French wildfires jeopardise finish line of Tour de France's third stage
Officials will decide by day’s end whether to alter the 3rd stage as 750 firefighters battle a blaze that has burned 1,500 hectares.
- On Sunday, Eastern Pyrenees department prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe said authorities will decide "by the end of the day" whether to adapt or cancel the Tour de France's third stage amid a raging wildfire.
- Starting Friday in Spain's Costa Brava, the blaze spread into France, ravaging more than 1,600 hectares and prompting officials to mobilize 750 firefighters and 200 vehicles to contain the 18 km fire front.
- Race director Christian Prudhomme announced the route remains unchanged, though officials closed access roads and curtailed the publicity caravan, requiring cyclists to proceed autonomously with essential staff only.
- The third stage, set to finish in Les Angles, remains closed to the public as the blaze continues spreading roughly 60 km from the finish line, prioritizing firefighting efforts.
- French fire service Colonel Eric Belgioino warned "the season is going to be long for the soldiers fighting fires," noting current blazes follow June heatwaves scientists deemed "virtually impossible" without climate change.
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Due to forest fires, the Tour de France is significantly reducing the third stage: advertising caravans are eliminated, access is restricted.
Algemeen Dagblad
In southern France, 10,000 people are being evacuated due to the severe wildfires. And the Tour de France is adjusting Monday's stage.
They decided to adjust the 195.9 km stage with the finish in Les Angles on the eastern side of the Pyrenees.
The third stage of the Tour de France will not take place under normal conditions on Monday. The prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales and the organizers agreed on a "adapted" stage, but also "without public". The aim is to avoid a mobilization of the public forces on the event, since they are already at work to fight the fires. - Tour de France: due to the fires, the stage on Monday will be "adapted" and "without public" (Sports).
The forest fire that is hitting the Eastern Pyrenees these days has caused the Tour de France to take exceptional measures. The third stage of the Great Boucle,...
The Volta-France organization confirmed the exceptional decision to ensure security and allow firefighters to focus on fighting the fire.
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