Tadej Pogacar calls for major calendar changes amid Tour de France heatwave
Tadej Pogacar, a four-time Tour de France winner, has advocated for significant alterations to the professional cycling calendar. His comments follow a day of intense temperatures during the ninth stage of the Tour de France, where riders faced stifling heat. Mathieu van der Poel secured victory in the shortened stage from Malemort to Ussel, with Tom Pidcock finishing in third place.
Pogacar expressed a desire to avoid racing in hot regions during July and August, suggesting a completely different calendar if he had the authority to implement such changes. He also mentioned that while starting stages earlier, such as at 8 or 9 AM, could be a step, it might not fully address the issue of finishing in the heat. He noted that the body could adapt to early starts, but emphasized the broader need for calendar reform.
The ninth stage, despite being shortened due to a heatwave, presented considerable challenges with its undulating terrain, including three steep climbs in the final 80 kilometers and nearly 2,700 meters of altitude gain. The demanding conditions had a notable impact on many riders in the peloton.
Stage Nine Action and Rider Reactions
Mathieu van der Poel, representing Alpecin-PremierTech, claimed his third stage victory at the Tour de France in a sprint finish. The 31-year-old Dutchman finished ahead of Tobias Johannessen of Denmark and Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock, who rides for Pinarello-Q36.5. Van der Poel described the day as “super-hard” but felt the heat was more manageable than in earlier stages of the Tour. He noted that he had been struggling to recover but felt stronger in recent days, allowing him to contend for the win.
Pidcock, despite having what he called a “manageable” saddle sore, had a strong performance, actively participating in a 15-rider breakaway group that included Van der Poel. However, a mechanical issue approximately 25 kilometers from the finish, which prevented him from changing gears, hindered his chances in the final sprint. He acknowledged that Van der Poel is a formidable opponent in such sprint situations.
The ninth stage was shortened by approximately 30 kilometers due to a “red alert” issued by French authorities regarding temperatures approaching 40C. This marks the second stage of this year’s Tour impacted by weather, with stage three also affected by wildfires near the Spanish-French border, leading to restrictions for fans.
Calls for Change and Logistical Challenges
The Professional Cyclists Association (CPA) has highlighted the need for further measures to safeguard rider well-being, particularly in light of the extreme weather conditions. The CPA emphasized the importance of fully implementing the extreme weather conditions protocol and echoed Pogacar’s sentiments that summer race start times must evolve to protect athlete health. The association called for discussions with all stakeholders during the winter to find solutions before the summer of 2027.
Some riders, including Luke Durbridge, an Australian rider participating in his 12th Tour de France, noted the “insanely hot” conditions and appreciated the stage shortening. Durbridge suggested that future changes to start times might be necessary given global warming trends. However, Tiesj Benoot, a teammate of Paul Seixas, felt that shortening the stage by 40 minutes did not significantly alter the experience, as riders had already endured eight days of similar heat.
Christian Prudhomme, the Tour de France director, stated that an earlier start for the stage to Ussel was not feasible due to logistical constraints. He mentioned that waking riders at 5 AM, though already occurring for anti-doping controls, presents difficulties. Teams are employing various methods to help riders cope with the heat, including ice vests, ice socks, cold drinks, and even portable cryotherapy units, with Benoot describing a three-minute session in a capsule at minus 120 degrees as more intense than an ice bath. The upcoming rest day on Monday is expected to provide some relief, though temperatures are forecast to remain high into the middle of next week.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar maintained the leader’s yellow jersey, finishing in the chasing peloton six seconds behind the stage winner, heading into Monday’s first rest day.
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Source: theguardian.com
