Henri Pépin was neither an eccentric aristocrat, nor a rookie cyclist when he hired two other persons to join him to ride the Tour de France just for fun.
Pépin (1864-1915) was an active cyclist in the 19th century already. He even published a book about him and (possibly) his son riding a tandem from Paris to Agen in 57 hours and 45 minutes in 1895. (The short book was published two years later).
He used to tour around Europe by bicycle and take photographs. Carrying the heavy set with him seemed to be a bit more complicated, than we can imagine from our 21st century point of view.
He certanly was a man of money and could afford a life dedicating entirely to sport activities.
Pépin rode the Tour de France for the first time in 1905. He was not able to finish the route, had to abandon the race after the 7th stage. Most likely this was the cycling event, where he made aquaintance with Jean Dargassiers, one of his paid companions of two years later.
The idea of a luxury Tour de France was simple: Pépin and his two companions, the other rider was Henri Gauban, would ride together, stop to have a pleasant lunch at a nice restaurant when it suits them, and sleep in luxury hotels every night.
The role of the two hired cyclists often described as the first “domestiques” of the Tour de France. This phrase appears to be a bit incorrect, because, clearly, neither Pépin, nor the other two were part of the real competition. The dubious title of being the first domestique of the Tour de France rather belongs to Maurice Brocco, who was helping Francois Faber to gain some advantage in the real competition in 1911.
But the unique trio of 1907 was there just for having fun. When their joyride ended during the 5th stage, Pépin paid his assistants with the sum what they would have earned, if they would have won the race.
Henri Pepin rode Tour de France once more in 1914. He could not finish that edition either.
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