The final stage of the Tour de France will be shortened to just 89km on Sunday after the French interior ministry redirected security forces from the race to areas devastated by wildfires. More than 36,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed around the Arcachon lagoon near Bordeaux and around Biscarrosse in the Landes. The stage will now start on the Champs-Élysées rather than following the traditional route into Paris.
In a joint statement with the prefecture police, Tour organiser ASO said the ministry had decided to redeploy a portion of internal security forces initially mobilised for the final stage to reinforce response efforts in fire-affected areas. Two laps of the Champs-Élysées will be followed by circuits of the Butte Montmartre. This marks the third stage of this year's race subjected to prefecture intervention due to wildfires or heatwave conditions.
Pogacar's Dominant Lead
Tadej Pogacar is set to secure a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title in Paris on Sunday evening. The four-time champion leads his closest challenger, Remco Evenepoel, by six minutes and 26 seconds heading into the shortened final stage. On Saturday, Richard Carapaz won the 20th stage, while Pogacar could afford to concede 39 seconds to Evenepoel. A day earlier, Pogacar set a record time up Alpe d'Huez's famous hairpin bends to extend his overall lead.
Pogacar worked to protect the interests of his third-placed UAE teammate, Isaac del Toro, on Saturday's final mountain stage. Carapaz attacked on the first climb, the Col de la Croix de Fer, seeking to consolidate his lead in the King of the Mountains classification. The Ecuadorian held on to take his second stage win in three days and secured the polka dot jersey.
Crowd Control Failures Spark Safety Debate
Friday's chaotic climb to Alpe d'Huez generated significant fallout over dangerous spectator behaviour. Several incidents endangered both riders and fans, rebooting debate over the safety of Tour stages on the Alpe. In-race motorbikes blocked by crowds stalled an attack from Evenepoel. A lack of crowd control led to Movistar climber Einer Rubio abandoning the race after riding into the rear windscreen of a UAE team car.
The crash was caused by an unruly spectator falling in front of the car, forcing it to suddenly brake. Rubio was transported by helicopter to hospital in Grenoble, where he received 20 stitches for facial injuries. Race director Thierry Gouvenou said the accident wouldn't have happened with cars from 20 years ago, apparently blaming the braking sensors in the vehicle.
Footage showed fans wrestling each other over gifts from the caravane publicitaire and climbing over moving race vehicles. French national champion Romain Grégoire said spectators were "so drunk that it was more like being slapped on the arse, than getting pushes." Evenepoel's Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe sports director, Klaas Lodewyck, said: "As long as they're cheering on the riders and creating a good atmosphere, it's fine. But when they start punching in side mirrors and banging on the windows, that's crossing the line."
Mountain Stage Drama
Fatigue and frayed nerve endings played their part in the Tour's hardest mountain stage. Ilan Van Wilder, 12th overall when the stage began, crashed out after falling on the descent of the Croix de Fer. A spat between Carapaz and French climber Lenny Martinez rumbled on into Saturday morning after the Ecuadorian angrily accused the Frenchman of "cutting in front" of him on the final corner on Friday. Martinez said: "I knew I had to be first through the corner. We're not at Club Med - I'm not letting him go first."
Most of the real drama came on the narrow climb of the Col de Sarenne, where Paul Seixas lost ground on Pogacar, Del Toro and Evenepoel. Visma-Lease a Bike's Sepp Kuss crashed on the exit of a tunnel while descending towards a probable stage win on the Alpe, then moments later almost toppled into the void on a fast bend. The American came close to disappearing over a cliff edge but was stopped by crash netting mounted alongside the road. His mistake let the pursuing Carapaz speed past.
Why This Matters:
The redeployment of security forces from a major sporting event to firefighting operations highlights the strain on France's internal security resources during concurrent emergencies. The wildfires have destroyed more than 36,000 hectares of forest, requiring a response that takes precedence over ceremonial policing. Meanwhile, the crowd control failures on Alpe d'Huez expose organisational shortcomings that put athletes at serious risk. Rubio's hospitalisation with facial injuries requiring 20 stitches demonstrates that inadequate security planning has real consequences. The debate over race safety versus spectator access reflects broader questions about event management standards and liability when public enthusiasm crosses into dangerous disorder. France's ability to host major international events depends on demonstrating it can maintain order and protect participants.