Organizers have shortened Sunday’s ninth stage of the Tour de France by 30km due to a red heatwave alert in the Corrèze département of central France. The stage, originally planned for 185.5km from Malemort to Ussel, will now be raced over 155.5km. This decision aims to ensure the race can proceed under conditions compatible with the extreme heat warning.
Temperatures nearing 40C have accompanied the peloton since its departure from Barcelona. This has led to calls from some participants to adjust stage start times to avoid the afternoon’s peak heat.
The French government had previously granted regional authorities the power to cancel or modify stages if necessary. Stage three, which passed through the Pyrenees to Les Angles, was conducted without the publicity caravan, and spectators were prohibited from the roadside due to nearby wildfires.
Pascal Chanteur, president of the riders’ union, has advocated for earlier stage starts in response to higher summer temperatures. He stated that altering start times is preferable to risking a stage cancellation.
Rider Reactions and Race Dynamics
Tim Merlier, who secured his second stage victory in Bergerac after a win in Bordeaux, expressed approval of the decision. The Belgian rider noted that after a week of racing consistently above 35 degrees Celsius, obtaining water, ice, and drinks between support cars has been challenging. He remarked that this is his third Tour, and he is unaccustomed to such sustained high temperatures.
The peloton will now bypass the original route, leaving Brive-la-Gaillarde via the D921 towards Lanteuil before rejoining the planned course with 147.8km remaining to the finish in Ussel.
Despite the shortened distance, Sunday’s hilly stage, featuring two sharp and steep climbs within the final 50km, could still provide an opportunity for Tadej Pogacar to extend his lead. The Tour leader rode into Bergerac without incident.
Marc Reef, sports director for Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a bike team, affirmed that his riders would remain vigilant regarding Pogacar and emphasized that his team is not conceding. Reef stated that they would pursue every opportunity until Paris.
Reef also commented on Pogacar’s performance in the Pyrenees, noting that the gap was not substantial on the Tourmalet. He expressed confidence in his team’s strategy, highlighting that the lead is only 2:40 and that a lost advantage can be regained. He added that significant stages where large differences can be made are still ahead.
Sepp Kuss, Vingegaard’s teammate, dismissed the notion that Pogacar’s dominance was demoralizing. He suggested that the latter half of the Tour would be more favorable for Vingegaard. Kuss acknowledged the strength of UAE Team Emirates XRG with Pogacar and Isaac del Toro, and stressed the need for creative strategies to leverage their own team’s strengths.
Meanwhile, Tom Pidcock is regrouping after falling nearly 10 minutes behind Pogacar in the Pyrenees. The British rider acknowledged that his current form is not at 100%, attributing it to insufficient preparation.
This is not the first instance where extreme heat has led to alterations in a cycling event; the French national cycling championships were also shortened in late June.
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Source: theguardian.com
