On the occasion of World Bicycle Day this Wednesday, June 3rd, the Tour de France reaffirms its commitment to cycling mobility in all its forms. Through its “L’Avenir à Vélo” program since 2018, the Tour de France aims to create a positive impact by inspiring as many people as possible to make cycling a part of their lives. The program is built around three main pillars: promotion, education, and solidarity.
RIDING A BIKE…
- The “Cycle City” Label brings together a network of more than 200 cities committed to cycling mobility (small towns and major metropolitan areas, in France and abroad). Since 2021, candidate cities have been assessed and awarded this distinction in recognition of their commitment to promoting all forms of cycling (transportation, leisure, sport, etc.).
- 38 “Fêtes du Tour” were held last weekend in all host towns of the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to celebrate cycling in all its forms, as part of the broader “Mai à Vélo” initiative.
- “Venez en mode vert” campaign on the Tour de France. Secure bicycle parking facilities are available at every stage, among other initiatives designed to encourage spectators to use sustainable modes of transport (cycling, carpooling, train travel, etc.).
LEARNING TO RIDE A BIKE…
- “Les P’tits Vélos”: 700,000 children have been trained in cycling since 2018, in support of the “Savoir Rouler à Vélo” program implemented by the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Community Life.
- “Les Ateliers du Tour” are organized on 16 days within the Tour’s Fan Parks and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Fan Zones: bike-handling courses, road safety awareness sessions, maintenance and repair workshops, etc.
- Around fifteen balance bike races are organized during the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. Approximately 1,300 balance bikes are donated each year to local authorities (7,300 since 2021) to support the learning of two-wheeled mobility for young children in nursery schools and leisure centers.
SHARING THE JOY OF CYCLING…
- A Bike for Everyone: more than 7,200 bicycles have been donated since 2018 to children with limited access to cycling.
- Every year since 2018, bicycles have been distributed in partnership with the “Secours populaire français”, notably during the “Randonnée du Secours populaire”, which will start from Vichy on July 15th.
- Since 2018, the partnership with the South African association Qhubeka has helped improve access to bicycles for young schoolchildren. Through this initiative, the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift have directly funded more than 2,000 bicycles.
“TOGETHER, LET’S PUT MORE CYCLING INTO OUR LIVES!”
- A 50% increase in cycling trips since 2019, with cycling now accounting for 5% of all journeys in France (ONISR / Union Sport & Cycle, 2025).
- 24% of French people use a bicycle at least once a week (compared with 12% in 2012), representing nearly 16 million regular cyclists (National Survey on Bicycle Use 2024, Ministry of Transport, published in 2025).
- 86,600 km of cycling infrastructure in France (+14% compared with 2022), and a 44% increase in bicycle parking capacity over the past three years (ADEME, 2026).
- Still, 60% of home-to-work journeys of less than 5 km are made by car (INSEE / DGEC, 2024).
- 1 km cycled = €1 in health benefits for society. Cycling already helps prevent nearly 2,000 premature deaths and more than 6,000 cases of chronic diseases every year in France (Schwarz and al., The Lancet Regional Health-Europe, 2024; CNAM, Institut Pasteur, CNRS).
- Shifting 25% of car trips under 5 km to cycling would double current health benefits and prevent approximately 257,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year (Schwarz and al., The Lancet Regional Health-Europe, 2024).
