Overview
- Race organisers shortened Stage 9 by about 30km after a red heat alert in Corrèze on July 12 to reduce riders' exposure to extreme temperatures.
- Tadej Pogacar said he would overhaul the cycling calendar to avoid racing in hot July and August locations and urged much earlier stage starts to limit finishing in peak heat.
- The riders' union Cyclistes Professionnels Associés has demanded stricter use of the UCI Extreme Weather Protocol and asked for stakeholder discussions this winter to find solutions before 2027.
- Tour director Christian Prudhomme acknowledged the safety concerns but said changing start times or dates faces major logistical hurdles with police, medical teams, local authorities, volunteers and broadcasters.
- Sustained 35–40°C conditions have forced teams to rely on ice, repeated water pours and other cooling methods, altered tactics and widened time gaps on hard stages, raising health and fairness questions for future summer racing.