Wildfires and heat force Tour de France fans to stay home

Tour de France organizers have issued an "exceptional measure for an exceptional situation" by asking spectators to stay away from the first Pyrenean stage due to a significant wildfire. The blaze, which has already consumed nearly 1,500 hectares in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, is being fanned by wind and fueled by dry, hot weather.

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Exceptional fire, exceptional measure at the Tour.

"A massive deployment of our firefighters' forest fire-fighting resources, but also of internal security forces and all state services" is required to combat the fire, according to prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe. The fire is located about 70 kilometers from Les Angles, the expected finish line for the third stage.

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A massive deployment of our firefighters' forest fire-fighting resources, but also of internal security forces and all state services.

Adding to the challenges, an extreme heatwave is gripping France, with temperatures potentially exceeding 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday's stage to Foix. "This is a topic that worries us greatly," said Thierry Gouvenou, the Tour's technical director, noting the urgency this year after two difficult phases already. France experienced an exceptional heatwave in June, with the highest nationwide temperatures since record-keeping began in 1947, leading to an estimated 2,000 deaths.

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This is a topic that worries us greatly.

Despite the environmental concerns, professional riders express confidence in their preparedness for the heat. "The entire team was in the Sierra for altitude training, where it was already extremely hot," said German rider Florian Lipowitz. "Now there have been extremely high temperatures across Europe, so I think everyone will be prepared for the heat." Teams are employing cooling strategies, including ice and water, and organizers are enhancing support with more aid stations and extended cut-off times.

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The entire team was in the Sierra for altitude training, where it was already extremely hot. Now there have been extremely high temperatures across Europe, so I think everyone will be prepared for the heat.