Tour de France Cancels Spectator Access for Stage 3 Finish Due to Wildfire
A large wildfire near Les Angles in southern France forced Tour de France officials to prohibit fans from gathering at the third stage's finish line and to suspend the publicity caravan.
Organisers of the Tour de France announced on Monday that spectators would be barred from the finish area of the race’s third stage after a wildfire erupted in the Pyrénées-Orientales region. The fire, which has consumed roughly 1,821 hectares, required extensive deployment of firefighting crews, security forces and other agencies, prompting authorities to prioritise public safety and protection of property and natural areas.
"The top priority remains the protection of people, property, and natural areas, as well as bringing the fire under control," officials said.
The race, which entered France after two stages in Spain, was set to conclude the stage in the Pyrenees town of Les Angles, about 60 km from the blaze. The usual 10-kilometre publicity caravan will not run, and only riders and essential race vehicles will be allowed on the route. Spectators have been asked to avoid gathering along the roadside or at the finish zone.
Stage three began in Granollers, Spain, where temperatures reached around 35 °C. Nearly 700 firefighters are battling the fire, and more than two dozen villages were ordered evacuated on Sunday night. The incident coincides with a broader heatwave affecting much of Europe, including widespread wildfires in Greece, Spain and Portugal.