As the Tour de France peloton rolls through France this summer, Thibaut Pinot, one of France’s most famous cyclists, is opening the doors to his farm in Mélisey for an exclusive experience bookable only on Airbnb.
Marking Airbnb’s second year as a Tour partner, Pinot is inviting one family for a rare glimpse into his post-cycling life. During the three-night journey, guests will meet his animals, enjoy a local picnic, cycle the countryside, and watch a Tour de France stage with Pinot. This is the first in a series of curated experiences launching for this year’s Tour, many set in rural destinations along the race route.
Airbnb data from the 2025 Tour de France shows that, on average, bookings increase by +155% when the race passes through a city compared to the same dates the previous year.¹ Growth is being fuelled by lesser-known stops as travellers follow the route, with bookings surging in places like Laval (+760%), Vire-Normandie (+600%), Ennezat (+300%), Albertville (+254%) or Chinon (+185%).
Younger travelers are also contributing to this growing enthusiasm, with bookings among 25–29-year-olds increasing by +140% year over year — a sign that a new generation of fans is now planning its trips around the Tour. This growing interest also reflects a broader trend toward more rural and immersive stays: last year, 38% of bookings made by French travelers were in rural areas, a share that grew by double digits compared to 2024.
French former professional cyclist Thibaut Pinot said: “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. With the Tour de France passing through the village, it’s the perfect opportunity to show that our countryside has just as much to offer as anywhere else, and that we’re really at home here!”
Clément Eulry, France & Benelux Director at Airbnb said: “The Tour de France embodies France in all its diversity: its landscapes, its people, its regions. We are proud to be partners of the Tour de France for the second consecutive year, and even more so to have created a unique experience with Thibaut Pinot, at his home, in his native village — which the peloton passes through this year. With him, we go even further in what we stand for every day: our users can find the adventure that suits them, in France, which offers so many activities and diverse regions. When you take the leap, that’s where memories are made — ones that will be forever etched in the hearts of the whole family!”
