France does not rule out suspending stages of the Tour due to the heatwave

The Tour de France kicks off from Barcelona under the threat of extreme heat, something that just a few years ago was not part of the conversations about the race. Forecasts indicate temperatures that could reach 44 degrees in some parts of Spain and France over the next few days, a situation that has led both the organization and the French authorities to prepare exceptional measures.

The heat is already changing the Tour: Prudhomme admits it influences the route design and France does not rule out canceling stages

In statements to the newspaper L’Équipe on the eve of the Grand Départ, the Tour director, Christian Prudhomme, acknowledged that high temperatures are already influencing the way the routes of the French round are designed. This is a relatively new factor for the organization, but it is increasingly significant when selecting climbs and stages.

“For the past five or six years, we have been exploring options in wooded areas,” Prudhomme explained. “The climb to Col du Haag is a perfect example. It is very tough, very irregular, and it is also in the shade.”

The French leader made it clear, however, that this new reality will not mean the disappearance of the great mountain icons. “That doesn’t mean that tomorrow we won’t have more Alpe d’Huez, Galibier, Tourmalet, or Ventoux,” he pointed out. “But in the planning of our routes, there is now an element that was not present before.”

More water, more ice, and constant monitoring

RECOMENDADO

The Tour de France is cutting its prize money in 2026: here's how the 2.3 million euros will be distributed

When does the Tour de France 2026 start: dates, favorites, route, and how to watch

Jenny Rissveds wins the Short Track in La Thuile with a powerful final attack

Pogacar and Marc Márquez are training together ahead of the 2026 Tour de France

La Thuile makes its debut in the XCO/XCC World Cup: favorites, schedule, and how to watch

Evenepoel's Specialized time trial prototype has been spotted

The organization has been working for weeks with the UCI, the teams, and the riders' representatives to address the expected conditions during this edition.

Prudhomme confirmed that the Tour will implement the measures outlined in the UCI High Temperature Protocol, which allows for the flexibility of certain rules when the heat reaches extreme levels.

“There are possibilities to expand the supply zones and to establish more generous time limits. We are going to deploy an additional motorcycle with cold water and we have requested more ice,” he explained.

The Tour director insisted that there is ongoing communication with all involved parties and that decisions will be made based on the evolution of temperatures. “We are in constant contact with the UCI, the riders' representatives, and the teams. Everything will depend on the temperatures,” he stated.

France opens the door to canceling stages

The concern is not limited to the peloton. According to L’Équipe and reported by the EFE agency, the French Ministry of the Interior has sent a circular to government delegates in the regions through which the race will pass, authorizing extraordinary measures if the situation requires it.

The document even contemplates the possibility of suspending a stage of the Tour if the safety of the public, the deployed personnel, and the emergency services' response capacity cannot be guaranteed simultaneously.

The circular, signed by the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, also orders the reinforcement of water distribution among spectators, increasing shaded areas, distributing caps and fans, and setting up refreshment points along the route.

Additionally, authorities may request medical reinforcements at certain stages, close specific areas if conditions warrant it, and even prohibit the consumption of alcohol in some sections of the route to reduce the risk of dehydration.

A Tour where any climb can be decisive

Beyond the weather issue, Prudhomme also defended the philosophy of the 2026 route, reminding that modern cycling no longer necessarily needs the most legendary climbs to create spectacle.

“Years ago, we wondered what obstacles we needed to provoke an attack from the favorites, and I even remember a champion saying that Mont Ventoux was not hard enough,” he recalled.

Now, however, he believes that riders like Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, Paul Seixas, or Remco Evenepoel are capable of blowing up the race on any terrain.

With heat becoming a more strategic factor and the French authorities prepared for exceptional scenarios, the Tour de France 2026 starts with an additional challenge that goes far beyond the fight for the yellow jersey.