Tour de France bans spectators from third stage as fire burns in French Pyrenees

Lead

Tour de France organizers have banned spectators from the third stage of the race, which will run through the Pyrenees on Monday as a forest fire continues to burn in the area. The race route from Granollers in Spain remains unchanged, but the publicity caravan will not drive along the final 40 kilometers into France, and only racers and their support vehicles will be allowed on the course.

Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, prefect of the Pyrenees-Orientales department, announced the measures Sunday, asking spectators not to approach the route or finish area so that security forces can focus on fighting the fire. "In other words – and I regret having to say this – it will be, in France at least, a stage of the Tour de France without spectators," he said.

The fire has burned more than 1,600 hectares about 60 kilometers from the stage's finish line in Les Angles, spreading black smoke that makes breathing difficult and limits visibility to less than two meters. The main road providing access from the coast to the route has been closed.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme, who spoke with the prefect, said both had "agreed on these measures in view of the exceptional and appalling conditions of the fire," adding that "the first priority is protecting people, of course."

Coverage comparison

Reporting from France 24 and RFI provides overlapping but distinct accounts of the situation. The spectator ban, the fire's impact on the route, and the closure of the access road were consistently reported across sources, with both outlets quoting Prefect Regnault de la Mothe's confirmation of the ban. However, details on the fire's size and the number of firefighters deployed varied between reports.

France 24 reported that the fire had swept across approximately 1,500 hectares and was located about 70 kilometers from Les Angles, requiring the mobilization of some 700 firefighters. A separate RFI report stated the fire had burned more than 1,600 hectares about 60 kilometers from the finish line, with 750 firefighters, 200 vehicles, and nine water-bombing helicopters deployed. The fire started Saturday near Trevillach, according to RFI.

Both outlets noted that a decision on whether the stage would go ahead was pending as of Sunday, with the prefect saying a final call would be made by the end of the day after afternoon discussions. The race route itself remained unchanged, though the publicity caravan was canceled for the final 40 kilometers into France.

Key claims

• Spectators banned from Stage 3 through the Pyrenees due to a forest fire; race route unchanged.
• Fire burned more than 1,600 hectares approximately 60km from finish line in Les Angles; black smoke limited visibility beyond two meters.
• Fire started Saturday near Trevillach; main access road from coast closed.
• 750 firefighters, 200 vehicles, and nine water-bombing helicopters deployed (RFI); approximately 700 firefighters mobilized (France 24).
• Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, prefect of Pyrenees-Orientales, confirmed the spectator ban, saying: "In other words – and I regret having to say this – it will be, in France at least, a stage of the Tour de France without spectators."
• Seven southern French departments classified as having "very high fire risk" on Sunday by Meteo France.
• In a separate development, RFI reported that Sunday's stage was shortened by 30km due to extreme heat, reducing it from 185.5km to 155.5km, the first time in race history that high temperatures forced a route change.
• Race director Christian Prudhomme said: "We're responsible organisers, we do this with authorities who are very busy elsewhere, beyond the Tour de France."
• Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier, who won Saturday's eighth stage, supported the decision to shorten the stage, saying: "It's definitely a fight to have water, ice and drinks between the [support] cars. So for me, it's a good idea to shorten the stage."
• Race leader Tadej Pogacar described racing in the heat as "survival mode," saying: "We keep the same motto, go day by day, keep cooling the body and trying to survive each stage."

Perspectives

Race organizers (ASO, Christian Prudhomme): Emphasized the need to ensure the race can take place under conditions compatible with the red heatwave alert, and that protecting people is the first priority.

Local authorities (Prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe): Implemented safety measures including the spectator ban and road closure, expressing regret that the stage would run without spectators in France but stressing the need for security forces to focus on firefighting.

Athletes (Tim Merlier, Tadej Pogacar): Supported the route changes, noting the extreme heat made racing dangerous and that shortening the stage was a good idea, while describing the conditions as "survival mode."