Mummu Reflections: 2024 Tour de France
The 2024 edition of the Tour de France was set to be one for the history books. A month-long spectacle of historical and unforgettable moments from breath-taking climbs to dramatic sprints, this year’s race captivated fans and showcased the enduring allure of the world’s most prestigious cycling event.
This year’s Tour kicked off with a historic Grand Départ in Florence, setting the stage for a dramatic opening. With a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, the race promised fierce competition and thrilling performances. Out of the 39 towns that appeared on the Tour map, 12 of them have never been featured in the Tour de France before. Over the 23 days of the race, the riders passed through Italy, San Marino, Monaco, and France. The mountainous stages of the Tour de France have always been a test of endurance and strategy, and 2024 was no exception. The race's journey through the iconic 4 mountain ranges included the Apennines, the Italian and French Alps, the Massif Central, and the Pyrenees and was nothing short of spectacular.
Highlights of this year's tour included Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar securing his third Tour de France victory, cementing his status as one of the sport's greats. Pogačar is now the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year and his consistent performance throughout both races showcased his exceptional talent.
Sir Mark Cavendish made history by claiming his 35th stage victory on his farewell tour during the opening week in Saint-Vulbas. This remarkable achievement solidified his position as the Tour's most successful stage winner.
Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay made history as the first Black rider to win a Tour de France stage. He wore the Green Jersey for much of the race and three stage victories secured him the overall green jersey points classification win. Another historic moment was made as Richard Carapaz became the first Ecuadorian to wear the Yellow Jersey, to win a Tour de France stage and the first to also win a stage at each of the Grand Tours. He also took over the Polka-Dot Jersey and victory in the overall King of the Mountains classification. Remco Evenepoel wore the white jersey for the best young rider nearly the entire Tour and his successful debut Tour confirmed his aptitude for three-week racing, finishing third overall on the podium.
For the very first time in the race’s 121-year history, the Tour de France did not end in Paris, due to the 2024 Summer Olympics. The Tour concluded with an individual time trial against time, taking riders from the streets of Monaco along the picturesque coastline of the French Riviera, bringing the 111th edition to a spectacular close in Nice.
The 2024 Tour de France will be remembered as a race of extraordinary talent and historic moments. With a thrilling race from start to finish, this year’s edition reaffirmed why the Tour remains one of the most celebrated and anticipated events in the world of sports.
As we reflect on this year’s tour, it was definitely a memorable one for us too! As official tour operators of the Tour de France, we always strive to create memories on tour by making our guests feel well and truly ‘inside the race’. Our status allows us to provide guests with exclusive privileges with unique tour experiences including VIP hospitality, departure village and pro team paddock access and as well as the chance to ride with cycling legends. This year our guests had the honour of riding with Mummu partner Stuart O’Grady - Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold medalist, 2007 Paris-Roubaix winner and multiple Tour de France stage victor. Guests also had the opportunity to ride with 2011 Tour de France winner, four-time Olympian, and Road World Cycling champion, Cadel Evans and multiple World Tour Stage winner, Richie Port, sharing unique insights and camaraderie along the way.
It was our first-time hosting guests in the beautiful Italian city of Florence and it certainly did not disappoint! The team presentation ceremony was held at the stunning Piazzale Michelangelo and the majestic views over the city provided a magnificent backdrop, making it a truly memorable moment. A 5-course Tuscan BBQ that we arranged for our guests was simply out of this world and was a standout culinary experience of our entire tour! This year our Grande Depart Mummu Cycling guests were part of Tour de France history - They had the incredible opportunity to ride from the official start line of Stage 1 of the race, marking the first-ever stage start in Italy. Even more exciting, they got to do it before the pro riders took to the course!
Our various tours that led us through northern Italy, into the French Alps, the Pyrenees and down to the French Riviera were filled with unforgettable moments for our guests and they certainly got to tick of a few items from their bucket lists! We conquered the iconic Alp D’Huez, rode across the official finish lines of the Tour and had photos taken on the winners’ podiums. Guests got a sneak peek into behind-the-scenes activities and were introduced to cycling legends at departure villages, where they had the opportunities to take photos and get priceless autographs. We also often got to meet and pose with some of the pros outside their team busses before they headed off to the start line. VIP roadside viewing meters from the finish line are also always a highlight for many of our guests. These experiences are part of what makes Mummu Cycling renowned for consistently delivering outstanding tours for our guests, whether you’re with us as a cyclist or a spectator!
Our HQ staff, logistics managers and ground crew work effortlessly year-round to ensure that our guests have the experience of a lifetime when they’re on one of our trips. Our guests this year were all exceptional and the friendships formed will hopefully last for years to come. Thank you all for making the job that we do so worthwhile. Our gratitude goes out to all our suppliers too; Factor Bikes for our fleet of top-quality road bikes, Santini for providing us with quality cycling kit that offers both comfort and style and to 226ers for providing our cyclists with all their protein supplements.
The memories of this historic ride will continue to inspire and excite cycling enthusiasts around the globe, and we’re left eagerly anticipating what next year’s Tour will bring. We’re already working on bookings and logistics for 2025. Are you ready to join us for the ride of your life? What are you waiting for? So, what are you waiting for? If you want to ride the 2025 Tour de France with us then register your details to receive our 2025 Tour de France tour summary brochure, detailing our complete line-up of experiences and allowing you to reserve your spot on your tour of first preference!
