Tadej Pogacar has called for the cycling calendar to be revamped to avoid excessive temperatures, which are currently wreaking havoc at the Tour de France, and suggested there be no racing at all in the hottest summer months.
Stage nine of this year’s Tour, from Malemort to Ussel on Sunday, was shortened by 30km due to a red heatwave alert in the Correze department of France.
Temperatures have not dipped below 30 degrees Celsius and have hit highs of 40 degrees throughout the race, from its Grand Depart in Barcelona into its first week in France.
It was not the first stage of this race to be affected by weather, with stage three in the Pyrenees raced without the publicity caravan and with spectators banned from lining the roadside as a result of wildfires in the surrounding areas.
Pogacar, the two-time reigning champion and current leader of the general classification, said the sport had to change in future in recognition of increasingly hot temperatures.
The Slovenian said: “In my opinion it’s a big topic to discuss but if I had the power I would change all the calendar and not race in July and August in hot places. I’d do a completely different calendar, but it’s not something I can do.”
“Maybe the next step is to start the stages earlier. Yesterday there was a proposal to start at 10, but it doesn’t change anything because then you finish in the heat.
“You need to start at eight or nine, or even before. It’s a little bit shit, but I think the body can adapt to waking up at five o’clock in the morning and doing a stage at eight. But I think I’ve said enough.”
The riders’ union, the Professional Cyclists Association (CPA), echoed Pogacar’s thoughts, saying “summer race start times must evolve in order to protect athlete health” and calling for more to be done to protect riders’ health.
Tim Merlier, who won stage eight, said: “We have now had one week of racing, always in 35 degrees. It’s a fight to have water, ice and drinks between the cars, so for me it’s a good idea to shorten the stage. It’s only my third Tour, but every day has been higher than 35 degrees and I’m not used to it.”
Australian rider Luke Durbridge, who first rode the Tour in 2014, said: “I do remember certain days in the Tour de France where the roads have been melting. We've always had hot Tours de France, but this has been quite exceptional purely because it's just been so consistent.” The increased speed and intensity to modern racing has also led to concerns; he added: “There are no easy days”.
