Our community has its own responsibilities and values. We must all work together on sustainability, with humility but rigour, to give meaning to our exciting venture. Here are some of the actions we have put in place to move gradually towards an Alpe d’Huez Triathlon that is ever more respectful of its environment, society and nature.
The Alpe d’Huez Triathlon makes the most of its popularity and the bond with its participants to support the Aviation Sans Frontières association. The triathletes (our ‘Game Changers’) give a human dimension to their personal challenge by choosing a solidarity bib number: they can take part after reaching a certain amount through personalised online fundraising. Simple, effective, collective and ultimately indispensable.
For more than 10 years, ESATCO (an establishment and support service providing work for people with disabilities in the Côtes d’Armor department) has taken part in the event and is involved in the organisation with a team of volunteers with disabilities. A wonderful story of friendship and diversity has been written over the years, in the spirit of an Alpe d’Huez Triathlon community that is representative of society.
Reducing the impact of the race on the environment is not just about producing better, but also about producing less. That is why, since 2024, triathletes can opt for a Green Bib, which is more economical and rational: they then renounce their endowment (T-shirt, backpack, medal) and only receive the equipment to be used during the race. In the 2025 edition, 13% of participants will carry a Green Bib. And this is only the beginning.
The FAN ZONE, introduced in 2024, offers the public the opportunity to go up the 21 bends, using the Alpe d’Huez Express, the resort’s free gondola lift. More entertainment, more show, more experience for triathletes and their families… and fewer vehicles on the course! The main advantage of the FAN ZONE initiative and the race tracking tools is the reduction of non-essential traffic during the event.
From 2025, the participants and volunteers’ T-shirts are made of certified organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilisers, thus reducing the impact on soil and biodiversity. It also requires less water than conventional cotton and ensures more ethical working conditions for producers. By choosing this material, we are promoting more sustainable and responsible clothing.
Opting for organic cotton T-shirts is an investment in encouraging more responsible production and offering triathletes a high-quality, comfortable and durable garment.
Plastic production is one of the organisation’s weak points, largely concentrated on the cycling bottles used at each supply station. Since 2021, in order to give a little more meaning to this environmentally harmful logistical aspect, all the bottles collected from the cleanliness areas are rinsed and distributed for free in the Expo Village. Every year, more than 5,000 bottles are redistributed in this way to increase their useful life. Simple and basic.