Riders face extreme heat in Tour de France
Riders face extreme heat in Tour de France
Tadej Pogacar has advocated for significant alterations to the professional cycling calendar, suggesting that races should avoid July and August in warmer regions. His comments followed a stage of the Tour de France marked by high temperatures. Mathieu van der Poel secured victory in the shortened ninth stage from Malemort to Ussel, with Tom Pidcock finishing third.
Pogacar, a four-time winner of the Tour de France, said that if he had the power he would change all the calendar and not race in July and August in hot places. He also suggested that stages could start earlier, mentioning that starting at eight or nine, or even before, would be needed to mitigate the impact of the heat. He acknowledged that this would require riders to adapt to waking up earlier.
The ninth stage, which featured three challenging climbs in its final 80 kilometres and nearly 2,700 metres of altitude gain, was shortened due to the heatwave. Despite the reduced distance, the intense pace and demanding terrain had considerable effects on many riders in the peloton.
Team tactics and rider efforts
Tom Pidcock, racing for Pinarello-Q36.5, had a strong performance on the day, despite experiencing a saddle sore. He was a key participant in a 15-rider breakaway group that included former world road race champion Van der Poel of Alpecin-Premier Tech. Pidcock noted that his performance level was higher than in previous breakaways, although a mechanical issue with his gears affected his sprint.
The tactics employed by UAE Team Emirates-XRG during Stage 9 generated discussion among cycling commentators. The team, with riders like Tim Wellens and Felix Grossschartner, maintained a high pace at the front of the peloton. While some speculated that this was to set up Pogacar for a stage win, others suggested it was a strategy to exhaust rival teams.
Jonathan Vaughters, chief of EF Education-EasyPost, commented that UAE Team Emirates-XRG‘s actions likely fatigued many riders. He suggested that psychologically, being at the front and dictating the pace can be beneficial, even if it expends more energy. Robbie McEwen, however, disagreed, believing that the team was riding with a clear objective to win the stage.
Pogacar himself explained that after the climbs, his team intended to push to the finish, but other teams then took up the chase. He concluded that it was a favourable day for his team. Pidcock‘s race was nearly derailed by a small rock becoming lodged in his shifter, according to Q36.5 general manager Doug Ryder.
Addressing extreme weather conditions
The prevalence of hot days in the Tour de France means that riders often resort to measures such as ice vests, ice socks, and cold drinks. Beyond the finish line in Ussel, many riders were observed using ice baths in team vans, with some teams even employing paddling pools and tin baths to rapidly lower core temperatures. The Paul Seixas’s Decathlon CMA CGM team uses a portable cryotherapy unit to aid rider recovery.
The Professional Cyclists Association (CPA) has emphasised the need for further action to safeguard rider welfare, particularly highlighting the importance of fully implementing the extreme weather conditions protocol. The CPA echoed Pogacar’s sentiments, advocating for changes to summer race start times to protect athlete health and calling for discussions with all stakeholders during the winter to find solutions before the summer of 2027.
Tiesj Benoot, a teammate of Paul Seixas, felt that shortening the stage did not significantly alleviate the challenges for the peloton, noting that riders had already endured eight days of similar heat. Christian Prudhomme, the Tour director, stated that an earlier start for the Ussel stage was not logistically feasible, citing difficulties in waking riders at 5 AM, despite this already occurring for anti-doping controls. The upcoming rest day on Monday is expected to offer some relief from the racing, though temperatures are predicted to remain high into the middle of next week.
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Source: theguardian.com
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
