The Tour de France peloton’s fast twitch merchants may be denied the chance to sprint in Paris this year, but don’t worry, you might just be able to take their place (Confused? Bear with me for a moment).
Because Sir Mark Cavendish – who no doubt would have been chucking helmets and banging the door of the team bus in frustration at ASO’s decision to add the Montmartre climb to the Tour’s traditional Champs-Élysées finale this year – has decided to spend his first Paris stage post-retirement riding his bike with members of his adoring public.
Yes, that’s right. The Manx Missile, who bowed out of the sport following his record-breaking 35th Tour stage win last summer, will be hosting a meet-and-greet and “cycling masterclass” before the race’s grand finale in Paris, inside the capital’s iconic Grand Palais, which the bunch passed through back in 2017.
And before you jump in to complain that one of Britain’s greatest sporting stars is already pandering to the champagne-swilling one percenters with exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, complete with suitably eyewatering prices, here’s the twist: it’s completely free.
Cav’s Grand Palais meet-up will instead come courtesy of ‘holidaying in someone’s garage’ specialists Airbnb, who have teamed up with the Tour to offer a series (or “collection”, as the marketing people like to call it) of unique experiences offering fans behind-the-scenes access to cycling’s biggest race.
The Tour’s Airbnb Experiences will also include a tour of the commentary box with former yellow jersey wearer and gurner-in-chief Thomas Voeckler, a rest day ride with former pro and Unchained talking head Steve Chainel, a stage watch-a-long with former AG2R manager Vincent Lavenu, and even the chance to create your own jersey with Santini’s creative director.
But it’s safe to say, without any bias whatsoever, that Cavendish is the star of the show. The two-and-a-half-hour experience, which will take place on 26 July, the evening before the Tour’s final stage, will see fans meet Cavendish outside the Grand Palais, where the 40-year-old will share stories and personal memories from his career.
Everyone will then, oddly enough, hop on turbo trainers for a warmup and power challenge, with the Manx Missile pencilled in to give tips on “overcoming personal limits”.
After warming up, Cav will ride alongside everyone on a very short finishing straight inside the famous glass-roofed exhibition centre, built for the 1900 Paris Exposition, and the scene of a brief, extravagant detour during the 2017 Tour’s final processional stage.
Photo op of you beating cycling’s greatest ever sprinter in a photo finish complete and it’s off for a cool down and another chat with Sir Mark, as well as getting to check out his record-breaking 2024 bike and kit.
Fans will then be able to nab signed jersey to mark the occasion, before remembering to pick up their VIP tickets for the following day’s stage, where they’ll be able to take in a potential reduced bunch sprint and GC action on the Champs-Élysées (perish the thought) from seats close to the finish line.
“I’ve experienced numerous victories and unforgettable moments with the Tour de France, but I’ve never had the opportunity to cycle in the Grand Palais during the Tour de France,” the 2011 world champion ‘said’ in a statement that was definitely penned by Cavendish himself and not a random PR staffer at Airbnb.
“I am incredibly excited to share this exclusive Airbnb experience with guests!”
Okay, maybe he didn’t say that.
Clunky presser quotes aside, sign-ups will open for the event on Airbnb’s website on Tuesday 27 May at 5pm BST.
We imagine they’ll go faster than a Cavendish sprint on the Champs-Élysées, so get that clicking finger warmed up…
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