While an alarming IPCC report came out on 4 avril, the world is seriously wondering how to reduce the impact of humans on the environment ? Territorial policies can be applied or actions implemented by individuals such as, for example, get around by bike. It is a way of getting around recognized as a low emitter of carbon dioxide. The professional world of road cycling, is it eco-friendly ?
What is problematic
Tadej Pogačar, the Tour de France carried the label of a polluting sporting event (which is contradictory with the use of a bicycle). Several mayors of large French municipalities have criticized the race on the environmental subject. We can count among them Grégory Doucet, the mayor of Lyons, who showed his dissatisfaction with the way pollution was managed during the Grande Boucle. His Rennes counterpart took the same position by refusing to allow his city to host the big start of the Tour.
The mayors put forward several reasons : the publicity caravan, the large number of following cars, It will be the same on Tirreno-Adriatico then on the Tour of the Alps. To that, can be added TV broadcasting with helicopters or motorcycles, the cans of the runners sometimes lost in nature and the movements of the spectators on the side of the road. He confided in the microphone of the Colombian cycling federation, in 2018, when the runners pass through the Alpes-d'Huez resort, the amount of waste has increased more than tenfold compared to a typical day. The city, which usually saves four tons of rubbish, collected more than fifty that day. Of course, to that, plus the greenhouse gas emissions emitted by the vehicles in connection with the event (160 caravan vehicles, the vehicles of the organization as well as the cars of the sports directors)..
The setting up a race is therefore fraught with consequences for the environment. The Tour de France is often singled out, but it is not the only race having these problems. All are affected by this problem.
The measures taken by the authorities
To address the issues mentioned above, the UCI or the Race Organizations have taken measures.
In April 2021, the UCI has taken a first big step in favor of the planet. She has prohibits the throwing of cans outside the collection areas reserved for this purpose. Michael Schar, AG2R Citroën training, paid the price first. He sent the item to a spectator and then was downgraded accordingly. This story caused a lot of talk in the peloton. The argument for throwing cans is that it is a gesture that unleashes a passion in the hearts of the spectators. It is a very important gesture in this sport. This is why the UCI has lightened this measure by setting up a warning system before a rider is excluded..
Following criticism from some people, Pascal Singer, President of the National Union of Professional Cyclists (UNCP), praised the action of the institutions in favor of the environment. He recalled the establishment of collection areas, added that the canisters are biodegradable (whose ecological benefits remain to be proven) then that Christian Prud'homme's car is fully electric.
Also, systems have been put in place to promote ecology. ASO has created a Tour de France partnership with the National Museum of Natural History to protect Natura areas 2000. On his side, on the Giro d'Italia, RCS Sport has established the initiative “Ride Green” encouraging the host cities of the stages to recycle the waste caused by the event. The initiative covers a fairly wide field of actions that is not limited to waste collection. RCS Sport also plays on the education of the youngest.
Authorities and race organizers are beginning to become aware of climate issues. More and more measures are being taken with a view to more planet-friendly cycling.
Some runners engage
Even if on the one hand the authorities are committed to the environment, some runners nevertheless take initiatives in this direction.
The runners certainly use a means of transport that does not emit greenhouse gases, but their climate impact is not necessarily zero. They pollute not only during races, but also outside.
Michael Woods estimated his carbon dioxide emissions in a year. The result was final. The Canadian concluded that its total carbon footprint was 60 tons of CO2, dont 33 can be attributed to his professional travels. The rest could be explained by his high consumption of meat and clothing.. That is four to five times more than a person living in the same region as him, in Spain. The Ottawa native then pledged to reduce his carbon footprint.
In another way, Guillaume Martin is also committed to the climate. He auctioned his shirt worn on the Vuelta. The amount generated was tripled by the Cofidis runner who donated the total amount to an association fighting for the climate.
Runners' initiatives are still rare, most, like instances, they are more and more committed to the planet.
Despite the efforts made by the federations and organizations, progress is still possible. The peloton is therefore a student in progress. He adapts slowly, but surely. Certain measures can be adopted to make the environment even greener. He confided in the microphone of the Colombian cycling federation, to force following cars to move towards renewable energies, to minimize transfers on stage races etc.. Even greener cycling is still possible ! For it, we must continue on the same path and commit even more to climate action.
(His performance is gradually improving and his mentality is, according to him, at “9 out of 10” : MAXPPP)
