Introduction
My name is Renée van Hout, and I am a cyclist. Cycling is often seen as an environmentally friendly sport, but how green is it really? In this series, I explore the hidden environmental costs of (competitive)cycling—from bike production to travel gear consumption, and more. By shedding light on these overlooked aspects, I hope to spark conversation and take small steps toward a more sustainable sport.
In the first article of this series I’ll further introduce the topic of this series.
From Carbon Frames to CO₂ Emissions: Rethinking Cycling's Green Credentials
Before I started cycling competitively, I was passionate about sustainability. That passion is still there, but I noticed my sustainable values started to slip as I got deeper into the world of racing. I started to overlook the unsustainable aspects of cycling, perhaps because the sport carries an image of being “green” and eco-friendly. Cycling seems to get a free pass, in part, because what’s cleaner than riding a bike, right? I got hooked on the sport despite these darker thoughts in the back of my mind.
As my cycling career advanced, my compromises on sustainability multiplied. Training camps in Mallorca and Calpe felt non-negotiable, and with train travel both impractical and expensive, flying became a regular occurrence. Each ride saw me consuming single-use plastic products. When I moved up to a continental team, new kits replaced old ones, leaving me with piles of barely worn gear. Changing bikes, tires, chains, and other gear became routine.
Unlike other areas of my life—where I can find articles and documentaries that show me the environmental effects—there is limited information on cycling’s footprint, which makes it easier to turn a blind eye. Every so often, a shocking article comes out that brings me back to reality, but like with so many things, that awareness fades over time and I sink back into my daily routines. Together with the TCA, I eventually found a way to contribute as a cyclist, which took shape in this four-part series.
I know I’m not alone in the cycling world when it comes to caring about these issues. Guillaume Martin, a French cyclist for Cofidis, s that touch on ecological themes. In The Peloton and I, he describes the peloton as a microcosm of society, where individual interests often clash with collective ones—like how flying benefits the individual but harms the collective. Martin candidly acknowledges that, as an elite athlete, his behavior often contradicts his personal morals and ecological values.1
Maghalie Rochette is a Canadian cyclocross racer, who also openly discusses environmental sustainability. She created a podcast series on her own podcast Fever Talk, talking to different people in the field – from the UCI to Shift Cycling Culture – about their efforts in making cycling more sustainable. She has calculated her own footprint and tries to reduce it where possible.2
Michael Woods uses the hashtag #LowCarbMike, but no, it is not about a diet. It is about his attempt to go carbon-neutral as a pro cyclist. On his website, he states: “Cycling is an amazing way to get around, explore, keep fit and has very little direct impact on the environment. You can travel hundreds of miles at a pace that allows you to really enjoy nature, all while not contributing to its decline. But as a professional cyclist, it’s another story. I fly to races regularly and have a convoy of cars and trucks following my every move. I sit on a massive bus at the end of each stage, and go through countless plastic bottles and packaged goods. I consume vast volumes of food, including large quantities of meat, and go through far more clothing than the average person.”3
So, why do we care about this?
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The Earth’s resources are stretched thin. Every year, Earth Overshoot Day marks the point when we have used more resources, than the planet can regenerate in a year. This date keeps creeping earlier on the calendar each year—like a bank account that sinks deeper into debt.
As athletes continue to push the boundaries of human potential, our collective consumption of Earth’s resources has also reached new extremes. In 2024, by the time the summer Olympics began, we already used one Earth’s worth of resources. By year-end, we will have consumed the equivalent of 1.7 Earths. August 1st marked the day we used up everything Earth could regenerate in 2024, meaning that for the last five months of this year, we are effectively running on empty4.
The buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere results in consequences such as loss of species, water scarcity, rising sea levels, melting polar ice and catastrophic storms.5 Glaciers are shrinking fast, heavy rainfall is intensifying, and wildfires, floods and droughts are more frequent and devastating. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned in August 2021 that surpassing 1.5°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels is almost inevitable. While 1.5°C may sound small, it represents significant consequences: a fourfold increase in extreme weather events by 2100, deadly heat stress for millions, uninhabitable regions, crop failures, food shortages, and potential famines. In 2023, the IPCC issued a final warning. We are already at 1.1°C global warming. Over thousands of pages of science, the main message was; act now or it will be too late. Despite this, most nations remain off-track in meeting these critical targets.6
As cycling has become a big part of my life, I want to look critically at the environmental impact of this sport. Athletes reach their performances through dedication, effort, and innovation. What would happen if the cycling industry—and all of us—applied that same focus to move the date of Earth Overshoot Day further into the year?
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Why Should Professional Cycling Care About Climate Change?
Climate change is already impacting our sport and will further impact it. The 2022 Tour de France was the hottest on record, while the 2019 edition saw severe Alpine landslides caused by heavy rain, cutting short decisive stages.7 French cyclists in 2019 have died whilst in these hot conditions, in 2022 a rider was taken to hospital to be treated for heat related illness after collapsing at the end of stage 9. 8
An interview by Le Figaro with Cofidis cyclist Guillaume Martin showed his genuine mixed feelings about partaking in the Tour de France: “Personally, I can’t avoid feeling a certain amount of guilt. Because I know that my professions and my pleasure have repercussions that are contrary to my ideals and to what I think is necessary for the good of the planet… I remember a stage on the Vuelta where my meter showed an average of 38 degrees over the day, even though we were in the mountains. Already, I'm not sure that top-level sport is good for your health. But when there are pollution peaks and you hear on the radio that you really shouldn't do anything outdoors, even though we're racing like crazy... Sometimes I feel like I'm taking part in this ‘bread and circuses’ aspect.”9
Weather will affect every race, but it shouldn’t be dangerous. In the future, extreme weather like heatwaves, storms, and wildfires could make training and races unsafe—or even impossible. Air pollution and heat stress double the risk for heart attack.10 Cycling routes, which we rely on, might be affected by these changes. As cyclists, the environment around us is essential, and as it shifts, it could directly impact our safety and the sport’s future.
I used to think Formula 1 racing was far less sustainable than cycling. However, The Lab of Thought found one season of UCI World Tour racing (men) emits seven times as much CO₂ as a racing season of Formula 1.11 What plays a role is that F1 only has 22 race days, and of course, getting an exact calculation is challenging, with many assumptions and educated guesses involved—but it’s enough to set a ballpark figure.
Take the Tour de France: a traveling circus that consumes vast resources. From helicopters and motorbikes to team cars, the publicity caravan, team kits, bikes, flights, hotels, and the hundreds of discarded plastic water bottles, wrappers and promotional materials—not to mention the crowds lining the route (their travel being the biggest contribution to the CO₂ emissions)—it all adds up. In 2021, the Tour’s organizers conducted an audit, revealing their CO₂ emissions at 216,388 tons.12 To put that in perspective, a 4,800 km flight emits roughly one ton of CO₂ per passenger.13 Multiply that by 216,388, and you have the Tour de France’s footprint.
The Lab of Thought used the TdF CO₂ emissions to calculate a whole season of UCI racing and compared this with an entire Formula 1 season, whose report was detailed and transparent, including a comprehensive overview of emission sources. Comprehensive reporting is missing in the cycling world, which is necessary to know which aspects need improving to cut down on emissions.
Knowledge gaps (and opportunities)
Before diving into the various topics, it is crucial to recognise the existing knowledge gaps. While researching the environmental impact of sports, particularly cycling, I’ve noticed the need for more comprehensive studies. Although I’ve referenced scientific papers wherever possible, some insights rely on cycling media.
The Tour de France carbon audit provides overall emissions but lacks detailed breakdowns—a key to identifying areas for improvement. Similarly, sustainability reports from brands often lack independent verification. The takeaway: professional cycling significantly impacts the climate, highlighting the need for more transparent, independent research to drive meaningful change.
With limited detailed research, I took on this research question: What is the actual impact of competitive cycling on our planet? In the following articles in this series, I will break down the impact of bikes, transport, sponsors, kit, and food.
Sources
[1] Wagendorp, Bert. “Fietsende filosoof Guillaume Martin vergelijkt de samenleving op slimme wijze met een peloton,” De Volkskrant, 9 Jun 2022, https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/fietsende-filosoof-guillame-martin-vergelijkt-de-samenleving-op-slimme-wijze-met-een-peloton~b6def523/
[2] Website Maghalie Rochette https://www.maghalierochette.com/
[3] Woods, Michael. "Michael Woods Announces Commitment to 2021 Carbon Neutral Season." Michael Woods, https://michaelwoods.cc/michael-woods-announces-commitment-to-2021-carbon-neutral-season/.
[4] “Earth Overshoot Day 2024 falls on August 1st.” Footprint Network, 2024, https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/newsroom/press-release-2024-english/
[5] “Climate change: a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet.” IPCC, 28 February 2022 https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/resources/press/press-release/
[6] “AR 6 Synthesis Report: Summary for Policymakers, Headline statements.” IPCC, https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/resources/spm-headline-statements/
[7] “How sustainable is the Tour de France?” Rouleur, 23 June 2023, https://www.rouleur.cc/blogs/the-rouleur-journal/is-the-tour-de-france-sustainable?srsltid=AfmBOop8ez5r8jw46rYBQocUWXscrOVzKf4689YY17VNx6VVep2oiiiR
[8] “Downhill from here: cycling report.” POW UK, https://csb10032000c7bf75ac.blob.core.windows.net/pow1/assets/Downhill_from_here_POWUK_cycling_report.pdf