sports
Tour de France closes final 44 km of stage three to public over wildfire risk
Organizers restricted public access to the final 44 km of Monday's 195.9 km stage from Granollers to Les Angles after wildfires broke out near Perpignan. Race director Christian Prudhomme cited extreme fire conditions and 40 C heat in the decision made Sunday afternoon.
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Tour de France organizers closed the final 44 km of stage three to the public on Sunday afternoon because of wildfires in the eastern Pyrenees. The 195.9 km stage from Granollers, Spain, to Les Angles, France, will allow only riders and essential vehicles on the road that includes the Col du Calvaire and the finish climb.
Christian Prudhomme, the race director, said the restriction was agreed with state authorities given the fire conditions.
“We agreed, given the exceptional and frightening conditions of the fire, to limit the road to only the riders and essential organisation vehicles,” he stated. ” Temperatures of 40 C are forecast on the route, which features nearly 4,000 m of climbing. The stage starts at 11:10 BST and is expected to finish at 15:54 BST.
Nearly 3,000 people were evacuated after a wildfire ignited near Perpignan on Thursday, and the blaze remains contained within the Pyrenees-Orientales region with aircraft support. Isaac del Toro won stage two on Sunday. Jonas Vingegaard holds a narrow lead over Tadej Pogacar in the general classification.
