MTB World Cup - Last leg in Val di Sole Italy becomes carbon neutral

Mountain bikers are close to nature because for their sport they need an intact mountain scape. When the world's best mountain bikers line up for the MTB World Cup Final in Val die Sole from September 02 - 04, they may not be sure of victory, but they can be rest assured that everything has been done to make this last World Cup race climate friendly.

Val di Sole is located northwest of Trento in Italy. A large part of the area is a protected nature conservation area. The landscape is characterized by mountains, torrents, and forests.

Although cycling is considered one of the most climate-friendly sports, CO₂ emissions are inevitably produced even at cycling events. To minimize the event's impact on nature and the climate, the organizers worked with ClimatePartner. Together, they calculated the emissions generated by the event.They considered the teams' overnight stays, catering, local transportation and athletes' travel. Travel accounted for 94.8% of the emissions generated. After calculating the emissions, the second and most important step is to reduce and avoid them. The organizers are planning the following measures for the event:

• Eliminate plastic bottles by installing refill stations and distributing reusable water bottles to all participants
• Use of local ingredients for the meals on site
• Use of compostable cutlery and tableware
• Provide meals as needed to prevent food waste
• Sustainable waste management
• Accommodation of the staff, athletes, and their teams in close proximity to the event venue.

The organizer offsets the unabated emissions by investing in two carbon offset projects: clean drinking water in Sierre Leone and hydropower in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"We want to send a signal," says the director of the Val di Sole Tourist Board, Fabio Sacco, "about how important it is for those responsible for major sports and tourism events to think about greenhouse gas emissions. Alpine regions are feeling the effects of climate change more strongly every year. Looking the other way is neither farsighted nor sensible for the future of our valleys."