Ecologic is joining the 2025 L'Étape du Tour de France and Roc d'Azur CIC as an institutional partner to promote bicycle reuse.
A "Grande Récup Vélos Solidaires" reuse drive will be launched in the run-up to each of these events.
In addition to the national drive, 200 bicycles will be donated to partner local authorities to make it easier for people to learn to ride.
Ecologic, a state-approved eco-organisation charged with overseeing the national scheme for the prevention and recycling of used or end-of-life sports and leisure equipment, is joining forces with L'Étape du Tour de France and the Roc d'Azur CIC in 2025 to advocate for the charitable reuse of bicycles at these two major cycling events.
The cornerstone of the partnership will be a large-scale bicycle drive held in the run-up to each event, which both Ecologic and the races will advertise through their communication channels. The "Grande Récup Vélos Solidaires" linked to L'Étape du Tour de France will start on 3 June, World Bicycle Day, and draw to a close on 20 July, the day of the race. Meanwhile, the Roc d'Azur CIC drive will begin on 25 August and run until 8 October, the opening date of the event. As part of these two bicycle drives, Ecologic will open almost 800 drop-off points across France, which will be listed on a dedicated website and enable as many people as possible to donate their unserviceable bikes so that they may be directed into appropriate reuse channels.
Along with these two nationwide bicycle drives, Ecologic will have 100 bicycles refurbished for each event, working hand in hand with local organisations from the social economy. These restored bicycles will be donated to local institutions selected in collaboration with host local authorities (e.g. leisure centres and cycling clubs) to make it easier for people to learn to ride, especially among children, as part of the "Savoir Rouler à Vélo" programme.
Ecologic will also host an awareness-raising stand within the villages of L'Étape du Tour de France and the Roc d'Azur CIC, promoting best practices in reuse and encouraging visitors to contribute to an increasingly circular economy.
Amélie Montoriol, Director of the Sports and Leisure Equipment Division, Ecologic: "The national bicycle recycling scheme that we oversee aims to give a new lease of life to two million bicycles each year, through repair, reuse or recycling. Bicycles are a long-lasting product with a highly positive environmental footprint. They also promote better health and contribute to a more peaceful living environment. We are therefore delighted to be partnering this year with L'Étape du Tour de France and the Roc d'Azur CIC, two iconic events for cycling enthusiasts. Our partnership will help to advance the reuse of bicycles, particularly through a large-scale national collection drive, enabling more bicycles to be repaired, reused or properly recycled when no longer functional. It will also serve to raise awareness among riders about the simple yet vital actions that they can take to ensure the sustainable management of their equipment."
Thomas Delpeuch, Public Events Manager, ASO: "We are delighted to team up with Ecologic this year for L'Étape du Tour de France and the Roc d'Azur CIC to promote bicycle reuse among our participants and the public at large. Among other things, the ‘Grande Récup Vélos Solidaires’ at each event will support the refurbishment of a hundred bicycles, which will be used locally to meet the needs of host local authorities in promoting cycling education. This initiative strengthens our commitment to leaving a meaningful legacy in the communities that welcome us."
The first bicycle of the "Grande Récup Vélos Solidaires" campaign was symbolically handed over by Thomas Delpeuch (Director of Public Events at ASO) to Amélie Montoriol (Director of the Sports and Leisure Equipment Division at Ecologic).
Find out more about the "Grande Récup Vélos Solidaires" initiative here.
