Photo by Global Look Press
The joint decision was made by Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, prefect of the Pyrénées-Orientales department, and Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour de France.
Authorities have closed off spectator access to the final section of the third stage, and the traditional advertising caravan accompanying the race will not be allowed on the French section of the route. Only vehicles necessary for organizing the competition are permitted to accompany the peloton.
“The priority remains the protection of the public, property, and natural areas, as well as containing the fire,” reads a joint statement from the race organizers and the prefecture.
Pierre Régnaux de la Mot urged fans to refrain from traveling to the route and the stage finish, emphasizing that all available resources must be focused on resolving the emergency, Reuters notes.
The heat is complicating the situation
According to French authorities, the fire in the Pyrénées-Orientales department has destroyed more than 1,600 hectares of forest. In some areas, the fire front stretches up to 18 kilometers.
About 750 firefighters, more than 200 pieces of equipment, and nine aircraft are involved in fighting the fire. Two people are reported to have been injured, one of whom is a firefighter in critical condition.
The current race is taking place amid one of the earliest and most intense heat waves in Western Europe in recent years. According to weather forecasts, temperatures in southern France will remain around +40 °C in the coming days, increasing the risk of wildfires spreading further.
The Tour de France began on July 4 in Barcelona and will end on July 26 in Paris. After the third stage, the riders will face 18 more stages, including mountain stages, flat stages, and an individual time trial.
So far, the organizers have not announced any further route changes, but they acknowledge that the situation remains under constant monitoring and may require additional measures should the wildfire conditions worsen.
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