Thibaut Pinot trades bikes for an Airbnb-style farm: "I’m proud to open the doors to my new life"

Thibaut Pinot has announced a very special initiative to coincide with this summer’s Tour de France. The former professional will offer one family the chance to stay for three nights at his farm in Mélisey, in the Haute-Saône region, completely free of charge.

The experience is part of a collaboration with Airbnb, an official partner of the race, and will run from July 16 through 19, matching the peloton’s passage through the Frenchman’s hometown during stage 13 of the Tour, scheduled for July 17.

The package includes exclusive activities with Pinot himself, among them a welcome barbecue, a local bike ride, a lakeside picnic, and access to the team paddock on the stage day.

A standout moment will be a helicopter ride with the ex-rider to follow stage 13 from the air, taking advantage of the Tour passing through his region.

The Frenchman explained the personal meaning of the initiative in a statement highlighting his bond with his surroundings and his new chapter after professional cycling.

"I’m proud to open the doors to my new life and my farm in Mélisey, in Haute-Saône, to help people discover the region where I grew up and to which I’m deeply attached," Pinot said.

The ex-rider also underlined the value of the rural environment where he now lives and works after retirement.

"With the Tour de France passing through the village, it’s the perfect opportunity to show that our countryside has as much to offer as anywhere else, and that we truly feel at home here."

The experience will be available to just one family of up to six people and will include free accommodation and meals, though participants must cover their own travel to the farm.

Bookings open on June 19, one month before the event, at 09:00 (UK time) on the platform airbnb.com/thibautpinot, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis due to the exclusivity of the offer.

Thibaut Pinot retired from professional cycling at the end of 2023 after a 14-year career with Groupama-FDJ. During his career, he claimed three stage wins at the Tour de France and finished on the podium in 2014, establishing himself as one of the most charismatic riders in the French peloton.

Since retiring, he has focused on his farm, where he raises goats, sheep, and cows, an activity he already combined with his racing career. "The idea of running a farm and working the land has always been part of me. Thanks to cycling, I’ve been able to build all this," he said in 2023.