Wildfires across region force Tour de France to reroute final stage

The ongoing wildfires in southwest France have necessitated a significant change to the final stage of the Tour de France, organizers announced. The race's concluding leg, originally set to be a 132.5-kilometer ride from Thoiry down the Champs-Elysees in Paris, has been reconfigured due to the emergency response efforts.

The Amaury Sport Organisation stated that numerous wildfires, particularly in the Gironde region, have mobilized emergency services. Internal security forces are also working to secure affected areas and protect the population. Consequently, the Ministry of Interior has decided to redeploy some of the security forces initially assigned to the Tour de France to reinforce wildfire response efforts.

This diversion of resources means the final stage will now be shorter and confined entirely within Paris boundaries, covering just 89 kilometers. Cyclists will complete two extra circuits along the Champs-Elysees before a climb on Montmartre, a popular route used in the 2024 Paris Olympics and added to the 2025 Tour de France. The Montmartre circuit is known for accommodating large gatherings and creating a festive atmosphere.

The wildfires have already led to the evacuation of around 200,000 people. This is not the first time the race has been affected; earlier in the Tour, fans were asked to stay away from the final 40 kilometers of Stage 3 due to similar wildfire concerns and the need to deploy first responders.

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As numerous wildfires are currently affecting France, particularly the Gironde region, emergency services are fully mobilized to combat the blazes, while internal security forces are working to secure the affected areas and protect the population. In light of this, the Ministry of Interior has decided to redeploy a portion of the internal security forces initially mobilized to ensure security for the final stage of the Tour de France, in order to reinforce the response efforts in the areas affected by the wildfires.