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Tour de France Final Stage Cut and Moved to Paris Over Wildfire Emergency

The change frees security forces to reinforce firefighting to protect civilians in fire-hit regions.

Overview

  • Organisers and the Paris police announced that the 21st stage will be shortened from 133 km to 89 km and held essentially inside Paris to match reduced security capacity.
  • The revised route starts and finishes on the Champs-Élysées, includes two initial laps and the Montmartre circuit, and is expected to finish around 17:45 GMT.
  • Team presentation will take place in Thoiry and riders will be transported by bus to Paris under new logistics set by organisers.
  • The Interior Ministry redeployed part of the internal security forces originally assigned to the race to reinforce firefighting and civilian protection in the Gironde and other fire-affected areas.
  • The move preserves the ceremonial conclusion of the race and leaves Tadej Pogačar poised to secure a record-equalling fifth title while highlighting strain on emergency services after earlier fires in the Pyrenees.