Tour de France fans have been urged not to attend the end of the third stage because of wildfires in the south of France.Monday’s mountain stage will begin in Granollers, Spain, and conclude within 60 kilometres (37.3 miles) of some of the worst of the fires across the border in Les Angles. While the 195.9km route is not expected to change, Tour organisers have asked fans and unessential personnel to stay away from the final 40km.
“An exceptional fire calls for exceptional measures for the Tour,” said race director Christian Prudhomme. “We invite the public not to come to the edge of the race or to the finish site.” Organisers can prevent fans entering the finish site but are unable to monitor the whole of the final 40km of the route. Europe has been dealing with extreme heat and wildfires during the past few weeks, with a record-breaking heatwave recorded in June.
The fire that has affected the Tour is currently being contained within the Pyrenees-Orientales region, where aircraft have been deployed to battle the blaze. A key stretch of the mountain pass providing access to the race will be closed. Nearly 3,000 people were evacuated after a wildfire ignited near Perpignan on Thursday. “We obviously think first of all of the populations who are affected by the fire, of all those who have to move, and then we also think about the people who would be here to host the Tour,” added Prudhomme. Jonas Vingegaard holds a narrow lead over reigning champion Tadej Pogacar in the general classification standings after Isaac del Toro won stage two on Sunday.