Tour de France braces for extreme heat, French officials can cancel stages

A French Interior Ministry document permits regional prefects to cancel Tour de France stages if a red heatwave alert is issued and health or operational conditions no longer allow the safety of spectators, staff and emergency services. The directive states, "you may decide to cancel a stage," and notes that cancellation would be made in consultation with the organiser. Race director Christian Prudhomme said the event has a heat protocol that considers temperature, humidity, wind and speed, and expressed confidence that the race can adapt to any conditions.

Forecasts for the July race show temperatures reaching up to 39 °C in Carcassonne, with the first half of the Tour never expected to fall below 30 °C. A June heatwave in France previously led to 2,025 excess deaths. Professional cyclists have been employing heat‑training methods—such as sauna sessions, hot‑weather rides and insulated training gear—to prepare for the conditions, but officials remain ready to modify or cancel stages if the heat becomes unsafe.