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Tour de France Stage Cut Short by Extreme Heat
11 Jul
Summary
- Sunday's Tour de France stage nine was shortened by 30 km.
- Extreme heatwave caused the organizers to alter the route.
- A red alert for heat was issued for the Correze department.
Stage nine of the Tour de France, scheduled for Sunday, will see its route shortened by 30 km (18.64 miles) owing to significant heat risks. The organizers confirmed the change on Saturday, noting that the stage from Malemort to Ussel will now cover 155.5 km instead of the originally planned 185.5 km.
This decision follows a red alert issued by Meteo-France for the Correze department due to an exceptionally intense heatwave. The altered route will divert from the original path in the neutral zone, taking the D921 directly towards Lanteuil, located 147.8 km from the finish in Ussel. French nuclear reactors also reduced output on Friday due to the heat.
All involved stakeholders, including government offices, emergency services, and civil protection organizations, remain committed to ensuring the stage proceeds smoothly. Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar, winner of the last two editions, currently leads the race.
