Episode 12: This episode of Kilometre 0 is a prequel to a deeper discussion of professional cycling and the environment in a future episode of The Cycling Podcast later this year.

Slowly the focus on the sport's impact on the environment and the measures race organisers, teams and individuals can take to reduce the carbon footprint has intensified. Race organisers have taken steps to reduce littering, at least one team has stated an intention to work towards being carbon neutral and there is a gradual switch to hybrid vehicles.

But what more can be done?

And what about the environment's impact on pro cycling? Will an increasing frequency of 'freak' weather events affect races, will the heat and humidity of summer become too intense for the riders' safety? Could a Tour de France held in September actually be the future rather than a one-off forced by the coronavirus pandemic?

In this episode we hear from our audio diarists and also from climate experts about the two sides of the environmental story.

Kilometre 0 by The Cycling Podcast is supported by Zwift, the app for riding, training and racing at home. Kilometre 0 is a 15-part series published on weekday mornings during the Tour de France.