Tour de France stage shortened due to red heatwave alert
The ninth stage of the Tour de France has been shortened by 30km following a red heatwave alert issued for the Corrèze département in central France. The stage, originally planned to cover 185.5km from Malemort to Ussel, will now be raced over 155.5km. Race organisers confirmed the alteration, stating that the decision aims to ensure the event can proceed under conditions compatible with the red heatwave alert.
Temperatures have consistently approached 40C since the peloton departed Barcelona, prompting calls from some participants to adjust stage start times to avoid the afternoon heat. The French government had previously granted regional authorities the power to modify or cancel stages if necessary due to extreme weather conditions. Stage three, which traversed the Pyrenees to the ski station at Les Angles, was conducted without the publicity caravan and with spectators banned from the roadside due to nearby wildfires.
Pascal Chanteur, president of the riders’ union, has been advocating for earlier stage starts in response to the higher summer temperatures. He commented that changing start times is preferable to risking stage cancellations. The start of stage nine has also been delayed by 10 minutes, now commencing at 13:45.
Rider reactions and race dynamics
Tim Merlier, who secured his second consecutive stage victory in Bergerac, welcomed the decision to shorten the stage. The Belgian rider remarked that it was a positive idea, noting that the race had endured a week of temperatures consistently above 35 degrees. He described the conditions as a constant struggle for water, ice, and drinks among the cars, adding that this was his third Tour, but the first time he had experienced such sustained high temperatures.
Tadej Pogacar, the current leader of the Tour, rode into Bergerac without incident. He holds a lead of 2’42” over Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike in the general classification. Despite his advantage, Pogacar anticipates a challenging stage nine, describing it as potentially a “big, big fight.” He stated that his team is prepared for a difficult day.
The hilly nature of the shortened stage, featuring two sharp and steep climbs within the final 50km, could present an opportunity for Pogacar to further extend his lead. However, Marc Reef, sports director for Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike team, affirmed that his riders would remain vigilant and were not conceding. Reef expressed confidence in his team’s strategy, highlighting that the lead is only 2:40 and that significant changes can occur rapidly in the race.
Sepp Kuss, a teammate of Vingegaard, dismissed suggestions that Pogacar’s dominance was demoralising. Kuss believes that the second half of the Tour will be more favourable for Vingegaard. He acknowledged the strength of UAE Team Emirates-XRG with Pogacar and Isaac del Toro, but emphasised the need for creative strategies to utilise their own team’s strengths.
Meanwhile, Tom Pidcock is regrouping after falling nearly 10 minutes behind Pogacar in the Pyrenees. The Briton acknowledged that his current form is not at 100%, attributing it to insufficient preparation. The stage nine route will begin with a procession through Brive-la-Gaillarde before joining the adapted course and concluding in Ussel around 17:30.
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Source: theguardian.com
As NewsGB.org's Sports News Writer, Theo Marsden reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He began on a regional sports desk in Yorkshire. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Hull and completed an NCTJ diploma. Theo lives in Hull, where he follows the European Tour and amateur rugby. “Sport moves fast; readers deserve it right the first time.”