Tour de France: Shortening the 9th stage is 'simply common sense,' says director Christian Prudhomme

Christian Prudhomme, the director of the Tour de France, has confirmed a decision to shorten the ninth stage of the race by 30 kilometers due to a severe heatwave. The affected stage, originally set to run between Malemort and Ussel in the Corrèze region, will now be 155.5 kilometers instead of 185.5 kilometers.

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It's a responsible decision that won't change anything on a sporting level.

Prudhomme described the decision as "responsible" and "simply common sense," emphasizing that it would not alter the sporting aspect of the race. He noted that riders have been competing in very high temperatures for ten days, and the region is under a red alert for heat. The organizers are working closely with authorities, who are already under significant strain.

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It's simply common sense.

The safety of spectators was also a key consideration. "It's also for the spectators, because they are ultimately almost the most important thing today," Prudhomme stated. He mentioned that the race leader, Tadej Pogacar, had expressed gratitude upon hearing the news from the course manager.

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Thank you.

Prudhomme clarified that there have been no direct requests from the riders to change stages or schedules. Instead, he noted that riders have thanked the organizers for the measures already implemented to cope with the heat. These include distributing 450 kg of ice daily to teams, up from 350 kg previously, and operating three "coolness motorcycles" instead of one. A large refreshment zone has also been established, stretching from kilometer 10 to within 10 kilometers of the finish line.

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We are responsible organizers, we do this with the authorities who are already very busy.