Paris: Tour de France final stage rerouted due to wildfires
Tour de France Stage Alterations
The final stage of the Tour de France has been rerouted due to what organizers describe as “exceptional circumstances” related to wildfires in southwestern France. The alterations to Stage 21 mean the route has been shortened and will now take place entirely within Paris city limits. This decision comes as emergency services are heavily engaged in managing the ongoing crisis, which has necessitated the evacuation of 200,000 people.
The stage, originally planned for 133 kilometers, has been reduced to 89km. While it will still conclude with the traditional passage down Paris’ Champs-Élysées and a finishing circuit on Montmartre, the start from Thoiry has been removed. Riders will now begin the stage at 5:50 p.m. local time (11:50 ET) and are scheduled to finish around 7:45 p.m. local time (1:45 p.m. ET).
The Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the race organizers, issued a statement explaining the changes. They noted that numerous wildfires are affecting France, particularly the Gironde region, leading to the full mobilization of emergency services to combat the blazes. Internal security forces are also working to secure affected areas and protect the population.
Emergency Service Redeployment
The Ministry of Interior made the decision to redeploy a portion of the internal security forces initially assigned to secure the final stage of the Tour de France. This redeployment aims to reinforce response efforts in the wildfire-affected areas. The ASO statement emphasized that this adjustment to the route, originally planned between Thoiry and Paris for Sunday, July 26, 2026, was made in a spirit of national solidarity with the affected regions and populations.
This marks the second instance in this year’s Tour de France where wildfires have impacted a stage. Previously, fans were advised against attending the final 40km of Stage 3, located near the Spanish border, to reduce pressure on emergency services in that region. The ongoing wildfire situation has thus had a significant impact on the logistical planning of the event.
Despite the shortened route, the key features of the Parisian circuit remain. Riders will complete two additional laps of the Champs-Élysées, and the three laps of the circuit up and over Montmartre are still included. The Montmartre climb, introduced in recent years, has added complexity to what was traditionally a ceremonial final stage, moving it away from being a pure sprint stage.
Impact on the Race and Riders
Last year, Tadej Pogacar finished second on the Champs-Élysées after being dropped by Wout van Aert on the final ascent of Montmartre. This year, the Montmartre climb is positioned 12km from the finish line, an increase from six kilometers, which is intended to create more opportunities for sprinters.
The start in Thoiry, while cut from the race route, will still host the caravan and allow fans to see the riders at the teams’ presentation. Following this, the riders will return to their team buses and be transported to the French capital to commence the stage. This logistical change ensures that local fans in Thoiry can still experience a part of the event.
The Prefect of Police and the Director of the Tour de France have commended the dedication of those fighting the wildfires and expressed solidarity with the affected communities. They also extended their gratitude to the riders, teams, local authorities, partners, and the public for their understanding regarding these necessary exceptional measures. The stage is set to finish at 7:45 p.m. local time on July 26, 2026.
Source: nytimes.com
