​Tadej Pogačar has called for a radical overhaul of the professional cycling calendar as extreme heat continued to disrupt the Tour de France. The four-time Tour winner argued that forcing races in hot locations during July and August is no longer viable and that simply adjusting stage times would not adequately address the escalating heat conditions. His remarks came amid record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, which have shattered temperature records and contributed to more than 10,000 excess deaths in June.
“If I had the power, I would change the entire calendar and not race in July and August in hot places,” Pogačar said. “I’d implement a completely different calendar, but it’s not something I can do.” The comments followed organizers’ decision to shorten the ninth stage, from Malemort to Ussel, due to a red heat alert. Mathieu van der Poel won the stage, while Pogačar retained the overall lead as the riders approached the first rest day.
The route was cut from its planned 115.3 miles (185.5 kilometers) to 96.2 miles (155.5 kilometers) as forecasts warned of temperatures reaching around 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit at the start in Malemort and about 96.8 degrees at the finish in Ussel, with a peak in the afternoon near 105.8 degrees. Although extreme heat has previously prompted additional safety measures in the Tour, Stage 9 marked the first time there was a route alteration due to high temperatures in the history of the race.
Pogačar suggested that organizers could consider starting stages much earlier, but rejected a proposal to begin at 10 a.m., arguing that riders would still finish during the hottest part of the day. “You need to start at eight or nine, or even before,” he said. “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.”
His concerns about the physical toll of the heat grew even before Stage 9, as he had already flagged the strain of the conditions. “Anybody who rides in the heat can tell that the body gets tired in the heat,” he told the post-race press conference after Stage 8. “Definitely, even if it’s an easier day, we still need to be careful and keep cooling down.”
Tour officials have already implemented several measures to mitigate the heat’s impact: riders are now allowed to collect water bottles from team cars during the race, and additional food stations have been set up along the course. While Pogačar does not have the authority to redraw the calendar himself, as the current Tour leader and one of cycling’s most prominent figures, his comments are likely to influence broader discussions about the sport’s schedule and safety policies beyond purely temporary adjustments.
Requests for comment from the Tour de France organizers and Pogačar’s agent were not returned. As the Tour continued, Stage 10 would run from Aurillac to Le Lioran on Tuesday, with Pogačar defending a 2:42 lead over Jonas Vingegaard. The broader question now facing cycling officials is whether to pursue a longer-term reconfiguration of the calendar or to rely on incremental safety measures and strategically placed rest days and cooler-weather options to cope with ongoing heat risks.