This is the third in a series of articles, The Green Breakaway, highlighting how signatories to the UCI Climate Action Charter are taking concrete steps to reduce their environmental impact and build a more sustainable future for cycling.
Copenhagen Sprint
Held each June in Zealand, Denmark, the Copenhagen Sprint is one of the newest events on the UCI Road International Calendar. First held in 2025 and organised by WorldTour CPH P/S on behalf of the Danish Cycling Union, the event comprises two races, one on the UCI Women's WorldTour calendar and the other on the UCI WorldTour calendar. Both start in Roskilde and finish on a city-centre circuit in Copenhagen, where the public can ride the closed course just hours before the professionals.
In May 2026, the Copenhagen Sprint received the UCI Climate Action Award at the UCI Mobility & Bike City Forum in Athens, in recognition of the sustainability measures built into the event from its very first edition.
A collaborative approach
Long before the first race, sustainability was central to the Copenhagen Sprint. When the organisers applied to join the UCI WorldTour, it stood alongside Denmark's strong cycling culture as one of the event's main selling points.
The ambition was to make the event as sustainable as possible, with a focus on three dimensions. Financially, each edition should rely less on public funding than the last, giving the event a secure long-term future. Environmentally, the goal is to reduce the event's footprint across every part of its delivery, from the food served and the waste produced to the power used and the way people travel. Socially, the aim is to be accessible and inclusive for the whole community, opening the circuit to the public and creating job opportunities for people facing social challenges, with the wider ambition of leaving a legacy that inspires more people to cycle.
To turn those ambitions into action, the organisers drew up a sustainability strategy in August 2024, ten months before the first race, and formed a working group to deliver it. Civil servants from Roskilde and Copenhagen, the start and finish cities, took part in this working group, alongside Sport Event Denmark, the national body responsible for bidding for and facilitating major sports events. Involving both cities ensured the event's plans built on, and aligned with, the climate policies each had been following for years. Starting from a framework already developed by Sport Event Denmark, the group looked at each part of the event's delivery and decided which initiatives, once implemented, would make a meaningful difference.
Built into every agreement
Suppliers were the starting point, with each given clear criteria for how to deliver their services and products in a responsible manner. From there, the Copenhagen Sprint has worked with suppliers through open dialogue on how best to meet those criteria, and most have responded positively to what is asked of them. Where a change comes at a significant cost, the organisers have been willing to meet it. Responsible choices are not always more expensive, however. The event's toilet supplier, for example, was chosen for its lower water and energy use and turned out to be cheaper than the main alternative.
Sharing data is also part of those criteria. Knowing from the start what will be asked of them allows suppliers to keep track as they go. As a result, the organisers now hold detailed figures on everything from power use, waste, food and merchandise production, down to the number of meals served and items of clothing delivered. Some suppliers could not provide that level of detail in 2025 but agreed to work towards it, and it will become a firm requirement in future. Each year, a team at the City of Copenhagen turns the raw data into emissions figures, while progress is tracked in a simple spreadsheet, with 2025 serving as the baseline for future editions.
For spectators, one of the most visible changes is found on the menu. Since 2026, no beef or lamb has been served in the fan zones or hospitality areas due to it’s environmental impact, and compliance is checked on site. Single-use plastics are also banned, and a dedicated plan ensures surplus food is put to good use. Food and drink packaging is provided through a deposit and return system that in 2026 saw a return rate of 94.32%, saving 728kg of CO₂ and 47kg of waste. The deposits also raised DKK 8,060, which was donated to Danmarks Naturfredningsforening (Danish Society for Nature Conservation).
Away from the food stalls, tents, furniture and podiums are hired rather than bought wherever possible, and the event's own materials are designed to be reused from one edition to the next. When a change in the Copenhagen Sprint's colours meant some of its branded flags could not be used again in 2026, they did not go to waste, as a Danish design studio turned them into upcycled tote bags.
Power and waste are handled with equal care. With diesel generators banned since the first edition, the event makes use of the power infrastructure already built into Copenhagen, while batteries are used for fan zones along the route. Some spectator hotspots were moved or dropped altogether where no viable power source could be found. All waste is sorted and weighed, and street waste collection is carried out through Socialt Frikort (Social Exemption Card), a national scheme that helps people who face barriers to employment take on paid work, putting the event's social ambitions into practice.
The road ahead
Transport remains the biggest challenge, and the organisers are open about the tension at its heart. Staging a major international event means attracting visitors from abroad, which poses a challenge when trying to cut the event's emissions. Placing the finish in central Copenhagen, where public transport is easily accessible, also encourages spectators to leave the car at home. In 2025, more than 8,000 public transport event tickets were sold. In 2026, this number increased to 13,500 tickets.
Teams are also encouraged to travel more sustainably. The race's technical guide includes information on charging points and more sustainable ways to reach Copenhagen, as well as details of the city's low-emission zone, where older diesel vehicles are fined. With teams liable for those fines, the rule prompted some to look for alternatives, such as hiring a Danish campervan rather than bringing a large team vehicle.
Two editions in, the organisers see their journey in three stages. The 2025 edition set the baseline, 2026 built on it, and 2027 is about taking things to the next level. With the easier gains already made, the next steps will be harder. Ideas being explored include recruiting riders as sustainability ambassadors, using the event's big screens for information campaigns and working more closely with the UCI on the issues no single event can solve alone. Success will depend on others getting involved, and so far, the signs are positive.
"What has genuinely surprised me is how positively people respond when I tell them that Copenhagen Sprint has sustainability ambitions, and ask whether they'd like to be part of that," said Freja Fischer-Møller, Head of Event Delivery at the Copenhagen Sprint. "People want to contribute. Often the barrier is simply a lack of knowledge, and that's something we need to help address. But the willingness is there, and that's what's so encouraging."
About the UCI Climate Action Charter
The UCI Climate Action Charter, adopted in September 2022, is cycling's collective framework for environmental responsibility. By signing the Charter, organisations commit to making progress on eight key principles, including measuring and reporting their emissions to internationally recognised standards, reducing waste, prioritising renewable energy, promoting active and low-carbon travel, and protecting biodiversity - whilst having the opportunity to engage with other stakeholders in the cycling sector on various occasions such as dedicated webinars. The Charter is open to all actors in the cycling world: teams, event organisers, National Federations, broadcasters, and suppliers.
More information on the Charter can be found here. To become a signatory, click here.
Photo Credits:
Header photo: "Public bike ride at the city circuit" Cathrine Yde / Copenhagen Sprint
"Food trucks at the festival" Andreas Roungkvist / Copenhagen Sprint
"Food and drink packaging deposit and return system" Andreas Roungkvist / Copenhagen Sprint
"Women’s race at the finish line" Lars Rønbøg / Copenhagen Sprint