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[SPORTS] · France, Spain · 100 sources

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Pogacar leads Tour de France as wildfires force route changes

Tadej Pogacar entered the final day of the 2026 Tour de France with a commanding lead in the yellow jersey, extending his advantage to over seven minutes ahead of Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro. On the penultimate mountain stage, Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz claimed a decisive victory on Alpe d’Huez, securing the polka‑dot (mountains) jersey, while Pogacar retained overall control.

Severe wildfires in the Gironde region prompted French security forces to be redeployed, leading organizers to shorten the final Paris stage from 133 km to 89 km and to alter the circuit, reducing the number of laps on the traditional Champs‑Élysées route and adjusting the three‑lap Montmartre climb. The changes were announced jointly by race organiser ASO and the police prefecture, citing the need to support firefighting efforts.

Pogacar, who celebrated a record‑fast ascent of Alpe d’Huez on stage 19, said, “It is very cool to win up here, and it was a crazy atmosphere the whole climb,” praising his team’s support. Carapaz’s stage win and mountain‑jersey lead were highlighted as key battles heading into the shortened finale in Paris.

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