Another heatwave is forecast in Western Europe in the coming days, with the upcoming Tour de France set to be affected as temperatures rise.
France’s Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nunez, has announced a set of guidelines for prefects (representatives in each department of France) around the country to enact in case of a weather ‘red alert’.
L’Equipe reports that prefects will be able to take measures, including the potential cancellation of stages, if the temperature rises to dangerous levels.
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“As an exceptional measure and in consultation with the organiser and all stakeholders, you may decide to cancel a stage when health or operational conditions no longer allow us to simultaneously ensure the safety of spectators, mobilised personnel and the continuity of the response to emergencies for the population,” read a message from the Ministry of the Interior to the prefects.
During the race, Tour de France organiser ASO will provide hourly weather monitoring, while plans to safeguard fans along the route include broadcasting public safety messages, distributing water, fans, and hats, adding more shaded areas and setting up misting systems.
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As far as the riders in the Tour peloton are concerned, the UCI’s High Temperature Protocol could come into effect if the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) rises to dangerous levels at or above the red high-risk zone of 28°C. Actions can include adapting start times, neutralising sections of stages, and even race cancellations.
Less drastic measures set to be put into place during hot stages include the extension of time cuts on stages and increasing the number of motos supplying water in the race.
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Recently, national federations around Western Europe took measures to protect riders during various National Championships, and with another heatwave forecast, the same may well be seen at the Tour.
President of the French Cyclists’ Union (UNCP), Pascal Chanteur, recently told Bici.Pro that races during the summer, such as the Tour, should be raced in the morning to avoid the hottest hours of the day.
“The time has come. to sit down and work together to move up the schedule,” he said.
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“The races should start at 9:00 a.m. and finish at 2:30 p.m., and television would still benefit, because at that time people are at home and there would be a lot of spectators.
“I’m convinced it’s a matter of common sense. Why should we cyclists be forced to race in 45-degree heat?”
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme told L’Equipe that ASO are in “constant contact” with the Minister of the Interior to keep tabs on the situation. He also outlined the measures being taken to protect people during the Tour.
“We are in constant contact with the Ministry of the Interior; just yesterday (Thursday) we were speaking with the Prime Minister’s chief of staff,” he said.
“And this entire system is planned in the same way every year. A prefect can always make decisions of this kind for the good of the population. It’s all common sense. For the riders, we apply the UCI protocol.
“For the public, on France Télévisions, on Radio France, on ICI’s local stations, at the start and finish of stages, and along the Tour route, we regularly broadcast common-sense messages about the heat. This year again, the caravan will distribute 2,500,000 hats or caps, 550,000 cans of water, and 400,000 litres of water.”
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