The Dawn of an Idea

Father Donvil creates a game with cycling figures for his four sons.

Team colors are updated every year.

The Tour De France becomes the ultimate vacation game.

Photo from 1969 in Salou.

From Concept to Publication

In the 1990s, Dirk Donvil further developed the game and explored publication options.

 

Brand X Games from Leuven offers the possibility to publish the game if a sponsor is found.

 

1999: Daikin Europe becomes a new sponsor in cycling and uses the game as a promotional item and corporate gift.


A lottery version was released in 2002.


Photo: Dirk's parents present a copy to the great champion Eddy Merckx.

The Idea of "Koers Tegen Kanker" : Racing Against Cancer

15 years later, Dirk starts thinking about an improved new version of Cyclo The Game.

But cancer strikes. In 2015, Dirk loses his father, in 2018 his mother, and in 2019 he himself is diagnosed with cancer. During chemotherapy, Dirk's wife is diagnosed with breast cancer. Sister-in-law Lut passes away in 2020.

The idea to fight back takes shape.

March 2024: Dirk meets Kris Debruyne, and together they begin to work on the project to use the game and, with the help of partners, publish it and use the sales proceeds for the fight against cancer. When KBC supports the idea, the wheels start turning, and contact is made with producer Art Of Games. The non-profit organization Racing Against Cancer is founded together with Koen Albers, and the redesign of Cyclo The Game starts.