Wildfire in Southern France Forces Tour Stage Without Spectators

The stage starts in Granollers in Spain and finishes in the French town of Les Angles. The finish is expected at around 5 p.m. As the broadcaster BFMTV reported, 5,000 people have already been evacuated because of the wildfire. The fire, which is described as "raging out of control," has, according to preliminary figures, affected almost 1,500 hectares of land; other estimates put the figure at more than 1,500 hectares. The fire is located around 70 kilometers from Les Angles.

Measures for the Stage

The responsible prefecture called on the public to neither come to the route nor to the finish at Les Angles. "Several thousand people have been brought to safety," the prefecture said. This is intended to keep rescue routes clear and allow the fire service to operate without obstruction. According to Tour regulations, cancellations or modifications to stages are only possible in exceptional cases and in consultation with the organizer.

In parallel to the acute wildfire situation, the Tour crew is grappling with a heat wave. France experienced an exceptional heat wave in June with the highest nationwide temperatures since weather records began in 1947. According to initial calculations, around 2,000 people died as a result. On Tuesday, the thermometer could reach more than 40 degrees on the stage to Foix.

Heat Stress and Reaction of the Teams

Tour director Christian Prudhomme, given the conditions, offered behavioral tips for the spectators remaining along the route: "One should wear something on the head and have water with one." He also thanked the people "in advance for their understanding and their indulgence." Tour technical director Thierry Gouvenou told the newspaper L'Équipe: "This is a subject that causes us great concern. It is not the first year we have been confronted with this, but this time it is even more urgent because we have already had two difficult phases behind us."

Gouvenou announced additional measures to L'Équipe: more generous supply zones, longer time limits for being dropped from the main peloton, and an additional cooling motorcycle. Prudhomme explained that changing conditions would influence route planning, for instance through more climbs in wooded areas. Images from Sunday showed riders putting ice cubes into their jerseys.

Immediately after the finish, riders receive cooling vests and ice baths. The German Florian Lipowitz explained his team's preparation: "The entire team was in the Sierra for altitude training, and it was already extremely hot there. Now there have been extremely high temperatures across Europe, so I think everyone will be prepared for the heat." Lipowitz also referred to "a strategy for cooling – ice and water. I think we are prepared." The caravan distributes sun hats and non-alcoholic drinks.

Study Warns of Growing Heat Risk

A study published in February in the journal Scientific Reports by the French Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) and other institutions concludes that the risk of heat stress at all race venues has increased significantly over time. The research group recommends a long-term adaptation of safety concepts, routes, and schedules to the growing heat risk; the morning is the safest time of day.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez turned to the prefects of the départements along the route. The situation remains serious: after the evacuations and the closure of the finish zone in Les Angles, attention is also turning to the following days, on which the Tour will continue through the Pyrenees. The wildfire and the heat wave make the third stage one of the most unusual in the history of the race.

For the organizers, the double burden of wildfire and heat is a stress test. Prudhomme had already previously announced that changed climate conditions would be incorporated into planning. With this year's edition, in which both factors occur simultaneously, calls for a permanent adjustment of the race format are growing louder.