News: Richard Mille for Mark Cavendish
Although Cavendish was admittedly a little starstruck, he impressed Mille enough for him to unstrap the RM-011 Felipe Massa 10th Anniversary Limited Edition on his wrist and hand it over to the world-class cyclist.
Crafted in honour of F1 driver and fellow sportsman Felipe Massa, this variant of the RM-011 features some astonishing technology, such as an NTPT carbon case and flyback chronograph movement. Limited to just 100 pieces and costing upwards of £150,000, this isn’t a watch you’d expect to see at all, let alone be gifted.
As if to show his gratitude, Cavendish won Stage 6 in Arpajon-sur-Cère the next day with the lightweight watch strapped firmly to his wrist, sporting it again later on the podium.
Cavendish isn’t the only cyclist that Richard Mille has got behind, the watchmaker is supporting UAE Team Emirates, too. A part of the UCI WorldTour, UAE Team Emirates represents the whole of the United Arab Emirates and aims to promote a healthy lifestyle through cycling. Since team member Tadej Pogačar won both the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Tour de France, the spirit and success of the Emirati team only continues to grow—something that Richard Mille recognises and is keen to be involved in. The team wears the RM 67-02, an ergonomic model made of TPT composite materials and grade-five titanium, that weighs just 32 grammes.