Overview
- Local authorities ordered the French stretch of Stage 3 to be run without spectators or the promotional caravan to avoid hindering firefighting and public safety, and they evacuated more than 5,000 people in the Les Aspres area.
- Officials mobilised a large suppression effort that included about 700 firefighters, roughly 200 vehicles and nine aircraft, and deployed three mobile gendarmerie squadrons to enforce access restrictions.
- The Tour was kept on the road and on Monday Tadej Pogačar won the stage into Les Angles and took the yellow jersey after a final-kilometre move helped by teammate Isaac del Toro.
- Racing continued under extreme heat on Tuesday when Mads Pedersen won Stage 4 into Foix and Torstein Træen emerged as the overall leader after a large breakaway built a substantial gap.
- Race directors and prefects defended the adjustments as a balance between sporting continuity and public-safety priorities, and organisers now face scrutiny over heat and wildfire risks that could force further stage changes or crowd limits.