The Tour de France Femmes is taking climate action
Gearing up for the third edition of the Tour de France Femmes
The Tour de France Femmes was reintroduced in 2022, and we are set for an exciting third edition between the 12th and 18th of August. Starting in Rotterdam, 22 teams will battle over 949.7 kilometres with what promises to be an exciting finish in Alpe d’Huez.
It’s the first time the Tour de France Femmes’ Grand Départ will take place abroad, and it’s no coincidence the biggest women’s cycling race will start in the Netherlands.
“The world hub of women’s cycling was a natural choice to host the biggest bicycle race on earth.”
Marion Rousse, Race Director of Tour de France Femmes
In the first two editions, we witnessed Dutch dominance with Annemiek van Vleuten and Demi Vollering who ended their Tours in yellow in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
This year, we’ll have three flat stages, one individual time trial, two hilly stages, and two mountain stages, with Vollering returning to defend her title.
As a race heavily reliant on nature and landscapes, the Tour de France Femmes is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact.
The Tour de France Femmes strives to improve its sustainability performance
Since the first edition in 2022, the organisers have been measuring the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions the race is accountable for.
To protect the nature on which it relies, they have been working with consulting firm Biotope to design the Tour in ways that preserve sensitive natural sites the race might pass through.
In an effort to minimise littering, riders have access to over 30 waste collection zones throughout the stages. In the event of bad behaviour from a rider, they will be punished with fines, time penalties, or disqualification.
Regarding logistics, the organisers partnered with XPO Logistics to have a fleet of trucks running on biofuels, and they plan to have all accredited vehicles running on alternative fuels by 2024.
For the emissions they cannot yet reduce, they have been working with the French Ministry of Ecology to develop an offset scheme near la Planche des Belles Filles, where the 2022 Tour ended.
More widely, the Tour de France Femmes is dedicated to using its platform to encourage people to use cycling for low-carbon transportation.
They are working to defy the statistic that 60% of trips in France are shorter than 5 km, but less than 5% are done by bicycle.
By working to reduce its emissions and promoting cycling to people, the Tour de France Femmes can create waves of climate action in sports and beyond.
