Sunday’s ninth stage of the Tour de France has been shortened by 30km due to a red heatwave alert in the Corrèze département of central France. The stage, originally planned for 185.5km, will now be raced over 155.5km from Malemort to Ussel. This decision was made to ensure the race can proceed under conditions compatible with the severe heatwave alert.
Temperatures close to 40C have been a consistent factor for the peloton since the race departed from Barcelona. Some participants have called for earlier start times to avoid the afternoon heat. The French government had previously granted regional authorities the power to cancel or adapt stages if necessary, a measure that was applied during stage three through the Pyrenees, which saw the publicity caravan and spectators banned from the roadside due to nearby wildfires.
Organisers adapt to extreme conditions
The organiser of the Tour de France, ASO, announced the change shortly after Tim Merlier secured his second stage win in Bergerac. A press release from ASO stated that Météo-France had placed the Corrèze department on red alert due to an exceptionally intense heatwave, necessitating the route adjustment for stage nine.
As a result of the alteration, the stage will commence 10 minutes later than originally scheduled, at 13:45 CET. Riders will take a small diversion out of Malemort, but the remainder of the stage, including the finish in Ussel, will remain unchanged. The stage is now anticipated to conclude around 17:30 CET.
Pascal Chanteur, president of the riders’ union, which has advocated for earlier stage starts in response to higher summer temperatures, commented that it is preferable to adjust start times rather than risk cancelling a stage.
Riders react to stage changes
Tim Merlier, who achieved back-to-back victories by winning stage eight in Bergerac after his sprint triumph in Bordeaux, welcomed the decision to shorten the stage. The Belgian rider stated, “It’s not a bad idea in my opinion. We have now had one week of racing, always in 35 degrees. It’s a fight to have water, ice and drinks between the cars, so for me it’s a good idea to shorten the stage.”
Merlier further noted that this is only his third Tour, and every day has seen temperatures higher than 35 degrees, an experience he is unaccustomed to in his career. He expressed gratitude to the organisation for attempting to address the challenging conditions.
This marks the second instance this year that ASO has had to modify stages. Previously, during stage three to Les Angles, organisers requested fans to avoid the finish area due to wildfires in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. According to ProCyclingStats, stage four into Foix recorded an average temperature of 36.5°C for over four hours, making it the hottest stage at the race since the website began its records in 2007.
General classification implications
Despite the shortened route, Sunday’s hilly stage, featuring two sharp and steep climbs within the final 50km, could still present an opportunity for Tadej Pogacar to extend his lead. Pogacar, the current Tour leader, rode into Bergerac without incident. He holds an advantage over Jonas Vingegaard in the general classification.
Marc Reef, sports director for Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a bike team, indicated that his riders would remain vigilant regarding Pogacar and affirmed that his team is not conceding. Reef stated, “We will look for every chance all the way to Paris.” He added that the gap on the Tourmalet was not substantial and expressed belief in their strategy, noting that the lead could be gained or lost in a single day. Vingegaard’s teammate, Sepp Kuss, dismissed the notion that Pogacar’s performance was demoralising, suggesting that the second half of the Tour would be more favourable for Jonas.
Tom Pidcock is currently regrouping after falling nearly 10 minutes behind Pogacar in the Pyrenees. He acknowledged his current form, stating, “I know that my shape is not 100%, but in the Tour you can’t really miss work in the build up. It shows.”
Pogacar, whose UAE Team Emirates XRG colleague Isaac del Toro is a strong contender, is reportedly anticipating a challenging stage nine. When asked about potentially relinquishing the yellow jersey on Sunday, Pogacar responded, “It depends who is in front. It’s going to be a big, big fight. We are ready for a hard day tomorrow.”
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Source: theguardian.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
