XPO Logistics will serve as the official transport partner for the Tour de France for the 43rd time this year.
Once the Tour begins on July 1, a team of more than 70 XPO drivers and other experts will transport and position 690 tons of equipment (including barriers, podiums, arches, race signage, prefabricated village furniture, and sound and video equipment) after each stage, covering 3,404 kilometres over the course of the race.
For the first time, XPO’s fleet of 34 trucks will run entirely on biodegradable hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), saving an estimated 100 tonnes of CO2 to make the 2023 edition an even more decarbonised one.
XPO’s recently-launched Low Emission Sustainable Solution (LESS) relies on the use of HVO sustainable biofuel to produce up to 90% fewer carbon emissions and up to 30% less fine particle and NOx pollution, compared to diesel fuel.
Two fully electric XPO trucks will be added to the fleet for the arrival of the Tour de France cyclists in Paris on Sunday, July 23. XPO has been testing biofuel for the Tour de France since 2021 using B100 fuel made from rapeseed oil.
Each year, the Tour de France requires complex, tailor-made logistics and increasingly ambitious sustainability goals. XPO's teams partner closely with the Tour’s organiser, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), to transport the equipment needed to keep the race running smoothly throughout its 21 stages, all under very tight deadlines.
XPO and the Tour de France share common commitments to safety and sustainability with rigorous training in eco-driving for the company’s professional drivers and commitments that parallel the Tour's safety protocols. In line with shared sustainability goals, most of the uniforms worn by XPO’s drivers are made from organic materials.
Luis Gómez, President - Europe, XPO Logistics, said: "We’re delighted to expand our association with one of the world's greatest sporting competitions for the 43rd consecutive year and are proud to continue working with ASO and the Tour to bring more innovative and sustainable transport solutions to this amazing event. This is a proud part of XPO’s global commitment to limit CO2 emissions and also help our customers and partners pursue their goals for a greener future.”
Thomas Cariou, CSR Director of ASO said: "We are resolutely committed to organising the Tour in an increasingly eco-responsible way each year, and we know that we can count on XPO in this approach. Together, we make incremental progress each year, and this shared desire adds to our determination to make each new Tour a total success and an exceptional moment."
XPO also is the official transport partner of the 2nd Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, which will take place this year from July 23-30. A team of 13 drivers, including 9 female drivers, will participate. Ten HVO-powered trucks will transport 150 tons of equipment over eight stages and 956 kilometres from Clermont-Ferrand to Pau.
XPO has extensive experience as an official partner of world-renowned sporting events, including the Ironman triathlons in Europe, the Paris/Nice and Paris/Roubaix cycling races, the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Geneva Marathon, the Paris Eco Trail, and the Bulky Games, as well as cultural events.