Tour de France organizers grapple with extreme heat, potential stage cancellations

Organizers of the Tour de France are preparing for potential route modifications as a new heatwave threatens to disrupt the cycling race, which begins Saturday in Barcelona with Tadej Pogačar aiming for his fifth victory. Climate change and extreme temperatures are presenting a significant challenge, with the possibility of stage cancellations looming.

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This is an issue that worries us greatly.

"This is an issue that worries us greatly," said Thierry Gouvenou, technical director of the Tour de France. He noted that while the race has faced disruptions before, including wars and pandemics, extreme heat has never led to a stage cancellation. However, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 44 degrees Celsius in parts of France and Spain, the situation is becoming increasingly serious.

The anticipated heatwave could impact cyclists as early as Sunday during the second stage along the Mediterranean coast. While professional cycling protocols allow for additional measures like hydration and food support, options for dealing with extreme heat are limited. Gouvenou mentioned past measures such as opening aid stations along the entire route and extending time limits, alongside providing riders with cold drinks via motorcycle escorts.

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We are not facing this for the first time, but this time the situation is worse due to the conditions we witnessed in May and June.

Moving start times to earlier in the morning is another potential solution, but the race's global broadcast schedule, which often dictates key moments occur during peak heat, complicates this. Professional cyclists have called for earlier starts to avoid the afternoon's unbearable temperatures. Pascal Chanteur, president of the French professional cyclists' union, urged for stages to begin at 9 a.m. to conclude before 2:30 p.m.

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Instead of starting the stages as late as we do now, they should be moved to 9 a.m. so that they finish before 2:30 p.m.

Organizers face logistical hurdles, as the scale of the Tour requires extensive planning. "We must not forget that over 28,000 police officers, emergency responders, and gendarmes are engaged for the Tour route," said race director Christian Prudhomme. These commitments make last-minute schedule changes difficult. The extreme heat in France last month, which set records, led to increased fatalities and closures of public services, straining emergency resources that the Tour relies upon.

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We must not forget that over 28,000 police officers, emergency responders, and gendarmes are engaged for the Tour route.