Story perspectives

Tour de France Closes Pyrenees Stage Amid Wildfires

7/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Tour de France banned spectators from Pyrenees stage due to wildfires in Portugal, Spain, France and Greece.
Christian Prudhomme said the route may change if conditions worsen.
Prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe ordered the public to stay away from race route, limiting access to riders and vehicles.
Firefighters evacuated 10,500 residents Perpignan as a 1,650-hectare blaze burned, while Portugal reported 80 percent of a 13,000-hectare northern fire is under control.

History

Historical Context

The 2003 European heatwave sparked massive wildfires that burned about 215,000 ha of Portuguese forest and killed roughly 14,800 people in France, exposing the region’s lack of heat preparedness. Those fires set a precedent, and today director Christian Prudhomme must alter the Pyrenees stage as similar blazes threaten France, Spain and Portugal.

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Story summary

Tour de France banned spectators from Pyrenees stage due to wildfires in Portugal, Spain, France and Greece.
Christian Prudhomme said the route may change if conditions worsen.
Prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe ordered the public to stay away from race route, limiting access to riders and vehicles.
Firefighters evacuated 10,500 residents Perpignan as a 1,650-hectare blaze burned, while Portugal reported 80 percent of a 13,000-hectare northern fire is under control.

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