The Tour is keeping Stage 3, but is banning spectators from the finish due to the wildfires

The third stage of the Tour de France 2026 will finally take place this Monday, but it will do so under completely exceptional conditions. The wildfires affecting the French department of the Eastern Pyrenees have forced the authorities to prohibit the presence of spectators in the last 40 kilometers of the route and to cancel the passage of the traditional promotional caravan in French territory.

The fires force the Tour de France to close the last 40 km of stage 3 to the public

After it was even considered on Sunday to suspend the stage between Granollers and Les Angles, the organization finally confirmed that the race will go ahead, although with significant restrictions to ensure safety and facilitate the work of emergency services.

The decision affects the final stretch of a 196-kilometer stage, just as the peloton enters France. Fans who planned to attend the finish will not be able to witness live the last two scoring climbs: the Col du Calvaire (11.4 km at 4.1%) and the final ascent to Les Angles (1.7 km at 6.5%).

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The French authorities have been categorical. The prefect of the Eastern Pyrenees, Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, announced that access will be restricted exclusively to the riders and essential vehicles for the development of the event.

“The promotional caravan will not circulate in French territory. Access will be limited to the passage of the riders and essential vehicles for the organization of the race”.

Additionally, he sent a direct message to fans: “We ask the public not to approach the route or the finish area. In other words, and I regret to have to announce it, it will be, at least in France, a stage of the Tour de France without spectators”.

Prudhomme: “The first thing is to protect people”

The director of the Tour de France, Christian Prudhomme, supported the decision after the second stage in Barcelona, explaining that the absolute priority is safety.

“We could not do anything else. The first thing is to protect people. We have to think about the firefighters and all the people who are doing everything possible to combat the fires”.

Subsequently, Prudhomme confirmed that the organization agreed with the prefecture to eliminate the passage of the promotional caravan during the last 40 kilometers in France due to the seriousness of the situation.

The fire, declared on Saturday near Trevillach, has already burned around 1,500 hectares and has about 700 firefighters deployed. Although the focus is about 70 kilometers from Les Angles and does not directly affect the route of the stage, it does condition the logistics of the race and the roads used by team buses, organization, and auxiliary vehicles.

The flames have also caused road closures and evacuations of residents in the area, leading the authorities to minimize any additional movement that could hinder firefighting efforts.

Call for responsibility

Through the official channels of the State in the Eastern Pyrenees, the authorities have asked fans not to attempt to travel to the French route of the stage and to avoid any non-essential travel in the areas affected by the fire.

They have also requested to only follow information disseminated by official sources, respect the indications of firefighters and security forces, and not to overload emergency phone lines.