Since 2010, the Tour de France - organised by ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) - has been actively trying to protect the regions to which it is invited. It does this in two ways: by reducing the direct impact of the event and by using the event’s media power to promote the use of bicycles for everyday journeys.
Preserving the sites
Each year, meticulous work is carried out right from the design stage of the route of the next Tour, in order to envisage the measures to be taken to protect sensitive natural areas such as Natura 2000 sites, defined as such to ensure the protection of habitats and species representative of European biodiversity: diversion of the advertising caravan, partial ban on helicopter overflights, etc. In 2024, 86 sensitive natural areas are subject to various precautions to preserve biodiversity.
Managing the waste produced by the Tour's spectators is also a major concern for the event, both in the agreements that the race signs with local authorities and in initiatives to raise public awareness: 100,000 sorting bags are distributed to local authorities each year.
The Tour de France is one of the founding members of the Charter of 15 Eco-responsible Commitments (Charte des 15 engagements écoresponsables) signed under the aegis of the French Ministry of Sport and World Wildlife Fune (WWF) France. This charter, drawn up in 2017, aims to support sports event organisers in setting up and achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to enable them to comply with national environmental objectives.
Limiting the impact of operations
New measures are constantly being taken by the organisers to limit the impact of this three-week event. Working in parallel to reduce the number of vehicles actually needed, the Tour organisation now travels in a 100% hybrid fleet for light vehicles, and the lorries dedicated to the organisation run on biofuel.
Given that 94% of the Tour's CO2 emissions come from the travel of the estimated 10 million spectators on the roadsides during each edition, a number of initiatives have been put in place to reduce the use of cars: these include incentives for car-sharing, the installation of bike parks at each stage and special Tour de France fares on the TER railway networks in several regions. For example, in all the start towns, spectators are able to reserve a free, secure parking space for their bikes in advance, located as close as possible to each start line. During four stages, Shimano offers an additional service at these car parks, which have a capacity of 120 spaces and are supported by AG2R: the possibility to have your bike checked and carry out minor repairs.
In addition, in 2024, ASO produced a film featuring riders such as Richard Carapaz, Remco Evenepoel and Sepp Kuss, encouraging the public to travel to the race in an environmentally-friendly way.
Riding into the Future
Riding into the Future is the banner under which the Tour de France is committed to promoting mobility by bike, in particular through three initiatives: the ‘Cycle City of the Tour de France’ label, ‘the little riders’ (Les p'tits vélos) programme to introduce children to cycling, and the ‘A bicycle for all ’ solidarity initiative. These initiatives aim to generate a positive impact by inspiring everyone who can to make cycling part of their daily lives. And the potential is considerable, given that 60% of journeys made in France are less than five kilometres long (and 35% less than two kilometres), while only 4% of journeys are made by bike.
The creation of the Cycle City of the Tour de France label, which has been awarded to 155 towns and cities in France and abroad, is helping to boost the momentum of local authorities committed to developing cycling infrastructure, among other measures. The label enables towns that have hosted the Tour de France, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift or a non-European event with the Tour de France label at least once to have their cycling promotion policy assessed. In 2024, 24 towns have been awarded the label.
Introducing children to cycling is very important for the Tour. Each year, through the ‘Little Riders’ operation, the Tour introduces 30,000 children aged 6 to 12 to cycling, based on the educational content of the ‘Savoir rouler à vélo’ (Know how to ride) programme. As part of this programme, 10,000 bikes and balance bikes have been donated to children in recent years, and in 2024, 1,000 balance bikes will be distributed to nursery schools in the stopover towns to teach them how to balance on a bike. Workshops for learning to ride a bike are available in the ‘fan parks’ of several stopover towns each year, including in 2024.
With the ‘A bike for all schoolchildren’ (Ecole solidaire - Un vélo pour tous les enfants)operation supported by the Ministry of Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, 3,500 classes (i.e. some 100,000 pupils) will have taken part in the ‘Learn to ride a bike’ programme this year. ASO has undertaken to donate 1 euro per pupil who takes part in a ‘Learn to ride a bike’ action during the three weeks of the event to three solidarity associations: Secours populaire français (for a fairer world), QHUBEKA and the ANAIS Foundation.
Since the launch of the Riding into the future programme in 2017, 428,00 children have already been introduced to cycling in the wheel of the Tour. You can find out more about the Tour de France's commitment to sustainability at Our commitments (letour.fr)