Stages & Challenges

While the route changes each year, certain locations are regularly included due to their difficulty and reputation. These stages often influence the overall race standings:

• Mount Narou (Peren): A demanding climb with steep gradients and unpredictable weather. The high altitude and rough terrain force riders to manage their energy carefully.
• Eldid Time Trial (Marwor): A technical course through Eldid’s narrow streets, requiring precise handling and speed control. Riders must navigate sharp turns and uneven surfaces with no room for recovery from mistakes.
• Helwar–Etoroth Ultra Stage: A long-distance stage featuring open terrain and strong crosswinds. Without natural shelter, riders must carefully balance endurance and speed to avoid exhaustion before the final push.

Rider Strategy & Team Roles

Success in the Tour Prime is not solely about individual strength. Teams operate with clear objectives, whether aiming for overall victory, stage wins, or supporting a lead rider’s campaign.

Field Adjustor Management

Riders regulate propulsion and effort through their field adjustors. Adjustments control energy efficiency, with lower settings aiding climbs by preventing unnecessary exertion, and higher settings optimising speed on flat roads and descents. Effective management of field adjustors is crucial for sustaining performance across the race.

Team Dynamics

• Lead Rider: The contender for overall victory. The team's primary objective is to position and protect them throughout the race.
• Domestiques: Support riders who manage race tempo, shield the lead from wind, and react to rival moves. Their success is measured by how well they assist the team.
• Climbers & Sprinters: Specialists who target specific stages—climbers excel in mountainous terrain, while sprinters conserve energy for high-speed finishes.

Cultural Impact & Spectatorship

The Tour Prime is more than a race—it is a continent-wide event that fosters national pride. Each year, host countries experience a surge in tourism, as cities and rural regions transform into festival zones. Markets, parades, and cultural exhibitions accompany the competition, making it a centrepiece of national and regional identity.

Millions follow the race through live broadcasts, with public squares filling with spectators and dedicated fans lining the roadsides. Extensive media coverage ensures every stage, from the grueling mountain climbs to the final sprint, is closely analysed, reinforcing the event’s prestige.

Beyond sport, the Tour Prime is a major commercial enterprise. Sponsorships, endorsements, and merchandise form a thriving industry, with businesses competing for association with the event. Its financial impact is substantial, benefiting businesses, cities, and entire nations, solidifying its role as the most celebrated cycling competition in Magnus Prime.

Controversies & Scandals

As with any major sporting event, the Tour Prime has faced its share of controversy. Some of the most notable scandals include:

Doping & Performance Enhancement

Several riders have been caught using performance-enhancing substances, but the most infamous case came in the late 800s when a top-ranked competitor was found guilty of blood doping. This resulted in a lifetime ban and a complete overhaul of testing regulations. Today, strict biological monitoring is in place to ensure all competitors comply with anti-doping measures.

Aetheric Manipulation & Equipment Fraud

Aetho-magnetic technology is strictly regulated, with all bicycles limited to a single quartz crystal containing Grade 3 aether—the lowest viable grade. However, some riders have attempted to cheat by installing higher-grade crystals or concealed quartz reserves, giving them an unfair advantage by enhancing propulsion efficiency and reducing exertion.

To combat this, officials conduct rigorous pre-race inspections and random checks. Advanced scanning techniques now detect unauthorised modifications, and those caught face disqualification, bans, and public disgrace.

Team Manipulation & Bribery

Collusion between teams has been an ongoing issue, with secret agreements made to influence race results. Some teams have been caught blocking rival riders, influencing breakaways, or allowing a particular competitor to win in exchange for future advantages. While difficult to prove, officials have increased scrutiny, issuing severe penalties for those found guilty of race manipulation.

Legacy of the Tour Prime

For centuries, the Tour Prime has been the pinnacle of endurance, strategy, and competition. Whether Magi or human, winning this race is one of the highest honours in cycling. With its ever-changing routes, unpredictable challenges, and passionate fanbase, the Tour Prime remains the most prestigious and demanding race in Magnus Prime.

Recent Winners & Host Countries