Pogacar’s Call for Calendar Reform
Tadej Pogacar, a four-time winner of the Tour de France, has advocated for a significant restructuring of the professional cycling calendar. His comments follow a stage marked by intense heat, prompting him to suggest avoiding races in hot regions during July and August. While acknowledging that such a change is beyond his control, Pogacar expressed a desire for a completely different schedule.
The Slovenian rider also addressed proposals for earlier stage starts, noting that a 10 AM start would still result in riders finishing in the heat. He suggested that starts as early as 8 AM or 9 AM, or even earlier, would be necessary to truly mitigate the impact of high temperatures. Pogacar indicated that athletes could adapt to waking up early for such schedules.
The Professional Cyclists Association (CPA) echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need to fully implement extreme weather conditions protocols. The CPA called for discussions with all stakeholders during the winter to find solutions before the summer of 2027, stressing that summer race start times must evolve to protect athlete health.
Stage Nine Amidst Challenging Conditions
The ninth stage of the Tour de France, from Malemort to Ussel, was shortened due to a heatwave, with temperatures nearing 40C. Despite the reduced distance, the undulating course, featuring three steep climbs in the final 80 kilometers and nearly 2,700 meters of altitude gain, still presented significant challenges for the peloton.
Mathieu van der Poel secured his third career Tour de France stage victory in a sprint finish. He was part of a breakaway that formed 97 kilometers from the finish. Van der Poel outmaneuvered Tobias Halland Johannessen and Tom Pidcock, who finished second and third respectively.
Pidcock, racing for Pinarello-Q36.5, reported feeling strong during the stage but encountered a mechanical issue with his gears about 25 kilometers from the finish. This problem prevented him from changing gears, impacting his ability to contest the sprint effectively against Van der Poel. Pidcock acknowledged that Van der Poel is a formidable opponent in sprint situations.
The heat continued to be a major factor, with many riders immediately seeking ice baths in team vans after crossing the finish line in Ussel. Some teams are even utilizing paddling pools and tin baths to rapidly cool riders’ core temperatures. The Decathlon CMA CGM team, for instance, travels with a portable cryotherapy unit, offering riders three-minute sessions at minus 120 degrees Celsius to aid recovery.
Van der Poel’s Performance and Future Stages
Van der Poel’s victory marked his third stage win in the Tour de France, a notable achievement given his prior focus on classics and cyclocross. This win holds personal significance, occurring 64 years to the day after his maternal grandfather, Raymond Poulidor, won his first of seven Tour de France stages.
Despite the challenging conditions, Van der Poel stated that the heat did not affect him as much during the ninth stage compared to earlier days in the race, where he had struggled with recovery. His father, Adrie van der Poel, also noted that cooler temperatures generally allow his son to perform at his best.
The Tour de France now heads into its first rest day on Monday, offering riders a temporary reprieve from the demanding conditions. However, temperatures are projected to remain high into the middle of the next week. Looking ahead, Stage 11 to Nevers is anticipated to be a bunch sprint opportunity, while Stage 12 could also conclude in a large group sprint. Stage 17, between Chambéry and Voiron, appears suitable for a breakaway attempt.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar maintained the leader’s yellow jersey, finishing six seconds behind the stage winner. He holds a lead of 2 minutes 42 seconds over Jonas Vingegaard in the general classification after stage nine.
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Source: theguardian.com
