Where Do the Bikes Go?
The Tour de France is one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world. The winners of the Tour are often rewarded with a special bike, which is a symbol of their victory. But what happens to these bikes after the race?
In most cases, the bikes used by the winners of the Tour de France go to one of two places:
- The winner's personal collection: The winner of the Tour often keeps their winning bike as a souvenir of their victory. This is especially true for riders who win the Tour multiple times. For example, Eddy Merckx won the Tour de France five times, and he kept all of his winning bikes. He eventually donated them to the Eddy Merckx Museum in Belgium.
- A museum or cycling collection: Many museums and cycling collections have a special exhibit dedicated to the Tour de France. These exhibits often include the bikes used by the winners of the Tour. For example, the Velodrome National in Paris has a collection of bikes that have been used by Tour de France winners, including Bernard Hinault's winning bikes.
In some cases, the bikes used by the winners of the Tour de France are auctioned off to raise money for charity. This is a common practice for riders who want to give back to the sport that has given them so much. For example, Chris Froome auctioned off his winning bikes to raise money for the Team Sky cancer charity.
No matter where they end up, the bikes used by the winners of the Tour de France are a cherished reminder of one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world. They are a symbol of the rider's hard work, dedication, and skill.
If you were the winner of the Tour de France, what would you do with your winning bike? Would you keep it as a souvenir, donate it to a museum, or auction it off for charity?