The third stage of the Tour de France will be closed to spectators on Monday (6 July) after a fast-moving wildfire in southwestern France prompted exceptional safety measures, organisers and local authorities announced.
Although the race route remains unchanged, public access to the final stretch has been banned as firefighters battle the blaze near the finish in Les Angles.
The wildfire has burned more than 1,600 hectares roughly 60 kilometres from the finish line and continues to spread under hot, dry and windy conditions.
Race organisers confirmed the Tour's promotional caravan will not travel along the final 40 kilometres after the race crosses into France from Spain. Riders will instead complete the stage with only essential race staff present.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme said the scale of the emergency required extraordinary measures.
"An exceptional fire calls for exceptional measures for the Tour," he said.
Authorities urged fans to stay away from the route and finish area to allow emergency services to focus on firefighting operations.
Around 750 firefighters, supported by 200 vehicles and nine water-bombing aircraft and helicopters, are battling the blaze in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, where the fire front has stretched to 18 kilometres.
No fatalities have been reported, but one firefighter and one local resident remain in critical condition. Emergency crews are working to prevent the flames spreading south towards the Tet River valley and the mountainous Aspres region.
The wildfire comes as extreme heat grips much of Europe, increasing wildfire danger across the continent. Seven departments in southern France were placed under "very high fire risk" alerts by Météo-France on Sunday.
Across the border in Spain's Catalonia region, where the opening two stages of the Tour were held, firefighters said a blaze that scorched around 2,200 hectares in the Les Gavarres area had been stabilised.
Authorities believe the fire was sparked by a worker using a circular saw, and a suspect was arrested on Friday.
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