The time limit has been extended on stage 9 of the Tour de France, which has already been shortened by 30km, as the CPA stepped in to request that more measures be taken in line with the UCI Extreme Weather Protocol.
Tour organisers ASO announced on Saturday evening that Sunday’s stage would be shortened amidst a red weather warning in the Corrèze region, but did not initially make any other changes under the UCI Extreme Weather Protocol.
Under the protocol, as the temperatures rise through different zones and levels on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index (WBGT), organisers are recommended to provide extra shade, cooling and hydration, and possibly shorten, alter or cancel stages. On Sunday, WBGT temperatures in central France are in the protocol’s yellow to orange zone, with standard temperatures reaching 38º C.
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The CPA, the main UCI-affiliated riders’ union, released a statement on Sunday morning after further discussions with ASO to activate further measures in response to the heat.
“The CPA considers the decision to shorten the stage to be understandable and responsible given the weather conditions,” a statement read.
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“However, this situation once again highlights the need to fully implement the extreme weather conditions protocol.”
As a result, the agreed change was to extend the time limit on Sunday, in addition to the changes ASO have already made, such as allowing more feeding and bottle hand-ups during the race.
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“During the meeting, in consultation with the president of the jury and the race organization, the CPA also obtained an additional 2% increase to the time limits, in recognition of the exceptional conditions the riders are facing,” the CPA said.
On a stage designated as hilly, which stage 9 is, the time limit is between 14% and 18% depending on the average speed of the day, so it could be up to 20% at the end of the stage. This will be good news for riders like Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) who were dropped very early on Sunday as the road went up straight from the start.
As well as immediate measures for stage 9, the CPA says it has agreed with the UCI and ASO to have further involvement in decisions going forward as high heats persist at the Tour, and called for longer-term solutions to be discussed over the winter.
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“Following the discussions, it was agreed that, going forward, all parties would systematically meet to make race-related decisions whenever such difficult weather conditions endanger the riders’ health,” its statement read.
“Given the increasing frequency of extreme heat waves, the CPA reaffirms that summer race start times must evolve in order to protect athletes’ health. Riders remain fully committed to putting on the best possible show, but this must go hand in hand with adapting to the climate realities that cycling now faces.
“The CPA urgently calls for discussions to be held with all stakeholders this winter, in order to find a solution before the 2027 season.”
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