Heatwave forces Tour de France organisers to shorten Sunday’s stage nine
Organizers of the 2026 Tour de France have shortened the ninth stage by 30km due to a red heatwave alert in central France. The decision aims to protect rider safety amid temperatures consistently exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.
Why it matters
Extreme weather events are increasingly impacting the scheduling and viability of major international sporting events.
Tim Merlier celebrates after crossing the finish line to win stage eight. Tim Merlier celebrates after crossing the finish line to win stage eight. Tour de France 2026 Heatwave forces Tour de France organisers to shorten Sunday’s stage nine Stage eight: Tadej Pogacar untroubled in overall lead
Merlier produces superb sprint win for second day
Prefer the Guardian on Google Sunday’s ninth stage of the Tour de France has been shortened by 30km due to a red heatwave alert in the Corrèze département of central France. The stage from Malemort to Ussel will now be raced over 155.5km instead of the scheduled 185.5.
In a statement the Tour said: “This decision aims to ensure that the race can take place under conditions compatible with the red heatwave alert.”
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